Louisville vs. ND Game Thread

[IrishLax]

Pitino's 2nd half strategy showed how to play ND.

Disagree.... Cincy tried the same thing... but Brey went into his shell this time and went to the burn. If we tried to break the press hard and go to the hoop we probably come away with the W. Hindsight is always 20/20 though, you can't anticipate Hansbrough having a night that bad on all fronts. 1 FG in 14 minutes for the whole team? Sheesh.

 

[NDIrishlover3]

I honestly had a feeling this was going to happen because it seemed to me that we put too much effort into that first half lead. At halftime I was worried we would play tired in the second half and it looked like they did. Also abro was not doing good either

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

1

 

[irishfan]

Really dislike the fact that teams either have a blueprint or think they have a blueprint for beating us after watching L'ville press us all second half. We're short on numbers as is, and don't need a 15/16 seed then a 7/8/9/10 seed running us up and down the court twice in three days. And then if we survive that, having the same thing happen the next rounds. Lot more worried about this team's NCAA tourney run now than I was a few hours ago.

 

[IrishMoore1]

Don't any of you get it? This team always chokes in big games. This makes 4 times in a row this team has lost the semifinal big east tourney.

Don't be surprised if we get knocked out within two rounds in the NCAA tourney. It always happens that way.

 

[NDinFL]

Don't any of you get it? This team always chokes in big games. This makes 4 times in a row this team has lost the semifinal big east tourney.

Don't be surprised if we get knocked out within two rounds in the NCAA tourney. It always happens that way.

That's the spirit!

Personally I'm glad we suffered a loss like this BEFORE the tourney....

Maybe it'll make the players want it more remembering this loss

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

That's the spirit!

Personally I'm glad we suffered a loss like this BEFORE the tourney....

Maybe it'll make the players want it more remembering this loss

I agree with this for the most part. We had been on fire lately and I am actually glad we lost before the tourney starts. Get that lame duck performance out of the way. For those that think this is the blueprint to beating ND I just caution you that Pitino has been playing that style of offense and press defense since the early 90s and I have yet to see it be replicated at the level his teams do. Louisville played a great second half and Hansbrough couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat last night. I am not concerned one bit about this team especially with the experience and leadership that is present.

 

[JadeBrecks]

Don't be surprised if we get knocked out within two rounds in the NCAA tourney. It always happens that way.

Im actually expecting it.

 

[IrishLax]

Anyone who thinks pressing us is a blueprint for beating ND is just ignorant to the games we have played this year. Villanova, Cinci, and many others have tried that and we made them pay. The difference in this game? Ben Hansbrough was ice cold and we settled it down in stead of pushing it after we broke the press.

By going to the "burn" on a day when Hansbrough couldn't buy a bucket we went away from our great passing and ball movement that got us a lead in the first half. That is what lost us the game, not this crazy "omg we can't handle pressure!!!!" sentiment.

 

[NDOM]

Not to throw salt on the wounds but I have been saying this team is a pretender all season for the most part. Dont get me wrong, we are a good team but I can pretty much tell you that regardless of what seed we get, we will also be the first highest ranked team to lose in the tournament.

When was the last time we actually even made it past the first round? Does anyone know?

 

[IrishLax]

Not to throw salt on the wounds but I have been saying this team is a pretender all season for the most part. Dont get me wrong, we are a good team but I can pretty much tell you that regardless of what seed we get, we will also be the first highest ranked team to lose in the tournament.

When was the last time we actually even made it past the first round? Does anyone know?

We go to OT against a #3 seed-ish team that is a terrible matchup for us with our best player having the worst game of the year and we're a pretender? What? Is that you Gottlieb? What if Hansbrough actually makes that pull-up jumper at the end of regulation? Sorry, but the fact is we are what we are and that is a #2 seed. And #2 seeds are supposed to have tough games against #3 seeds. We are not an infallible world-beater team, but that doesn't mean we're a pretender either.

Is Ohio State a pretender for going to OT against lowly Northwestern? What about Purdue who was a "contender" according to Gottlieb before getting trounced by MSU? Or Kansas who needed a lot of luck to squeak out a 1 point win over lowly Oklahoma State? Pittsburgh blowing an equally big lead to a worse UConn team? Do I have to keep going?

We lost a singular game in overtime to a very good team that is a bad matchup for us. So what? What basketball team doesn't lose the occasional close game to another really good team? I thought weed was supposed to mellow people out not make them lose all relative perspective on the landscape of college basketball.

Notre Dame will do well if they get a good draw, poor if they get a bad draw. It's really that simple. We will probably tool BYU, SDSU, UNC, Purdue or Duke (without Irving)... but will likely struggle against a Kansas, Texas, or Louisville... so let's stop prognosticating before we see who we have to play.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Silver-lining: many coaches and commentators have said that not having to play the extra game in the conference tournament is often a good thing from the wear-and-tear point of view. This is especially true if you have already established your reputation with the selection committee which this team has.

The difference between a #1 seed and a #2 seed is that when things go to form, #2 has to get through #3 instead of #4. That SOMETIMES is a tougher task. Other than that there is really not much difference, since your geographical placement always requires you to play away from home, and Notre Dame fandom travels as well as anybody.

Regarding "this team" always choking: there is no such entity as "this team" which crosses over from one year to another. There is only "this current team" unless you believe that the coaching staff somehow blows it year after year. "This Team" is who IT is, not some reflection of a Platonic Archetypal Loser.

Whether the team wins or loses it will have nothing to do with previous seasons, especially considering the hard-minded leadership it has. We just need to hope that Ben and Tim always have their normal nights offensively, and that we don't have to put too much responsibility for "bigs" on Tyrone and Carleton. We are blessed with some unusually slick dudes this year.

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

I agree, of course ND's recent history has people in doubt...but I still like our chances in the tourney...what is so terrible about this loss? Maybe drops us to a 2...oh no that most likely puts us in chi-town! Saves us from another physically grueling game...all for the title of big east tournamemt champs which means nothing next week. We played one bad half, I still like the chances for a tourney run.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I agree, of course ND's recent history has people in doubt...but I still like our chances in the tourney...what is so terrible about this loss? Maybe drops us to a 2...oh no that most likely puts us in chi-town! Saves us from another physically grueling game...all for the title of big east tournamemt champs which means nothing next week. We played one bad half, I still like the chances for a tourney run.

Notre Dame will be playing in Chicago whether they are a 1, 2, or 3 most likely.

 

[InKellyITrust]

Not to throw salt on the wounds but I have been saying this team is a pretender all season for the most part. Dont get me wrong, we are a good team but I can pretty much tell you that regardless of what seed we get, we will also be the first highest ranked team to lose in the tournament.

When was the last time we actually even made it past the first round? Does anyone know?

But you also said that St. John's was going to win the Big East Tournament. Quit acting like you're some sort of prophet.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

But you also said that St. John's was going to win the Big East Tournament. Quit acting like you're some sort of prophet.

Please stop quoting people on my ignore list. I don't come here to read a troll.

 

[Irishpinoy]

Pitino figured he can wear down NDs seven-man rotation with his man to man defense. And he was right. Don't think teams play back to back games during the tournament. We should be alright.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

A 7 man rotation is probably too thin to go to the Final Four IMO. Depth is a huge part of the tournament. No team really makes it without major contribution from the bench. Duke last year was an anomaly.

 

[military_irish]

Not to throw salt on the wounds but I have been saying this team is a pretender all season for the most part. Dont get me wrong, we are a good team but I can pretty much tell you that regardless of what seed we get, we will also be the first highest ranked team to lose in the tournament.

When was the last time we actually even made it past the first round? Does anyone know?

2007-2008 season, ND made it to the second round

 

[NDOM]

2007-2008 season, ND made it to the second round

Oh! Well that makes me feel more confident then. LOL. If ND gets the #1 seed they could be the first #1 seed to ever lose to a #16 seed. That would blow.

 

[military_irish]

Oh! Well that makes me feel more confident then. LOL. If ND gets the #1 seed they could be the first #1 seed to ever lose to a #16 seed. That would blow.

well it would mean ND would be in the record books forever, but i don't see that happening lol

 

[IrishMoore1]

This isn't about just losing one game. ND has a history of choking in important games, specifically the semifinals of the big east tourney, and especially within the 1st 2 rounds of the NCAA tourney.

This loss not only shows me that this team still chokes when the game is on the line, but it is also a sign that they will choke in the NCAA tourney very early. They have done nothing to convince me otherwise.

 

[IrishLax]

This isn't about just losing one game. ND has a history of choking in important games, specifically the semifinals of the big east tourney, and especially within the 1st 2 rounds of the NCAA tourney.

This loss not only shows me that this team still chokes when the game is on the line, but it is also a sign that they will choke in the NCAA tourney very early. They have done nothing to convince me otherwise.

I'll bet you any amount of money you want they do not choke early in the NCAAs without evening seeing the bracket.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

I don't know if I would call it a "choke." Sometimes you lose.

 

[NDinL.A.]

This isn't about just losing one game. ND has a history of choking in important games, specifically the semifinals of the big east tourney, and especially within the 1st 2 rounds of the NCAA tourney.

This loss not only shows me that this team still chokes when the game is on the line, but it is also a sign that they will choke in the NCAA tourney very early. They have done nothing to convince me otherwise.

So the close games they won this year meant nothing? They lose ONE close game and now they choke all the time when the game is on the line??? What about vs. UCONN, without their best player who was carrying them that game, on the road, down 5 late and under a besiege of baskets (15-0 UCONN run) should have buried them? Did they choke that one too? Ummmm, nope, they pulled out that improbable win.

How about when they beat Georgia at home in double OT? Nopw, they didn't choke then.

How about when they beat Syracuse (when they were really playing well) by 3 in January? Nope, no choke there.

How about when they beat Marquette by 5? Or Loiusville in OT? Or Pitt by 5 AT Pitt? Ot Rutgers by 7? Or Prividence by 1? Did they choke those games too? Because they were ALL close games, and several were big games with a lot on the line, believe it or not.

Truth is, the Irish lost a game they should have won to a tournament team that was actually favored to win. Yeah, it sucks that it happened in the Big East semis, but look at all the teams in the Big East that lost before the semis or in the semis. Are they all chokers too? Or did they just get beaten by a team that played better than them that one game?

I don't see why some of you guys go all Skip Bayless and overreact to every loss like it's the end of the season. It's not the end of the season, in fact, we may still get a one seed. Yes, under Brey they have a history of choking, but this is a FAR better team than Brey's ever had, and this isn't those other teams.

Let them play it out. Sh!t, Syracuse always choked and they won a NC, Duke's team had been under-performing for years and they won a NC, and the same could be said about Kansas. Different teams than the ones who were choking. If ND chokes early again, then you can come back and gloat, sure. But this team has won a ton of close games this year, and I don't see this team as one who will 'choke'. Hopefully they'll prove us right...

 

[IrishMoore1]

Yes, ND has beaten plenty of good teams in the regular season, but for some reason they can't ever win the tourney games. This makes it 4 times in row ND has lost in the semifinals, and they lost to a team that I believe should not have beaten them (blew a 14 pt half time lead).

History tends to repeat itself is all im saying. I have no reason to believe we get past the 2nd round in the NCAA tourney.

 

[IrishLax]

Yes, ND has beaten plenty of good teams in the regular season, but for some reason they can't ever win the tourney games. This makes it 4 times in row ND has lost in the semifinals, and they lost to a team that I believe should not have beaten them (blew a 14 pt half time lead).

History tends to repeat itself is all im saying. I have no reason to believe we get past the 2nd round in the NCAA tourney.

Do you realize how rarely BE tourney success correlates to NCAA tourney success? There have been very few repeat winners.

Anyways, put some money where your mouth is. I'll wager whatever you want that ND makes it to the sweet 16.

 

[IrishMoore1]

Do you realize how rarely BE tourney success correlates to NCAA tourney success? There have been very few repeat winners.

Anyways, put some money where your mouth is. I'll wager whatever you want that ND makes it to the sweet 16.

Ok I'll wager all my vbucks lol

 

[IrishLax]

Ok I'll wager all my vbucks lol

haha deal... 250k vBucks it is!

*handshake*

 

[NDinL.A.]

Ok I'll wager all my vbucks lol

That's cool bro...you stand by what you say. I hope you're wrong though! (as I'm sure you do as well)