Notre Dame basketball: 3 takeaways from the 69-65 win over Virginia
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame basketball team continued to roll on Saturday, and here are three takeaways from the victory over Virginia inside Purcell Pavilion.
On Saturday night, the Notre Dame basketball team played host to the Virginia Cavaliers, a team that has had their number over the last six meetings. However, this is a different Notre Dame team this year, and when all was said and done, the Irish were the winners of their tenth game in their last 11 outings.
Also, the Irish continued to stay undefeated at home inside Purcell Pavilion, a place that will play host to their biggest matchup of the season on Tuesday night. In that game, the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils will come to town in a game that could propel this Irish team into the top-15 at least.
Here, we look at three takeaways from the win Saturday night.
Notre Dame basketball: 3 takeaways from the 69-65 win over Virginia
No. 1: Spread the wealth
Incredibly, the Irish continue to see multiple players score in double-figures, as they had four of their five starters cross the ten-point barrier on Saturday night. This is one of the more unselfish teams in the country, as four of the five starters had at least two assists, led by star freshman Blake Wesley, who struggled shooting but still found a way to make a difference.
No. 2: Dane Goodwin is a bad man
Needing someone to step up in the second half, Dane Goodwin proved once again why he leads this team in scoring, as he had 13 of his 16 points after the break. Goodwin has been outstanding for the Irish this season, scoring in double figures in every game, as he continues to improve in his third season with the Irish.
No. 3: Purcell Pavilion is a nightmare for the opposition
This season has been highlighted by just how good this Irish team is at home, as they have yet to lose a game inside Purcell Pavilion. The atmosphere has been electric, and late in games, the crowd is finding a way to become a sixth-man. The real test comes against Duke on Tuesday.
One thing is for sure, this team is legit, and based on their veteran leadership and depth, they have the right blend come tournament time. A win on Tuesday would be one of the biggest for the program in some time now, and the way the Irish are trending, you have to like their chances at home.