Rush The Court

Notre Dame didn’t play its best game of the season in the NCAA Tournament opener Thursday, but the Irish were able to survive a second-half Princeton push to advance to the second round.

Key Takeaways

1. Princeton couldn’t find the range from deep. The Tigers’ ineptitude from long range (they made just 8-of-31 three-point attempts) was the defining element of this game. Devin Cannady, who shot 42 percent from long range on the season, made just two of his 10 attempts today. The largest of those eight misses came with just three seconds to play and the Tigers down two; when Cannady’s potential game-winner caromed off the back rim, Princeton’s upset bid was effectively over, and in fitting fashion: on a three-point miss.
2. Irish dominate the glass. Notre Dame and its undersized roster rarely found an ACC team it could dominate on the glass, but the Ivy League champs proved beatable on the backboards. Bonzie Colson‘s 12 boards paced the Irish, which finished with nine offensive rebounds and a +3 rebounding advantage. On a day when the shots were not falling, those second opportunities were extremely important.
3. Bonzie keeps grinding. Notre Dame’s gritty leader submitted one more tough performance in a season full of them. Colson had 18 points, seven rebounds, and a pair of blocks — all of which led the Irish. He did leave some points on the board – Colson shot just 6-of-13 from the field and missed four of his 10 free throw attempts — but on a day where Irish three-point attempts (11) and makes (four) were well below their season averages, it was the resourcefulness of Colson that again carried the offense.

Star of the Game. Matt Farrell, Notre Dame. The Irish point guard, like every other player in this game, was far from perfect; however, Farrell was a spark for much of the afternoon, finishing with 16 points, four assists, and a pair of steals. He made six of his nine field goal attempts (including three from long-range) and came up with a number of key hoops to maintain the Irish lead early in the second half. Colson was equally effective, but Farrell gets the nod as the most efficient player on this afternoon.

Quotable.

• “We’ve been in games like that. I’m really proud we’re still alive.” – Mike Brey, on his team’s survival this afternoon.

Sights and Sounds. The first game of the NCAA Tournament can always feel a little sleepy, and this opener was no exception. The malaise of both offenses didn’t necessarily improve the energy in the KeyBank Center, either, but Princeton’s steady second half comeback returned a bit of energy over the final 10 minutes. Neither team boasted a sizable fan base on hand, but the Notre Dame faithful that made the trip exited happy.

What’s Next. The Irish will await the winner of the West Virginia-Bucknell game happening right now. Mike Brey will surely tell you that his team will be ready for whichever squad emerges from that tilt, but make no mistake that Notre Dame will be rooting for the Patriot League champs to spring the upset.