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Notre Dame's Two-Minute Warning/Drill Is Nation's Most Lethal

Austin Torres, Bonzie Colson and Martin Geben celebrate another two-minute rally during a 5-0 ACC start.
Austin Torres, Bonzie Colson and Martin Geben celebrate another two-minute rally during a 5-0 ACC start. (Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports)

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The two-minute warning is exclusive to the NFL in each half of a game. Meanwhile, the two-minute drill is a staple of every football operation in the country.

Yet few teams, if any, in athletics history have demonstrated a more consistent and lethal two-minute warning/drill over a two-week period in a different sport than Notre Dame men’s basketball from Dec. 31-Jan. 14.

While fashioning their remarkable 5-0 start in the Atlantic Coast Conference to take sole possession of first place in the powerful 15-team league, the Fighting Irish either trailed or were tied at that point of the game (give or take a few seconds) each time. They then out-scored the opposition 45-11 in those closing moments, most recently this weekend at Virginia Tech.

Here is a look back on this extraordinary two-week run and the two-minute warning/drill:


Date: Jan. 14, at Virginia Tech

2-Minute Warning: A Chris Clarke free throw with 1:52 left gives the Hokies their first lead in the second half (67-66) after falling behind 33-14 earlier in the game.

2-Minute Drill: A drive-and-finish by junior point guard Matt Farrell put the Irish ahead for good after the Clarke free throw.

Summary: In the final 1:52, Notre Dame out-scored Virginia Tech 10-4 for a 76-71 victory.


Date: Jan. 12, at Miami

2-Minute Warning: After falling behind by double digits (50-39) midway through the game, the ultra-athletic Hurricanes appear to wear out Notre Dame while taking a 61-57 lead on a Davon Reed jumper with 2:53 remaining.

2-Minute Drill: Farrell cuts the deficit to 61-59 with 2:29 left, two free throws by junior forward Bonzie Colson knot it at 61 at the 1:35 mark, and a layup by senior V.J. Beachem (1:04) puts the Irish ahead 63-61.

Summary: In the final 2:53, Notre Dame out-scored Miami 10-1 in the 67-62 conquest.


Date: Jan. 7, Clemson

2-Minute Warning: The potent and fired-up Tigers grab a 68-67 lead with 2:17 left on a lay-up by Shelton Mitchell. Surely, the Irish are due for a letdown after an emotional win at home three days earlier versus Louisville.

2-Minute Drill: Senior Steve Vasturia, who has a proclivity for clutch shooting in crunch time, answers Mitchell's bucket with a three-pointer that puts the Fighting Irish ahead for good.

Summary: In the final 2:17 after falling behind, head coach Mike Brey’s troops out-scored Clemson 8-2 to finish with a 75-70 triumph. It marked only the second time in the school’s 22-year history of playing either in the ACC or Big East that it began with a 3-0 league ledger.


Date: Jan. 4, Louisville

2-Minute Warning: With exactly 2:00 remaining, the No. 9-ranked and annual national title contending Cardinals tie the score at 68 on a free throw by Quentin Snider.

2-Minute Drill: Three free throws by Colson and Farrell, plus a drive-and-score by Vasturia provide Notre Dame a 73-68 advantage.

Summary: In the final 2:00, Notre Dame out-scored the Cardinals 9-2 in its 77-70 win, the sixth straight time it vanquished Hall of Fame head coach Rick Pitino on its home court.


Date: Dec. 31, at Pitt

2-Minute Warning: With 2:25 left in overtime, the Panthers build a 75-70 cushion at home in the ACC opener.

2-Minute Drill: Vasturia, who would score eight of Notre Dame’s 10 points in overtime, drills a three with 2.5 seconds remaining to pull Notre Dame ahead 78-77.

Summary: In the final 2:25 of the extra session, Notre Dame out-scored Pitt 8-2 for the one-point victory.

In those five contests, the Irish trailed four times and were tied the other occasion — and then proceeded to outscore their foes 45-11 in those 10 minutes and 54 seconds of play (or about the 2:11 mark of each game)

We’re not even including final 2:42 of regulation play at Pitt — when the Panthers held a 67-62 edge before Notre Dame sent the game into overtime with a 6-1 run. That would up the overall tally to 51-12 in 13 minutes and 36 seconds.

You want closers? Glengarry Glen Ross’ Alec “Always Be Closing” Baldwin's character would need more new Cadillacs to award this Notre Dame program.

It also seems to be a carryover from back-to-back Elite 8 runs in which the Irish demonstrated remarkable resilience in almost all its victories, including each last year:

• In the first round, it trailed Michigan 41-29 at halftime before closing superbly.

• In round 2 versus Stephen F. Austin, Notre Dame was behind 75-70 with 2:05 left, but finished with a 6-0 run in the victory, capped by a Rex Pflueger tap-in with one-second left.

• In round 3, a Wisconsin three gave the Badgers a 56-53 lead with 26 seconds remaining — but the Irish finished on an 8-0 run.

An intrinsic mental toughness that combines with poised physical execution and leadership is not an accident. It has become part of the overall operation’s DNA.

The law of averages say it can’t continue at this rate, and some day either Notre Dame will be unable to close or the other team makes the late play to earn the victory.

For now, though, it remains an extraordinary ride that has become an inherent part of the program's remarkable and consistent success.

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