After going on a three game losing streak, Notre Dame shocked the college basketball world by taking down a top 10 team in Kentucky. According to Mike Brey he couldn't have drawn this one up much better if he had to. The student section was electric, the local freshman called game, Marcus Freeman and LaPhonso Ellis were in the building, and Notre Dame's seniors made a few beautiful plays late in the game. It felt like the type of win Notre Dame's elite 8 teams would have. But just like Notre Dame's tough loss to Boston College, it only counts as one game.
Notre Dame's win against Kentucky could very well be a turning point for this team, but for the Irish to make Saturday more than a flash in the pan they'll have to continue a few things.
Holding Their Own on The Glass
Although Paul Atkinson and Nate Laszewski looked completely outmatched against Oscar Tshiebwe, (who doesn't?) but the Irish still outrebounded the Wildcats 33-28 in total and grabbed two more offensive rebounds than Kentucky. Notre Dame's bigs helped with that effort, but the main reason the Irish were good on the glass was their guards. Blake Wesley, Cormac Ryan, Prentiss Hubb, Trey Wertz, and Dane Goodwin combined for 20 rebounds.
The Irish aren't a great rebounding team on paper, but in most of their games this year they've found a way to handle themselves down low. But when they haven't, they've had no chance to win. When Kofi Cockburn was bullying Notre Dame's bigs or when Boston College's bigs slowly took the air out of Notre Dame with second chance points, the Irish had to play with no margin for error. That isn't a way to win consistently.
Whether Nate Laszewski contributes a few grown man rebounds, Notre Dame's guards find a way to help the bigs down there, or Paul Atkinson uses his advanced footwork to hold off more physically dominating centers, the Irish have to find a way to stay respectable on the glass. They aren't good enough defensively to consistently give opposing teams multiple chances to score. If the Irish can rebound like they did against Kentucky they could finish in the top sector of the ACC, but if they consistently turn in performances on the glass like they did against Boston College, things could be as ugly as they were in Notre Dame's first 8 games.
Score In Waves
Notre Dame's record wasn't pretty last season, but for most of the season their offense was. Notre Dame didn't necessarily have any elite scorers, but the reason their offense was so good was that everyone could score in bunches. This year they absolutely have that potential, but in most of their showings the Irish have only had two or three guys with high level offensive performances.
On Saturday Notre Dame didn't have anyone score above 15 points, but six of the seven members of the rotation scored at least seven points, four of which were in double figures. Occasionally Notre Dame will be carried by a big scoring outing like Blake Wesley had against Illinois or like Cormac Ryan had against Duke, but to consistently win in the ACC, they'll need at least a little something from everyone like they got Saturday.
Make Things Interesting Against Indiana
In college basketball, teams generally mix in a buy game after facing a non-conference opponent like Kentucky. Notre Dame won't have that luxury. Instead they'll have to face off against a solid Indiana team in the Crossroads Classic. The Hoosiers certainly have their flaws, but they'll provide another big test for the Irish.
To carry their momentum from the Kentucky win into ACC play, the Irish can't come out flat and lay an egg on Saturday. A win against Indiana would certainly be a welcome addition to Notre Dame's resume and confidence, but just proving they belong on the floor with a team like Indiana would do a lot for a group that struggled in nearly every game except their win against Kentucky.
However, if the Irish go into Indianapolis and get blasted by a beatable Hoosiers team, nearly all their momentum from this weekend will be gone and they'll have to start from square one.
Playing With Energy
In Mike Brey's elegant words, Notre Dame was "punched in the face a little bit" during the first month of the season. That happens in college basketball, the problem is that Notre Dame is more talented than three of the four teams they lost to in that stretch. The bigger concern with the Irish is that they just looked dead at times, that was partly due to shots not falling and partly due to playing in nearly empty gyms, but to win in the ACC, they'll have to play with intensity like they did against Kentucky.
With the ACC being down, Notre Dame will have a chance nearly every night during conference play. The Irish won't have a shot at playing past the ACC tournament if they play like they did against Boston College, but if they can consistently rebound, get contributions from everyone, and consistently rebound, they can be an NCAA tournament team.
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