The Day After: Notre Dame 74, BU 67

OK, more like three days after, but it's taken a while for us to settle in after the 14+ hour car ride back from South Bend. Still, what an experience.

It's fairly safe to assume that not many people expected the game to be as tightly contested as it was, not the least of whom was No. 12/13 Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, who said that he told his team at halftime that the Terriers were a Big East caliber team. What BU accomplished in Saturday's 74-67 loss was about as impressive a feat since the team's last winning season in 2004-05. While the Terriers literally did everything they needed to do but actually win the game, it was really the effort and energy put forth by BU that mattered most.

From the tip-off, BU looked as though they could hang with the Fighting Irish. Nobody on the team appeared frightened and if intensity was a problem earlier in the season (mainly the four-point loss to Marshall), it shouldn't be any more. It was the kind of performance that can change a season and one that, presumably, the Terriers will be able to look back on for inspiration once conference play begins. In contrast to previous games where players let rebounds slip through their hands and weren't diving on the floor for loose balls, this game was different. BU appeared more powerful and aggressive than one of the more powerful and aggressive teams in the nation. Even Scott Brittain, who BU coach Dennis Wolff has been riding hard for being less forceful than he has in the past, was very assertive in the paint and had two big blocks, including one at the end of the half that preserved BU's seven-point lead.

One of the bright spots not mentioned in the Free Press' article (John Holland's start, Corey Lowe's second half, BU's rebounding and aggressiveness) was the play of Tyler Morris. Morris looked the best he has all season, if not close to the best he has in his career. He was feeling it from beyond the arc, but also completed nice drives to the bucket and was smart with the basketball. He picked up four steals compared to turning the ball over just once. While Morris said his performance had nothing to do with being back in his home state of Indiana, Wolff will be ecstatic if Morris can replicate his performance at the Joyce Center for the rest of the season.

The Terriers showed Saturday what they've been saying they're capable of over the past two seasons, and now that they've performed like that against such a formidable opponent, it will be harder to take losses should they happen to unranked teams -- especially America East teams. While this game by no means guarantees anything regarding how conference play will go (as Brey said, "College basketball, man"), there's little doubt it can only help improve BU's mindset and make the Terriers feel as though they can play with literally any team in the nation.

Pros:
-- Mindset: BU could have easily been deterred by Notre Dame's 40-game winning streak at the Joyce Center prior to the game, as well as their national ranking and inside-outside combo in Kyle McAlarney and Luke Harangody. They weren't, though, and led for roughly 34 minutes of the game.
-- Tyler Morris' play: Can't stress enough how good he was in this game (not that Holland and Lowe weren't), but if he performs like this the rest of the way, the Terriers will be very difficult to beat.

Cons:
-- Jeff Pelage's playing time: Wolff has had Pelage tested numerous times to fix what he calls a "phantom cough" that has been plaguing him for most of the season and hampered his ability to practice 100 percent, but the tests have yielded no results. Until Pelage stops coughing, or starts learning how to play through it so it doesn't effect the team, he'll remain on the bench.
-- Inability to win close games: Even though it was against a nationally ranked team, the Terriers still dropped another close contest. All four of BU's losses have been by less than 10 points and all have been close down the stretch. It's been a recurring theme with this group (inability to close games out) , but perhaps a new found confidence from their performance in South Bend will change that.

Links:
No such luck
Irish protect streak
Harangody's double-double helps Irish finish Terriers
Video: Free archived video of the game can be seen here

Post-game Audio & Photos

All photos taken by Kristyn Ulanday


BU coach Dennis Wolff's opening statement


Notre Dame coach Mike Brey's opening statement


Wolff was surprised the Terriers out-rebounded Notre Dame


Corey Lowe talks about how Notre Dame guarded him


Tyler Morris discusses the non-impact playing in Indiana had on his game


Wolff was impressed with BU's effort and Lowe's second-half performance


Brey reflects on Luke Harangody's performance (23 points, 15 rebounds)


Brey gets admittedly nervous about ND's 41-game winning streak at Joyce


Brey talks about preparing his players for the Terriers

Live Blog: Boston University vs. University of Notre Dame

Tonight's game between the Boston University Terriers (5-3) and University of Notre Dame (6-2) is scheduled to tip-off at 7:00 p.m. from the Joyce Center in South Bend, Ind.

Here are the probable starting lineups for tonight's contest:

Boston University Terriers
02 F Matt Wolff
13 G Corey Lowe
21 F Jake O'Brien
23 F John Holland
24 G Tyler Morris

University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish
02 G Tory Jackson
23 G Kyle McAlarney
40 F Luke Zeller
42 G Ryan Ayers
44 F Luke Harangody

Final score: University of Notre Dame 74, Boston University 67

Leading scorers:
BU -- Corey Lowe, 19 (including the 1,000th point of his career)
ND -- Luke Harangody, 23

Leading rebounders:
BU -- John Holland, 9
ND -- Luke Harangody, 15

Leading assists:
BU -- Corey Lowe, 4
ND -- Two tied at 5

Check back later tonight, as well as on the Free Press website for much more coverage of tonight' game.

GAMEDAY: Boston University vs. University of Notre Dame

Dennis Wolff and the Terriers' coaching staff spent their early-week practices trying to impress upon their players the importance of making hustle plays, which paid off in BU's ugly but effective 55-43 win against Yale on Wednesday. Today, however, brings a task of an altogether different sort.

Like last year's meeting with Pittsburgh, tonight's game versus the Notre Dame Fighting Irish is a test that does not require victory in order to pass. While the Terriers can win this game, to do so will require a flawless performance from the entire team. Tonight is not just a battle between two teams, it is a measuring stick for the Terriers. How will BU fare against the big boys?

Because big, you see, is exactly what the Fighting Irish are. For Mike Brey's team, everything starts with Luke Harangody. Last year's Big East Player of the Year weighs in at 255 pounds and uses all of them effectively. As a sophomore Harangody became just the second player to lead the Big East in both points and rebounds, averaging 22.3 and 11.3 in conference play, respectively. Harangody's interior presence is complemented by a pair of deadly scorers on the perimeter in seniors Kyle McAlarney and Ryan Ayers.

Dennis Wolff and Mike Brey know each other well from Brey's days with the Delaware Blue Hens, so it's difficult to imagine either coach surprising the other from a tactical standpoint. Given Notre Dame's talent level, the Terriers will have to execute extremely well in order to have a chance to win. Specifically, BU will have to find a way to keep Harangody from winning the game by himself. The Terrier frontcourt, even on its best day, is going to be overmatched against a preseason All-American, but if Harangody is held to his usual numbers instead of 30 points and 20 rebounds, consider it a victory for BU.

BU's best chance to stay in this game and give the Fighting Irish a run for their money (or pot of gold, in this instance) requires a strong performance from the perimeter. The Terriers have shooters, and plenty of them. If BU can get some open looks and knock them down -- easier said than done, given the unfamiliar hostile environment and pressure of playing a power-conference opponent -- this game can be kept close, and in a close game anything can happen. It's a lot to ask of Corey Lowe & Co., but if Dennis Wolff wasn't looking to give his team a test, this game would never have been scheduled.

Projected starting lineups:





Links:
Terriers are next, Big East looms
Free throws could cost Notre Dame
Irish begin three-game homestand Saturday night against Boston University