I didn't watch but the Irish men let one get away from them with a 74-73 loss to UNC today. The good news is that Markus Burton was back and played 23 minutes and scored the game (for ND) leading 23 points.
I watched the game on Youtube, both teams were scoring eveningly up the the end. Tough one to lose, but the game could have gone either way.
We had the game on here. Watched the last 10 min. Irish had 3 pt. lead with less than 10 sec. to go. NC player drained a 3 and got fouled. Terrible defense, terrible loss.
Gipper, if its any consolation we are notorious for fouling three point shooters and subsequent results.
Back in Chapel Hill the Irish women's basketball welcomed back Maddy Westbeld and beat the Tar Heels 76-66 another great game from Hannah and Olivia. On the men's side, Tom Noie was pretty hard on the Irish, on Shrewsberry and Alloco Notre Dame basketball can't close out a getable game against North Carolina
The easiest thing in the world to do is criticize after-the-fact a team who loses a close game. I watched a lot of the game including the last several minutes. The Irish played better than they've been playing lately. I missed the comeback from 11 points down against a very good team, a clear sign of progress in a program trying to grow but not worthy of more than a pasing comment by Mr. Noie. I saw the grittiness toward the end when we fought NC tooth and nail at both ends of the court. We played good defense and found ways to sink shots. We missed too many free throws throughout the game, which IMO is the root cause of the loss. Yes, the foul was unfortunate. I challenge the armchair critics to put themselves in that situation and guarantee they won't foul. Me? I'm proud of the team effort and confident that the team will grow from this experience. Unlike Noie, I have confidence in the coach to continue the forward progress, albeit baby steps, but forward nonetheless.
Pat Coogan is pretty NSFW in this pregame speech to his teammates before taking the field against Georgia. Pat Coogan Embracing Leadership Role on Biggest Stage
Priceless..... "It's God, it's country and it's MF'n Notre Dame" has replaced "win one for the Gipper"
There goes our reputation as a shining example of what a Catholic University should be. Boston College must be giddy with delight.
I see that Coach James Franklin took a shot at Notre Dame for not being in a conference and sort of complained that they got to sit home and heal and get ready while they were playing in a Championship game. Same thing that Ohio State and Indiana were doing but then they are conference members so ti's OK.
Well at one time Penn St. was a national power playing in major bowl games and often in the NC hunt. Then they joined the Big Ten and got swallowed up by Michigan and OSU. ND has been in a lot more playoffs than Penn. St. has. They and Nebraska are a perfect example of how joining a conference can steal your identity and condemn you to mediocrity.
You can agree or disagree with what the man said, Terry, but it was a pretty classy interview from both coaches and calling it a "shot at Notre Dame" and "complaining" seems a little harsh. Here is the whole thing; Everything Penn State coach James Franklin said about Notre Dame, Orange Bowl
I read the transcript of Franklin's comments. I agree it's a stretch to call his comments about being in a conference a "shot at ND". I realize he was just expressing his general opinion in a tactful way. It's obvious to me from the entirety of his comments that he has immense respect and admiration for the ND football program and for Coach Freeman. My good friend, who is an ardent ND fan, thinks ND should be in a conference. I explained that, 1) ND, even if ranked #1, isn't eligible for a bye; 2) a hypothetical: for the sake of argument, let's say ND beats Penn State and plays competitively in the national championship game. Win or lose, how does it hurt us not being in a conference? We will have beaten the SEC champ and the Big10 runner-up. Win or lose the NC game, we clearly will have earned our right to play in the game. That won't quiet the critics, but it makes sense to me.
Sid, I have always considered your posts as the voice of reasoning. Seems to me you have fully explored the variables and I too think Notre Dame has earned the right to play in NC game! I am really looking forward the the upcoming clash with Penn State. May the best team win and advance.
Sid, for years, when others complained about the BCS being biased toward the SEC, I told them “all you have to do is beat us”. Notre Dame has won enough to prove they belong.
Maybe it wasn't a shot, but I do wonder why he even brought it up, has nothing to do with the game tomorrow night. Kirby Smart didn't bring it up.