Well that stinks
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish Men’s Basketball team (11-13, 5-8) returned to Purcell Pavilion tonight, looking to build momentum after their thrilling double-overtime upset against Boston College. Ahead of that game, Coach Shrewsberry fired up his team with a powerful message: “Hunt adversity, love the challenge. That’s us right now. Love the challenge.”
embrace adversity, love the challenge #GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/3muYJISL7z
— Notre Dame Men’s Basketball (@NDmbb) February 14, 2025
Tonight’s challenge? Taking down a formidable Louisville Cardinals squad (19-16, 12-2) that has been dominant in ACC play. Could the Irish rise to the occasion once again and pull off another upset? Let’s dive into the action!
First Half
Notre Dame started strong, scoring first with a three-pointer by Braeden Shrewsberry. Louisville failed to score on their opening possession, and the Irish extended their lead with a jumper from Sir Mohammed.
Louisville got on the board at the 17:37 mark with a three-pointer by Reyne Smith. After Tae Davis missed his first shot for Notre Dame, Smith struck again with another three-pointer for Louisville, taking the lead.
Sir Mohammed answered with a driving layup to regain the lead for the Irish. Louisville missed a three-point attempt, and Notre Dame secured the rebound, leading to another three-pointer from Braeden Shrewsberry.
Chucky Hepburn responded with a driving layup for Louisville, cutting Notre Dame’s lead to 10-8. (15:06 Media Timeout)
Coming out of the media timeout, Braeden Shrewsberry drained another three-pointer, extending Notre Dame’s lead. Louisville answered with a powerful dunk by Noah Waterman.
Markus Burton then turned the ball over, and Louisville capitalized with a layup from J’Vonne Hardey. Tae Davis responded for the Irish with a turnaround jumper.
Louisville committed a turnover on their next possession, and Markus Burton knocked down his first three-pointer of the game. Noah Waterman answered with a three-pointer for Louisville, bringing the score to 18-15 in favor of Notre Dame at the 11:33 media timeout.
After the media timeout, Louisville struck first with a jumper by Terrence Edwards Jr. just before the shot clock expired.
Markus Burton missed a layup on Notre Dame’s next possession, and Louisville took advantage with a three-pointer from Chucky Hepburn. Burton then lost the ball, leading to a fast-break layup by Hepburn.
Braeden Shrewsberry attempted a contested jumper but missed. Louisville also missed a three-pointer by Hepburn, but they secured the rebound, and Khani Rooths knocked down his first three-pointer of the game. Louisville now leads 25-18 at the 8:00 media timeout.
After the break, Notre Dame scored first with a jumper by Tae Davis. The Irish then grabbed a defensive rebound, and Markus Burton followed up with a successful jumper.
Tae Davis committed a foul on James Scott, sending him to the free-throw line, where he made one of two shots. Louisville leads 26-22 at the 3:37 media timeout.
After the final media timeout, James Scott made one of two free throws. Markus Burton responded with a pull-up jumper, but Scott answered with an emphatic dunk.
Burton then missed a jumper, and Louisville capitalized with a three-pointer from Terrence Edwards Jr. On the next possession, Burton drove to the basket and finished with a layup.
Notre Dame secured a defensive rebound, and with just 12 seconds left in the half, Burton scored another driving layup, cutting Louisville’s lead to four. However, at the buzzer, Reyne Smith drained a three-pointer, pushing Louisville’s lead to seven at halftime, 35-28.
Second Half
After halftime, James Scott fouled Kebba Njie, who made both free throws, cutting Louisville’s lead to five. Shortly after, Edwards Jr. fouled Tae Davis, who also made both of his free throws, bringing the Irish within three.
Reyne Smith then responded with a three-pointer, pushing Louisville’s lead back to six. Louisville leads 38-32 at the 15:49 media timeout.
After the timeout, Notre Dame struck first with a jumper from Tae Davis, who was fouled on the shot. He made the free throw, completing the three-point play.
Louisville quickly responded with a three-pointer from Terrence Edwards Jr. After Roper II missed a three-pointer, Louisville grabbed the rebound and turned it into points with a jumper from Hadley.
Markus Burton then knocked down a contested three-pointer, cutting the deficit to five. James Scott answered with a layup, drawing a foul from Kebba Njie. Scott converted the and-one at the free-throw line.
Notre Dame responded with a jumper from Burton, but he then fouled Edwards Jr., who made one of two free throws. The Irish secured the rebound but couldn’t capitalize on their next possession. Notre Dame trails by seven, 47-40, at the 11:32 media timeout.
After the break, Sir Mohammed fouled Aboubacar Traore, who made both free throws. On the next possession, Aboubacar Traore fouled Tae Davis, who also made both of his free throws.
Louisville extended their lead to nine with a jumper from Chucky Hepburn. Hepburn then fouled Markus Burton, sending him to the line, where he made both free throws.
Hepburn quickly answered with another jumper for Louisville. Burton missed a three-pointer, and Louisville grabbed the rebound, leading to a layup by James Scott. Notre Dame called a timeout with 9:04 remaining, as Louisville leads 55-44.
After the timeout, Braeden Shrewsberry missed a three-pointer, and Louisville secured the rebound. However, Chucky Hepburn made a bad pass, allowing Tae Davis to grab the ball and score on a fast-break layup.
Louisville responded immediately with a driving layup and a foul, converting it into a three-point play.
J.R. Konieczny missed a jumper, and Hadley capitalized with a three-pointer for Louisville. Konieczny missed another shot on the next possession, and Hadley struck again with another three-pointer, extending Louisville’s lead to 18. Louisville leads 64-46 with 6:50 remaining. (Notre Dame 30-second timeout.)
After Notre Dame’s second 30-second timeouts, Sir Mohammed drove to the basket for a layup and drew a foul. He converted the and-one at the free-throw line.
Louisville quickly responded with a layup from Chucky Hepburn, who was also fouled and completed his three-point play at the line.
Markus Burton answered with a driving layup, trying to cut into Louisville’s lead. Shortly after, Hepburn fouled Burton, sending him to the free-throw line, where he made both shots. Louisville leads 67-53 at the 3:51 media timeout.
As the final minutes wound down, Notre Dame kept pushing to narrow the deficit. J.R. Konieczny scored on a fast-break layup, but Sir Mohammed then fouled Terrence Edwards Jr., who made both of his free throws.
Mohammed attempted a three-pointer that spun around the rim but didn’t fall. On the next possession, Tae Davis was fouled by Reyne Smith and went to the line, sinking both free throws. Louisville called a 30-second timeout with 2:25 remaining, 69-57.
After the timeout, Terrence Edwards Jr. drove into the lane, scored a layup, and drew a foul. He made the free throw to complete the three-point play.
Tae Davis attempted a jumper but missed. On the next possession, James Scott was fouled and went to the free-throw line, making one of two shots.
Markus Burton missed a three-pointer, but Notre Dame grabbed the defensive rebound, and Braeden Shrewsberry knocked down a three.
Chucky Hepburn answered with a driving layup for Louisville. Shortly after, Burton was called for an offensive foul on Hepburn, who was slow to get up.
Louisville inbounded the ball and ran out the clock. Final score: Louisville 75, Notre Dame 60.
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Notre Dame’s next game is on Wednesday, February 19th, at Purcell Pavilion, facing the Southern Methodist University Mustangs, at 7pm EST.