What We Learned: Notre Dame Fighting Irish VS Miami-Florida Hurricanes

Notre Dame could not overcome a first half deficit against the Miami-Florida Hurricanes. The Irish trailed by 9 at half were playing catch up the rest of the game. The final score was 77-74. This is what we learned.

The Irish Bubble Is Close...

To being fully popped. Notre Dame needed to get this home win to keep their chances alive for the NCAA tournament. At this point it will likely take either a win at ACC leading Virginia or pulling of the miracle and winning the ACC tournament. Both seem highly unlikely. Virginia if close to locking the up the #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament and winning the ACC tournament would require 5 wins in 5 days.

Matchups Were Costly

Notre Dame was mixing and matching different lineups over the last 5 minutes of the game. Mike Brey could not find the perfect one to set the Irish on a run and into the winner's circle. He tried using Austin Torres for rebounding purposes but we all know his limitations on offense. Brey sat John Mooney for stretches to help offest Miami's pick n roll. With 3 injured players, Mike Brey could not find the right mix to win.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Inconsistency Proves Killer

With about 8 minutes left in the game, Notre Dame took a 62-57 lead. And then the offense disappeared. Miami went on a 13-0 run to take an 8 point lead. Notre Dame found themselves playing catchup again. We have seen all year how not having Bonzie Colson hurts Notre Dame's offense. The Irish desperately needed someone to get them a bucket and out of the offensive funk. They had no one and this Hurricane run proved to be game clinching.

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Notre Dame now falls to 16-12 overall and 6-9 in the ACC. Three straight victories to end the season, Bonzie Colson coming back, and some damage done in the ACC tournament is what it might take for this team to make it to the NCAA tournament. It is a long shot yes, but I have learned to never put anything past Mike Brey.