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Notre Dame Basketball: Late Struggles Erase Strong Effort in Loss to FSU

By Chase Eyrich

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts to a call in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 16, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 16: Head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts to a call in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 16, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /
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It was another close, disappointing loss as the Irish failed to put it together , falling 68-61 to Florida State.

The story has been the same all season long. Notre Dame is right there, they know how to make games close against even the strenuous schedule of the ACC, but they haven’t been able to finish.

Monday night felt different. Notre Dame was playing fast, confident and most importantly efficient. Most games have felt like the Irish were one run away from taking control. This time, the Irish were in control.

The Irish shot 43-percent in the first half. Nothing crazy, but it was far better than what they’re used to. So many times this season, the Irish would get the shots they were looking for, but fail to convert them. This time they had a confidence and sense of urgency to make something happen.

Ironically it was the underclassmen that brought the confidence. Prentiss Hubb and D.J. Harvey took over early and didn’t look back.

Scoring 17 and 18-points respectively, they were the beneficiaries of Mike Brey running a faster offense and pushing while in transition.

But the Irish’s strong offensive performance went missing when it was time to close. Florida State went on a 16-6 run to end the first half to tie the game going into the locker room.

The story became even worse when it was time to close out the second half. In crunch time, Notre Dame hit only one of its last ten field goal attempts spanning over the final five minutes of the game.

In that span, it all fell apart. Not only were the Irish not making their shots, but they were also making mistakes. After a 10-second call on Notre Dame, a shot clock violation followed only a few plays later.

They continued to shoot themselves in the foot.

They were mistakes that couldn’t happen when the Irish were playing with only seven healthy players compared to an Florida State team who would go ten deep.

You could say the Irish became tired, but the failure to make adjustments down the stretch proved to be more deadly on a night that Notre Dame let one slip away.

Next. Notre Dame Hoops: The Irish Are Right Where They Should Be. dark

Falling to 13-15 on the season and 3-12 in the ACC, the Irish will turn their attention to Louisville for a 1:30 p.m. ET tipoff this Sunday.