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Notre Dame Basketball: Irish Come Up Just Short against Virginia

By Ben Belden

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 16: T.J. Gibbs #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers dive for a loose ball in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 16, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 16: T.J. Gibbs #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Virginia Cavaliers dive for a loose ball in the first half during a game at John Paul Jones Arena on February 16, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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It has been a long season for Mike Brey’s Notre Dame basketball team. Despite a loss at Virginia Saturday, the Irish looked like they returned to their usual form.

For the Notre Dame basketball team, the 2018-2019 campaign can be summed up by inconsistency and many near misses. At times this season, the Irish have looked lost as they have looked to navigate the nation’s best basketball conference without a true leader. In short, this team hasn’t looked like a typical Mike Brey-led team.

Saturday afternoon, though, the Irish returned to form, despite losing to 4th-ranked Virginia by a final score of 60-54.

With possessions at a premium against a Virginia team that is known for sharing the ball and executing deep into the shot clock, the Irish knew they’d have to defend well and that they’d have to find someone to step up and create some plays offensively to stay in the game. They did just that.

Early in the game, the Irish were able to hold the Virginia offense in check by changing defenses. Notre Dame threw everything they could at the Cavaliers, utilizing man-to-man defense, a 1-2-2 half-court trap, and their patented 2-3 zone to keep Virginia guessing.

On the day, the Irish held the Cavaliers to only 36.5% shooting from the field. The Cavaliers shoot nearly 48% from the field on the season.

Offensively, TJ Gibbs came alive to help the Irish. In the middle of a frustrating season, Gibbs has found confidence in Notre Dame’s last two games. Gibbs scored 17 points to lead the Irish, and he did so on 6-for-14 shooting from the field and 3-for-8 behind the three-point arc.

Notre Dame was within two of the Cavaliers in the game’s final minute, but Virginia was money from the foul line to ice the game, while the Irish couldn’t quite cash in on three-pointers to cut into the Virginia lead, despite getting a couple of good looks.

Though the Irish came up short on the scoreboard, this was a good moral victory for the Irish, who showed the grit and toughness of a typical Mike Brey team. The Irish seem to be in a good place mentally, despite the difficulty of a tough season, which is a testament to the superior leadership of their head coach.

Next. Mike Brey's Team is Right Where it Should Be. dark

Notre Dame returns to the floor Tuesday night against Wake Forest at Purcell Pavilion. The opening tip is set for 7:00.