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Notre Dame basketball: Irish work 2OT, beat Rutgers to make Field of 64

By Brad Weiss

Mar 16, 2022; Dayton, Ohio, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Paul Atkinson Jr. (20) guard Blake Wesley (0) and guard Cormac Ryan (5) react to a play in the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2022; Dayton, Ohio, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Paul Atkinson Jr. (20) guard Blake Wesley (0) and guard Cormac Ryan (5) react to a play in the second half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Notre Dame basketball team was the final team to punch their ticket to the Field of 64, beating Rutgers 89-87 in 2OT in the First Four.

It took two overtimes, but in the end, the Notre Dame basketball team advanced to the Field of 64 in the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. In a see-saw battle, the Irish took every punch the Rutgers Scarlet Knights threw at them, including some clutch three-pointers from Ron Harper Jr. to punch their ticket to play Alabama on Friday.

Now the No. 11 seed in the West Region, Notre Dame basketball dominated the paint against Rutgers, scoring over 50 points down low. Sure, they were able to get the clutch outside shot when needed, especially from Dane Goodwin, but in the end, it was Paul Atkinson Jr. that proved to be the difference.

Atkinson Jr. finished the game with 26 points, including the final basket, an offensive rebound that was put back in with under three seconds left. That would give the Irish an 89-87 lead in the final moments, and when Baker was unable to get off a shot in time, the Irish punched their ticket to the Field of 64 just as the clock struck midnight.

Making it even more special was midnight signified the start of St. Patrick’s Day, so it was definitely the luck of the Irish.

Notre Dame basketball to take on Alabama

With the win, the Irish will now turn their attention to the Alabama Crimson Tide, the No. 6 seed in the West Region in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Alabama finished the 2021-22 college basketball season with a 19-13 record, but have lost three straight heading into the Field of 64.

It is definitely one of those 11 vs 6 games that could be an upset special, especially with how deep this Irish roster is.

These are the kind of victories that can push a team to a significant run in the NCAA Tournament, as the Irish showed their resistance time and time again. They were able to work the ball inside and out against Rutgers, and playing Alabama on Friday, they are going to be as well-balanced as they were in this one.