As Notre Dame fought to erase a double-digit deficit last night in its 77-73 win against Duke, the evidence of why the Irish are so dangerous, and why Duke is so hard to trust, became crystal clear.
First, there is the case of Jerian Grant, a name that many more people–a list that includes myself–should have been talking about before the year started. Grant has improved each year he’s been on campus in South Bend, and it’s largely due to his willingness to play both ends of the floor within Mike Brey’s system. Over his last five games, all wins for Notre Dame, Grant has averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 assists, and 5.2 rebounds. He’s played inspiringly well beside Demetrius Jackson, and is shockingly good at knocking down loose-ball runners to effectively deliver the first knockout blow in a game.
Then we have Mike Brey, who was embattled in a sea of concern just last year thanks to a 15-17 season. Brey has pressed all the right buttons with this team, namely choosing to withstand the damage that Jahlil Okafor gave them underneath, to the tune of 22 points and 17 rebounds, so that they could protect the perimeter. Now, Duke still shot over 40-percent from deep, but the persistence of Brey to play small ball eventually led Duke to do the same, and forced Okafor to the bench.
Notre Dame is versatile, with penetrating guards who can finish to kick to knock down shooters, active forwards and a genuine star in Grant. While certain NCAA Tournament matchups may lack the star, it’s not unreasonable to assume that the Blue Devils will run into a squad who can break down the first level of their defense and find shooters on the outside. That will ultimately be the potential downfall for this Duke team, and why trusting them to make a deep run in March is so dangerous.
Offensively, they can fill it up. Nearly every time that they put the ball into the post with Okafor, good things happen. Guards like Quinn Cook and Tyus Jones can hurt you from deep. Thus the question: If I’m all about teams that can score in March, why don’t I love this Duke team?
How about losing a game where the favorite for Freshman of the Year drops 22 and 17? How about giving up a double-digit lead and struggling to put the ball in the hoop over the final 11-minutes of the game?
When the Blue Devils are “on”, they’re able to compete with anyone in the country and certainly would need to be in the conversation for a national title. Whether or not they can play enough defense, and feed their big man enough, to stay in the conversation remains to be seen.
On the other hand, the Irish are 20-2 and 8-1 in ACC play, creeping right up No. 2 Virginia’s tail. Their toughest games remaining are at Duke and at Louisville. It looks like it may be time to truly consider ND as a possible one-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
But there are concerns here.
Two times now they have gone down by more than 10 points in the second half at home. Games against Duke, Miami, and Georgia Tech, all of which were at home, saw the Irish trail at halftime. What happens when they face an upset-minded team in March Madness and trail at halftime, but on a neutral floor? Notre Dame’s home court advantage has proved to be extremely valuable, but that will be missing in just over a month.
This has been a special season for the Irish and Mike Brey, a season that will continue to raise the level of profile they can carry on the recruiting trail. If they want it to become even more special, slow starts cannot be accepted. Losses against the likes of Boston College, Clemson and Pitt (all games coming up on the schedule) cannot be accepted. Jerian Grant needs continued support from his teammates, and their tradition of taking care of the ball offensively must not change. The Irish are for real, and they don’t seem done yet.
