ND '12 Women's BB

[LoveThee]

Buckle down on defense

 

[arrowryan]

It's over

 

[LoveThee]

Jesus Christmas can we get a rebound

 

[Irishnuke]

Once Baylor got knocked out the NC should have been ND's for the taking. Bummer.

 

[goldandblue]

Great run ladies!

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Man, this is a choke job. Our best players got tight tonight and got out toughed by Ucon. I think the pressure of back to back to back nat championship games was too much for us to overcome.

If we can't win a championship when it is setup without Griner for a 2nd time, we may never win a championship.

Uconn's best players stepped up, our backed away. very sad

 

[tadman95]

Sucks. Hard to beat a good team 4 times.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

man down by almost 20 this is an embarrassment. our two all americans missed the bus for the game tonight.

8-35 shooting if that isn't choking what is? Never, ever, ever thought our ladies would choke like this. very, very embarrassing. And I feel real bad for them.

Man, the way our football and basketball teams looked like at the end of the season is pretty dang bad. Actually horrible is more like it.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

very hard to win 4 times, but at least show up for the 4th. Not go away with your tail between your legs. Fight and show up. This was an embarrassment.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Very disappointing.

 

[BGIF]

Final UC 83 ND 65

Final UC 83 ND 65

35-2

Thanks for the memories Ladies!

 

[ACamp1900]

man down by almost 20 this is an embarrassment. our two all americans missed the bus for the game tonight.

8-35 shooting if that isn't choking what is? Never, ever, ever thought our ladies would choke like this. very, very embarrassing. And I feel real bad for them.

Man, the way our football and basketball teams looked like at the end of the season is pretty dang bad. Actually horrible is more like it.

What can you say?? Sucks, feel bad for them, seems a trend with Our Lady over the past decade or so... Soccer, hockey, basketball, football ... Winning a big game when it counts has proven more difficult than normal, at least it seems that way.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I have loved watching our women play the last four years, wish could have finished the season though. I don't like how they didn't show up tonight. Still won't take away all of the fun I had watching them. Just wished they would have showed up and played tonight.

 

[IrishLax]

Absolutely expected a loss but never thought we would get the doors blown off. Despite horrid play there were a number of points where we looked to really make it a game... but every time Geno took a timeout and UCONN seized momentum right back.

Oh well such is basketball. Baylor had the best team in the land by far and lost to a team ND smoked by 20+ multiple times. In any singular game lots of crazy stuff can happen.

 

[Redbar]

Great Season, at this point in the tourney everyone is really good, can't afford not to be your best. This will not define our program or our seniors. Hard for me to whine about 35-2. (Maybe not for some)

 

[returnofthemack]

classic Notre dame. we should just refuse to play postseason games in any sport.

 

[DillonHall]

classic Notre dame. we should just refuse to play postseason games in any sport.

Not too many other schools' teams get this close to championships. We have a lot to be proud of regarding the athletic department.

 

[EddytoNow]

Sometimes the shots fall in and sometimes they don't. There's a reason why very few teams go unbeaten through a season of 30+ games. I have coached basketball for a number of seasons. My team has won some games when the other team had more talent on the floor and lost some games when the other team had less talent on the floor.

The Irish Women's BB team is one of the best passing teams in the nation. The shots just wouldn't fall last night. The team is talented and well-coached. I'm sure our team is disappointed in the way they finished the season, but there's no way we should be disappointed in this group. They play with the heart of a tiger. Skylar Diggins will be missed. Before her arrival the Women's BB team had reached the final four twice. They reached the final four each of the last three seasons, frequently beating teams with more depth and talent. Disappointed in this group? No way. Call me proud to be one of their fans.

 

[Patulski]

My main issue-and this goes for men's basketball as well- is that the game has lost some grace and excitement because the referees have let the players use their bodies as battering rams. It's like they've said " we need to make basketball like football because football is so popular". In doing so, they've dulled the the game down into scrums. The first halves are particularly difficult to watch.

I wish they'd eliminate the "taking the charge" foul completely. It is so inconsistently called by referees and it slows the game down by being called so often. If they made players contest the ball, instead of using their body to batter the player, or be battered- or flopping being battered- the game would improve. All of this comes as the result of the game devolving into a game where they are always using their bodies to bang each other.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Not too many other schools' teams get this close to championships. We have a lot to be proud of regarding the athletic department.

Yep and beating a team like UCONN four times in one year is a lot to ask for.

 

[DillonHall]

My main issue-and this goes for men's basketball as well- is that the game has lost some grace and excitement because the referees have let the players use their bodies as battering rams. It's like they've said " we need to make basketball like football because football is so popular". In doing so, they've dulled the the game down into scrums. The first halves are particularly difficult to watch.

I wish they'd eliminate the "taking the charge" foul completely. It is so inconsistently called by referees and it slows the game down by being called so often. If they made players contest the ball, instead of using their body to batter the player, or be battered- or flopping being battered- the game would improve. All of this comes as the result of the game devolving into a game where they are always using their bodies to bang each other.

Completely agree with the second paragraph. The charge/blocking foul has ruined basketball for me, and I almost never watch anymore.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Thank you Ladies for the Blessings of a fabulous year. 35 & 2. What a terrific accomplishment.

There are people who will gripe about 35 & 2 or 12 & 1 --- they must themselves be perfect in their lives and absolutely insufferable in everyone else's.

But not this old alum: I think that you athletes are great, and you make me proud.

And you too, Coach!!!

 

[aubeirish]

Thank you Ladies for the Blessings of a fabulous year. 35 & 2. What a terrific accomplishment.

There are people who will gripe about 35 & 2 or 12 & 1 --- they must themselves be perfect in their lives and absolutely insufferable in everyone else's.

But not this old alum: I think that you athletes are great, and you make me proud.

And you too, Coach!!!

This^^.
The way they played was outstanding all year. They defied all odds and nay sayers of the past off season and proved to be a dominant force in almost every game. What an accomplishment! Congratulation to the whole team.

 

[LoveThee]

It'd never work/happen... but it'd be interesting to see Muffet coach the men's team

 

[military_irish]

What some fail to realize is this team lost 4 HUGE contributors and leaders from last years team. For this team to come out and win the Big East Regular Season and Tourney Championships then make it to the Final Four for the third year in a row. For lack of a better term, it was awesome!

UConn has made the Final Four 6 times in a row, and I believe I heard at one point that was a record. Notre Dame has done it 3 times. Not too shabby if you ask me.

For a program that was good but never "great", except of course for the 2001 year, they are on an upward trend. Let's enjoy the ride.


EDIT: For two teams as evenly matched as Notre Dame and UConn are this year, it was almost impossible to beat them for a fourth time. If UConn had won three this year, ND would have won the fourth also.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Absolutely expected a loss but never thought we would get the doors blown off. Despite horrid play there were a number of points where we looked to really make it a game... but every time Geno took a timeout and UCONN seized momentum right back.

Oh well such is basketball. Baylor had the best team in the land by far and lost to a team ND smoked by 20+ multiple times. In any singular game lots of crazy stuff can happen.

This.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

I think we all can enjoy, have fun, respect, honor, and give the teams their due/credit---and also critique, expect to achieve at the highest level, get mad, and still love the team.

Sorry, I want to hold the teams up to high standards. I want to see them achieve to their talent levels.

Saying that, 12-1 is awesome. But, going to the National Championship and getting obliterated and saying nothing is acceptable? Or going to the final 4 and getting your doors blown off by a team that they beat 3 times?

Sorry, I think calling them out is OK. Not calling them crap people or players or other names, that is unacceptable. But, we have to accept our best players will/should rise to the occassion. Right now our Hockey/Hoops/Football teams top players didn't rise to the occassion in the last and most important game. Is it bad to say that?

I love Notre Dame! I have my Prof. Cert from the Irish. But, we didn't rise to the occassion. Maybe myself as a fan didn't rise either saying our teams choked. I still believe that, and if that makes me a bad fan/Alum then fine I performed the same as the teams did in the most important games. I love Manti, he is my Fav. Player. But, he didn't rise to the occassion in the Nat. Champ game--missed tackles, pushed back, missed assignment for a TE TD (Gruden pointed that out too), Eifert is was fine not dominant. Nix was fine but not dominant. They had a plan to take out our best and they didn't overcome. Skylar and McBride 8-35 shooting. ONe can have a bad game but not both. They rose, and rose all year like our football guys. But, when all the marbles were out there at the end. They didn't rise. Is it bad to say, whine, etc??? But, look at the finished and last product it is the truth. The seasons were spectacular and wouldn't have gotten anywhere close to there if it weren't for them and how they turned around a program. I love them, I love the school. But, if we want to be viewed as "The Best" we have to do it when it counts most. And we haven't done it.

37-3 for the Ladies Hoops and Mens Football, and they both get destroyed in the last game and the best players didn't rise to the occassion. Look at it without the Gold Colored Glasses and hold our teams up to the highest standard and expect the best. I know they expect the best and that is why they looked so hurt, they expect the best too. No name calling, no degrading. But, call it as it was--a major disappointment and I still think a choke job. Coach said they looked nervous, and nerves cause tighness that leads to that bad work "choke". Does Lewis 7-12 6 REB, Stewart (Freshman) 10-16 29 points 4-5 3pt, Dolson 9 points and 5 blocks as their best 3 rise to the occassion? Does AJ, Lacey, Dee Womack, Jones rise for Alabama?

But, they are expected to rise for their teams by their fans and coaches. WE have to expect the same. Whining is OK, as long as you don't call the kid names and what not.

I still think we had a great season, and enjoyed it a ton. And will still support the team and school for ever. But, we have to expect the best if we want to be the best.

Go Irish!

 

[irishrb]

Great post Olympia.

 

[aubeirish]

:banghead2 From Notre Dame University. I guess ND doesn't have enough exposure for them to get it right...
I see that they already are trying to sell the **** out of Skylar's fame.

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[LoveThee]

I'm happy for Skylar getting drafted so highly. WNBA players don't really make that much. I understand that basketball is presumably her passion, but does anybody think she may be better suited using her ND degree? Well, I guess while shes still young she may as well ride out her athletic talent then get a job coaching or in another field