Notre Dame Still Searching For Answers To Stop Slide
It has been a roller coaster of emotions for Notre Dame a few weeks after Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell went down with injuries, but the Irish managed to move to 3-0 in conference play with a thrilling game-winner from Rex Pflueger against Syracuse.
With 37 points of production out of the lineup, life wasn’t going to be easy for the Irish in ACC play.
Notre Dame found a way to compete against Georgia Tech (60-53) and North Carolina (69-68) after the Syracuse matchup, but dropped both games in close fashion.
Farrell and his near 16-point average returned to his starting role against Louisville after missing three-and-a-half games, but again the Irish fell just short losing 82-78 in double-overtime.
The loss to the Cardinals put the Irish back at .500 in league play before another followed yesterday against Clemson (67-58) on the road.
In the span of two weeks, Notre Dame went from a little surprising 3-0 record in league play to 3-4 and searching for answers heading into a week break before hosting Virginia Tech.
“I love our group,” Mike Brey said after Clemson. “We’re giving ourselves a chance … My dream was to be 4-3. That was as good as it was going to get for us. We’re 3-4. We’re not dead in the water, but we’re searching though.
“We’re searching and trying to find where we can get another league win. We still have a lot of basketball to play and I think we can get rested and healthier by next Saturday with this bye week.”
Though the four-game losing streak could put a lot of doubts and questions in the mind of a team and staff, Brey is confident in his team.
“We’ll dig in and fight,” Brey stated. “I think because of our senior class and they are stable … They will continue to come out and do their thing. I would be really disappointed if we changed that way. I think the seniors have set a great tone …
“We’ll get away from the game for a couple days, get back into a good practice routine midweek and see if we can scratch one out against Virginia Tech to get to 4-4. [That] would feel like 8-0 for our group right now. I have a lot of confidence in our older guys and leadership.”
Notre Dame has used six different lineups in seven ACC games due to the injuries and the shuffling to replace guys each night. Brey is pleased with one side of the court, but knows improvement is need on the other end to compete in the league down the stretch.
“We keep slapping stuff together on the fly,” Brey said. “I thought Mooney took another step forward for us in a big-game and a tough atmosphere. Defensively, we’re doing the job and we’re rebounding … We just can’t score enough and find an offensive rhythm to beat good teams. This darn league has all good teams.
“We got to get second chances. We’re not as good a first-shot making team as we’ve been historically. So, rotating those big guys and telling them to just climb the backboard to give us second shots is helping us. It gives other possessions and that’s a necessity.”
Wake Forest made the NCAA Tournament last season after finishing the regular season 18-12 overall and 9-9 in ACC play. The Demon Deacons picked up a win in the ACC Tournament as well.
Last season the Irish began league play 5-0 before losing five of the team’s next six games. That team bounced back capturing a double-bye in the ACC Tournament after winning 6-of-7 to close out the regular season.
Can this team recreate that type of magic? The Irish do not have to end this season in the same fashion, but a turnaround can’t be delayed much longer.
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