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A Sweet 16 rally to make Notre Dame forget spring football A Sweet 16 rally to make Notre Dame forget spring football
(about 2 hours later)
PHILADELPHIA — The irony was inescapable. In the city where college basketball matters most, the NCAA East Region semifinals began with a game between two schools whose basketball teams are almost an afterthought among most of their fans, students and alumni.PHILADELPHIA — The irony was inescapable. In the city where college basketball matters most, the NCAA East Region semifinals began with a game between two schools whose basketball teams are almost an afterthought among most of their fans, students and alumni.
“We’ve played all these amazing games the last few weeks,” Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey said. “And the main topic of conversation on campus is the competition for the quarterback job.”“We’ve played all these amazing games the last few weeks,” Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey said. “And the main topic of conversation on campus is the competition for the quarterback job.”
Maybe if Brey’s team can win one more game and get to the Final Four for the first time since 1978 it can steal a sentence or two from the football team. On Friday, the Irish won one more amazing game, scoring the last eight points of the contest in the final 20 seconds to beat Wisconsin, 61-56, and advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight season.Maybe if Brey’s team can win one more game and get to the Final Four for the first time since 1978 it can steal a sentence or two from the football team. On Friday, the Irish won one more amazing game, scoring the last eight points of the contest in the final 20 seconds to beat Wisconsin, 61-56, and advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight season.
[Latest scores and news from the Sweet 16][Latest scores and news from the Sweet 16]
The hero was Demetrius Jackson, the junior guard, who Brey has pushed to become this team’s emotional leader. With the Irish trailing 56-53 after a Vitto Brown three-pointer with 24 seconds to go, Jackson made a driving layup. Then, after a time out, he stole the ball from Nigel Hayes and made another layup for a 57-56 lead. Bronson Koenig missed at the other end and V.J. Beachem rebounded and calmly made two free throws with 6.8 seconds left for a 59-56 lead. Then, clearly trying to foul Koenig at midcourt to prevent a tying three-point attempt, Jackson came up with another steal—and two more free throws—to seal the game. The hero was Demetrius Jackson, the junior guard, who Brey has pushed to become this team’s emotional leader. With the Irish trailing 56-53 after a Vitto Brown three-pointer with 24 seconds to go, Jackson made a driving layup. Then, after a timeout, he stole the ball from Nigel Hayes and made another layup for a 57-56 lead. Bronson Koenig missed at the other end and V.J. Beachem rebounded and calmly made two free throws with 6.8 seconds left for a 59-56 lead. Then, clearly trying to foul Koenig at midcourt to prevent a tying three-point attempt, Jackson came up with another steal — and two more free throws — to seal the game.
Not bad for a football school.Not bad for a football school.
“Coach reminded us that we had a foul to give so we could try for a very aggressive trap before fouling,” Jackson said, describing his first steal. “On the second one, we still had a foul to give so I felt I could go after the ball very aggressively.”“Coach reminded us that we had a foul to give so we could try for a very aggressive trap before fouling,” Jackson said, describing his first steal. “On the second one, we still had a foul to give so I felt I could go after the ball very aggressively.”
Of course the role of basketball isn’t all that different at Wisconsin than it is at Notre Dame. The athletic director — Barry Alvarez — moonlights every couple of years in his old job as football coach when a Badger football coach moves on.Of course the role of basketball isn’t all that different at Wisconsin than it is at Notre Dame. The athletic director — Barry Alvarez — moonlights every couple of years in his old job as football coach when a Badger football coach moves on.
And yet, there they both were, the opening act in the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night before the basketball bluebloods, North Carolina and Indiana, took over the building as midnight approached.And yet, there they both were, the opening act in the Wells Fargo Center on Friday night before the basketball bluebloods, North Carolina and Indiana, took over the building as midnight approached.
[The day Reagan was shot and the Hoosiers and Heels played on][The day Reagan was shot and the Hoosiers and Heels played on]
The argument could easily be made that Notre Dame was the most unlikely of this year’s Sweet 16. “I saw something Monday that rated us the 16th-best team of the 16 left playing,” Brey said. “I told the group, maybe so, but we’re number one in toughness.”The argument could easily be made that Notre Dame was the most unlikely of this year’s Sweet 16. “I saw something Monday that rated us the 16th-best team of the 16 left playing,” Brey said. “I told the group, maybe so, but we’re number one in toughness.”
The Badgers have a strong case as an even more unlikely participant. A year ago, they played in the national championship game after stunning undefeated Kentucky in the semifinals. But they lost four starters, including national player of the year Frank Kaminsky and go-to-guy Sam Dekker.The Badgers have a strong case as an even more unlikely participant. A year ago, they played in the national championship game after stunning undefeated Kentucky in the semifinals. But they lost four starters, including national player of the year Frank Kaminsky and go-to-guy Sam Dekker.
Then, in December, they lost their coach when Bo Ryan, who had never failed to make the NCAA tournament in 14 seasons at Wisconsin, suddenly retired 12 games into the season.Then, in December, they lost their coach when Bo Ryan, who had never failed to make the NCAA tournament in 14 seasons at Wisconsin, suddenly retired 12 games into the season.
After Ryan’s departure, longtime assistant Greg Gard was named interim coach and the Badgers promptly got off to a 1-4 start in Big Ten play. It appeared Alvarez would get the national coaching search for Ryan’s replacement that he wanted and that Wisconsin’s string of 17 straight NCAA tournament bids would come to a crashing halt. But the Badgers got their act together and won 11 of 12, including wins over Michigan State and Indiana and a stunningly easy win at Maryland that proved to be the first crack in the Terrapins veneer. After Ryan’s departure, longtime assistant Greg Gard was named interim coach and the Badgers promptly got off to a 1-4 start in Big Ten play. It appeared Alvarez would get the national coaching search for Ryan’s replacement that he wanted and that Wisconsin’s string of 17 straight NCAA tournament bids would come to a crashing halt. But the Badgers got their act together and won 11 of 12, including wins over Michigan State and Indiana and a stunningly easy win at Maryland that proved to be the first crack in the Terrapins’ veneer.
By the time the Big Ten tournament rolled around, Alvarez had no choice but to give Gard a five-year contract. The Badgers promptly lost to Nebraska in the tournament but slogged past Pittsburgh, 47-43, and then stunned No. 2 seed Xavier, 66-63, on a step-back, buzzer-beating three point shot by Koenig on Sunday night. By the time the Big Ten tournament rolled around, Alvarez had no choice but to give Gard a five-year contract. The Badgers promptly lost to Nebraska in the tournament but slogged past Pittsburgh, 47-43, and then stunned No. 2 seed Xavier, 66-63, on a step-back, buzzer-beating three-point shot by Koenig on Sunday night.
And who should be waiting for them in South Philadelphia? The ACC team that isn’t an ACC team — at least not in the sport that defines the school. Brey has been the basketball coach since 2000 — meaning he is on his fifth football coach. Notre Dame has been to the tournament 11 times in his 16 seasons but last season was the real breakthrough. The Irish won the ACC tournament — beating Duke and North Carolina to do so. Then they reached the Elite Eight before losing in the final seconds to Kentucky.And who should be waiting for them in South Philadelphia? The ACC team that isn’t an ACC team — at least not in the sport that defines the school. Brey has been the basketball coach since 2000 — meaning he is on his fifth football coach. Notre Dame has been to the tournament 11 times in his 16 seasons but last season was the real breakthrough. The Irish won the ACC tournament — beating Duke and North Carolina to do so. Then they reached the Elite Eight before losing in the final seconds to Kentucky.
But, like Wisconsin, Notre Dame lost key players, notably Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton.But, like Wisconsin, Notre Dame lost key players, notably Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton.
“I actually started the season just hoping we’d get a [tournament] bid,” Brey said. “We needed to back up what we did last season by being good again this season. We had talent but we also had guys who had to change their roles.”“I actually started the season just hoping we’d get a [tournament] bid,” Brey said. “We needed to back up what we did last season by being good again this season. We had talent but we also had guys who had to change their roles.”
Most notably, center Zach Auguste had to become the glue at both ends of the court and Jackson had to become the team’s emotional leader.Most notably, center Zach Auguste had to become the glue at both ends of the court and Jackson had to become the team’s emotional leader.
“Sometimes he gets carried away,” Brey said of Jackson, laughing while comparing the center to a former star he once helped coach at Duke. “He can be tough on guys, very tough—a little bit like [Christian] Laettner. I keep telling him, ‘Sometimes you gotta hug the guys, sometimes you gotta jump ’em.’ He’s gotten better and better as the season’s gone on.” “Sometimes he gets carried away,” Brey said of Jackson, laughing while comparing the center to a former star he once helped coach at Duke. “He can be tough on guys, very tough — a little bit like [Christian] Laettner. I keep telling him, ‘Sometimes you gotta hug the guys, sometimes you gotta jump ’em.’ He’s gotten better and better as the season’s gone on.”
On Friday, Jackson’s teammates were hugging him as the buzzer sounded after an improbable escape from a game they trailed for most of the evening. The teams had played to an ugly 23-19 Wisconsin halftime lead (combined shooting: 16 of 55) before Wisconsin built a 34-26 lead early in the second half. But the Irish chipped back and the game see-sawed until Brown hit what appeared to be a dagger for the 56-53 lead. Little did anyone know that would be Wisconsin’s final points of the season. On Friday, Jackson’s teammates were hugging him as the buzzer sounded after an improbable escape from a game they trailed for most of the evening. The teams had played to an ugly 23-19 Wisconsin halftime lead (combined shooting: 16 for 55) before Wisconsin built a 34-26 lead early in the second half. But the Irish chipped back and the game see-sawed until Brown hit what appeared to be a dagger for the 56-53 lead. Little did anyone know that would be Wisconsin’s final points of the season.
The critical play was Jackson’s strip and steal of Hayes.The critical play was Jackson’s strip and steal of Hayes.
“That’s what we wanted, the ball in Nigel’s hands on the inbounds,” Gard said. “He’s experienced, he’s big and he’s strong. He tried to split the trap . . . and they got a layup.”“That’s what we wanted, the ball in Nigel’s hands on the inbounds,” Gard said. “He’s experienced, he’s big and he’s strong. He tried to split the trap . . . and they got a layup.”
Colson and Jackson both got their hands on the ball and it ended up in Jackson’s hands. A few seconds later, it was over.Colson and Jackson both got their hands on the ball and it ended up in Jackson’s hands. A few seconds later, it was over.
“That’s the nature of this tournament,” Hayes said. “Once second Vitto hits a three and it looks like we’re going to advance, then you blink your eyes and Jackson’s on the line putting them up five.”“That’s the nature of this tournament,” Hayes said. “Once second Vitto hits a three and it looks like we’re going to advance, then you blink your eyes and Jackson’s on the line putting them up five.”
And, back into the Elite Eight. “Maybe it’s a destiny thing,” Brey said. “That’s three we’ve had like that.”And, back into the Elite Eight. “Maybe it’s a destiny thing,” Brey said. “That’s three we’ve had like that.”
Make it four and his team might be the talk of South Bend — for at least 24 hours.Make it four and his team might be the talk of South Bend — for at least 24 hours.
For more by John Feinstein, visit washingtonpost.com/feinstein.For more by John Feinstein, visit washingtonpost.com/feinstein.