Notre Dame Basketball: Mike Brey’s Top Five Memorable Games
By Chase Eyrich
![SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at Purcell Pavilion on December 9, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) SOUTH BEND, IN - DECEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is seen on the sidelines during the game against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers at Purcell Pavilion on December 9, 2014 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/244d5d0904731d3f8e5ab790f1b7b037a9751b75be25d9f9c02392334351e68f.jpg)
March 25, 2016 – Notre Dame 61, Wisconsin 56
It was a game so intense that Notre Dame had to fight through an injury. But the Irish don’t fold and neither did Mike Brey, when he was so upset at a no-call that he jumped into the air and came down awkwardly.
Pulling his calf muscle, Brey was just displaying how stressed everyone was while watching the game.
The season prior was a special one. It was Notre Dame’s first season in the ACC, they spoiled the blue-blood’s hopes while winning the ACC Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight. Seemingly impossible to top, but the Irish sure did try.
While the first half showed more struggles than promises, the 23-19 halftime score did not illustrate what was about to happen.
Wisconsin led for about 27 minutes straight. The problem for the Badgers was pulling away. Notre Dame never trailed by double-digits. With 10:13 remaining in the game and a trip to the Elite Eight on the line, the Irish tied the game and were ready for a dogfight.
Highway Robbery?
With 47 seconds remaining the game once again was tied, but no one could have predicted the finish we were about to witness.
Vitto Brown found himself wide open on the arc and nailed what he hoped to be the dagger. With a three-point lead, Demetrius Jackson saw the defense sleeping inside and elected for the quick lay in.
Out of a timeout, Jackson made one of the biggest defensive plays of his career. Set in the full court press the hometown hero came away with a steal and a quick bucket to take the lead back.
A pair of V.J. Beachem free throws would extend the Irish’s lead. With one more chance for Wisconsin to send it into overtime, Jackson came away with his second steal in less than a minute.
His free throws would seal it as the Irish stole the game and advanced into their second consecutive Elite Eight appearance.