Quick Hits: Notre Dame & The NCAA Tournament
For a couple of months now, or at least since senior Bonzie Colson missed 15 games, Matt Farrell five (and a few others one basically one-and-a-half leg), freshman D.J. Harvey 12 and even Rex Pflueger one, head coach Mike Brey has talked about his Notre Dame team getting to 8-10 in ACC play — maybe even a best-case 9-9 — to remain in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
That is where the Fighting Irish now stand with their 18-13 overall mark and the return of Colson this past week. Treading water has been the theme for two months, and the hope of reaching shore after a valiant effort Saturday in a 62-57 loss at No. 1 Virginia remains.
“When Notre Dame is healthy, they are special,” commented Cavaliers head coach Tony Bennett afterwards.
The inevitable question now is what will Notre Dame need to do to make its case when the ACC Tournament opens Tuesday at the Barclay Center.
It faces hapless, 0-18 Pitt on Tuesday and, with a victory, would then take on Virginia Tech on Wednesday. A second conquest would match it up versus Duke on Thursday.
1.Bubble Watch
Trying to crunch every number from every analytics chart might not be the end all, be all because of the unique circumstance with Colson, who likely would have been a first-team All-America selection this year.
Just two months after foot surgery and in his only second game back in what was supposed to be a “limited” or ease-back role, he practically rolled out of bed and put up 24 points and 15 rebounds against the nation’s No. 1 defense.
Nevertheless, it is notable that in the well-regarded KenPom College Basketball analytics rankings, Notre Dame is No. 28, with only four ACC teams ahead of it: Virginia (1), Duke (3), North Carolina (7) and Clemson (18), and four others bunched together closely right behind: Virginia Tech (31), Louisville (34), Florida State (35) and Miami (36).
2. Bracketology
Once the calendar flips to March, is there a more quoted and popular interview in the world of sports than ESPN “Bracketologist” Joe Lunardi?
With the performance at Virginia, the Irish actually moved up from the second level of his “the next four out” to the first level.
Here is a quick glance at his board from Saturday night — keeping in mind the fluidity of these rankings from day to day, if not hour to hour — with the overall record listed first, followed by the conference mark:
Last 4 In: Baylor (18-13, 8-10), Texas (18-13, 8-10), Louisville (19-12, 9-9), UCLA (20-10, 11-7).
Hmmm … other than the Bruins, those records look awfully familiar, don’t they?
Had the Irish been able to pull it off at Virginia — they trailed 59-57 and had possession with just under a minute remaining — they likely would have been deemed an NCAA Tournament team, provided they didn’t get shocked by Pitt a couple of days later.
First 4 Out: Marquette (18-12, 9-9), USC (21-10, 12-6), Penn State (21-12, 9-9), Notre Dame (18-13, 8-10).
There seems to be a lot of conversation about the Irish “needing to win two games” in the ACC Tournament to possibly punch their ticket to The Big Dance.
Let’s face it, though — defeating Pitt is not going to move any needle for anybody. It might almost be perceived as a preliminary exhibition contest.
So does “winning two” more so entail vanquishing both Virginia Tech and Duke? To be on the safe side, it just might.
3. ‘Confounding Case’
That is how Lunrdi labeled the Irish because of the injury circumstances, specifically to Colson.
On one hand, Notre Dame with Colson was generally classified among the top 25 teams and won the Maui Tournament, highlighted by the championship game against current No. 11-ranked Wichita State.
On the other, even with Colson and everyone else, the Irish lost at home to now 19-12 Ball State and gave away the contest to now 16-15 Indiana at the Crossroads Classic.
Those are the setbacks that perhaps haunt Notre Dame even more than heart-wrenching home losses to North Carolina, Louisville and Miami, sans Colson.
Other than Harvey, the Irish have a full roster for the ACC Tournament. Still … how does Colson hold up if he has to play three straight nights, as Notre Dame will need to if it is to remain in the discussion?
In the 17 ACC games since the Jan. 3 North Carolina State game at home, sophomore T.J. Gibbs has played a minimum of 37 minutes each time, including 48 in two overtimes versus Louisville. There is the proverbial freshman wall in college basketball, but even now in his sophomore year Gibbs has had more put on his plate than perhaps anticipated.
Likewise, Pflueger, in addition to a back injury, is regularly icing his knees. Brey said at the end of the ACC Tournament last season, a close loss to Duke in the championship contest, the Irish left much on the court at Barclay, and were practically at “E” on their fuel tank once the NCAA Tournament commenced.
How much fuel remains for the ACC Tournament this year will be just as pivotal to achieve fulfillment on Selection Sunday a week from today.
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