Introducing Tory and the Miracles: Notre Dame Handles #13 Georgetown, Solidifies Its Bubblicious Status

Some of the most arduous and interminable moments for sports fans are the final minutes of a basketball game where the margin is somewhere between eight and fifteen points.  For the fans of the team leading, you're just hoping no disaster befalls your squad - normally a sequence of missed free throws and horrible turnovers - that makes you the lead on SportsCenter and an example in "Don't stop believing!".  The trailing team's fans just want the game to be over with and for the Chinese water torture of the final seconds to tick off so they can move on with their day.

Yesterday at the Verizon Center, I would have gladly had those final few minutes stretch deep into the afternoon.  What was there not to like, especially with this being my first Irish hoops game in-person since the late winter of 2008?  A desperate Georgetown team scrambling, leading to sweet transition dunk after sweet transition dunk.  An ecstatic Notre Dame bench being supported by an arena that at that was mostly Irish*, especially in the upper levels.  A left-for-dead squad led by an embattled coach without a former Big East Player of the Year finishing off its second consecutive double-digit win over a ranked conference opponent.  No, I would have been cool hanging out for a while longer.

* Los Angeles fans shouldn't get all the credit, as a great majority of the Georgetown faithful embraced the "Arrive late, leave early" tenet many West Coasters are bashed for.

But sadly the final buzzer did have to sound, and we now get to throw ourselves fully into March Madness mode, starting with bubble watching, an almost annual tradition for Irish fans.  When your team is squarely on the bubble - as of Sunday morning, Joe Lunardi had the Irish as the very first team out, so that's where we are - you gain so many rooting interests.  Haven't cared about Rhode Island since Lamar Odom left?  Now you're glowing after their loss to St. Bonaventure.  Normally ecstatic about upsets?  Not once conference tournaments start, where you pull out the pom-poms for chalk and only the chalk.

How did the Irish - a team basically abandoned by all but the most faithful of supporters - manage to not just win, but to lead for almost the entirety of Saturday's game?  On defense, it was active hands (ten steals), great help near the rim (seven blocks), efficient work on the defensive glass (Hoyas got only five offensive boards the whole game) and a concentrated effort to get out on Georgetown's quality shooters (Hoyas are 16th in the country in 3P%).  On offense, it was the best effort of Carleton Scott's career (17 points on 7 of 8 shooting), a huge second half from Ben Hansbrough (a 10-0 run by himself to start the half, and a 6-0 run midway through) and Tim Abromaitis making up for a bad shooting day (1 for 9 from 3) by crashing the boards and getting out in transition.  All of this was aided by the steady hand of Tory Jackson, who played forty minutes, with a little bonus scoring  from Jack Cooley, who found his way to the hoop for a couple of tough lay-ups.

I realize that Georgetown was playing without one of its most effective scorers, as a clearly ill Austin Freeman contributed little in the game, but this was still a monster win.  The Gody-less Irish are making one of the biggest commitments to defense in the Mike Brey era, getting big shots from everyone (every starter but Ty had at least one three) and sharing the ball with aplomb (each starter had at least three assists, obviously great balance).  Even though the Irish played great defense, Georgetown still shot 51.1%, but great position on the defensive boards limited second chance opportunities and helped Notre Dame get out in transition for some easy buckets.  This was just a complete game played by a complete team, and now dancing in March is a viable option after three straight heart-breaking losses by a total of six points sans Harangody.

In regards to Big Luke, his return this week seems doubtful.  Mike Brey: 

"It's less than 50-50 that he would play Wednesday [against Connecticut] on senior night,’’ Brey said. "And if he can't play Wednesday then he won't play Saturday. We're not going to mess with this. He's done so much for us already. The reality is that we have played our butts off without him and we're prepared to do it again if that's the case." 

It seems like Coach Brey is happy with how this team is playing and is in no rush to work Harangody back into the lineup.  For Luke's future, this is the best decision, but for this team's short-term prospects?  Also probably a very good decision.  For as much talent as Gody has, the ball movement was considerably more stagnant with him in the line-up, with the big man shooting one out of every three times down the floor.  It's not an indictment of Harangody, as it seemed like that was the best option most of the time.

If Brey was able to transition #44 back in while maintaining the current level of play on defense and on the boards, what a force this team could be.  But if Luke's return means the end of the style of play we're currently seeing?  I'm not as anxious, as this has been some inspired, beautiful basketball on both ends.  Perhaps knowing that his teammates can score without him, Harangody would be unfettered on defense and able to throw himself around some more, but it's just too tough to tell until he is out there reintegrating himself.

If Harangody doesn't come back, where do the Irish stand in regards to the tournament?  Considering they've already proven they can beat top teams without him, it should have no negative impact.  I think the Irish need to win two more games, provided at least one of them is in the regular season.  9-9 in league with wins over West Virginia, Pitt, Georgetown and either UConn or Marquette, followed by at least one win in the Garden would probably do the trick.  Obviously there are a lot of moving parts and some improbable conference tournament runs that suck up bids would reduce the margin for error, but I like Notre Dame's chances.

Next up, UConn Wednesday night in the final game at the Joyce Center this season.  The Irish let one get away from them in Hartford earlier this season, so this would be payback for both that loss and the termination of the long home winning streak last season.  I'd rather the Irish's tournament hopes don't hinge on a game at Marquette, so this is pretty close to a must-win.

A few more notes from Saturday's 78-64 win before we move on:

• The biggest problem the Gody-less Irish have is in one-on-one post defense, as Greg Monroe's decent game from the block was a reminder of all the damage Samardo Samuels did last Wednesday night in Freedom Hall.  Thankfully, you don't run into too many back-to-the-basket post threats anymore, so best case, Notre Dame avoids that match-up.  Worst case?  Mike Broghammer and Jack Cooley get to use up all ten fouls.
• It's funny how winning eases so many worries.  Earlier in the season, we were complaining that Mike Brey was only using a 6.5 man rotation and Joey Brooks wasn't getting consistent minutes.  Yesterday against Georgetown Mike Brey used a 6.5 man rotation, didn't play Brooks at all and there's been nary a peep about it.  But seriously, coach, we can't get one Brooks/Broghammer pick and roll per game, just for alliteration's sake?
• Harangody and Jackson have had some stellar games over the last four years, but Carleton's Scott effort has to rank up there among Irish performances the last few seasons.  How many guys get two SportsCenter-worthy put-back dunks, three blocks, two steals and hit three of their four three-point attempts in the same game?  If this is what happens after quitting the team for a couple days, everyone needs to take a little mid-week break.
• If you were interested in comparing him to his brother, I fully endorse the use of Insane B as a nickname for Ben Hansbrough.
• Not a huge offensive game from Ty Nash, as Georgetown's length game him a little trouble down in the post.  Still was a big contributor as he grabbed some boards, got to the line and helped bring the ball up against pressure.
• Hopefully Abromaitis' poor shooting afternoon means UConn is in some trouble.  Not sure who will be guarding who, but the Stanley Robinson/Abro match-up has the opportunity to turn into a ridiculously fun one-on-one battle.
• Monday we'll have an extensive list of teams to root against, because getting to focus your hateful energies on random teams - BOOOOO UAB! - is truly one of the greatest gifts of March.