Notre Dame defeated Mississippi State in the final game of the NCAA Tournament to bring home the program’s second national championship. I keep waiting for this to somehow be an elaborate April Fool’s joke, but now that I’ve ordered my championship hat and t-shirt, it’s sinking in that it was real. I’ll have a more detailed writeup in the next couple of days, but for now let’s just go over some highlights and fun facts.
The Game Itself
The Irish got out to a quick start early in the first quarter, taking a 10-4 lead, before Mississippi State started to take over. Their pressure really got to the Irish, who were also struggling against Bulldogs center Teaira McCowan. MSU led by only three after the first quarter, before a disastrous second quarter for the Irish. ND couldn’t get anything going on offense in the second quarter, scoring only three points and trailing 30-17 at halftime. It didn’t look at that point like it was likely to be competitive in the second half, but loyal Irish fans know that this team has performed well in the second half this year. In fact, they’ve needed to in the tournament. They had a big lead at halftime in the first round, but were tied with Villanova at the half in the second round, trailed Texas A&M by 2 in the Sweet 16, trailed Oregon by 6 at halftime in the Elite 8, and trailed UConn by 7 in the Final Four. This team isn’t intimidated in those situations.
The Irish offense improved, led by some heroics from Arike Ogunbowale, in the second half. MSU led by as many as 15 in the third quarter before ND went on a 16-1 run to tie things up at the end of the third. The fourth quarter featured incredibly dramatic back and forth play, as neither team was able to pull away. MSU did establish a five-point lead late, but the first Irish three-pointer of the game (from Marina Mabrey) and a layup from Jackie Young tied the game at 58 with less than 50 seconds remaining. After the teams traded turnovers, McCowan fouled Young to give the Irish the ball with a tie game and 3 seconds remaining. Young inbounded the ball to Ogunbowale, and once again, for the second game in a row, the junior made the heroic game-winning shot, nailing a wild three-pointer at the buzzer for the 61-58 Irish victory.
It wasn’t their prettiest game of the year, but it doesn’t matter. That 3-point second quarter would have haunted this team if they had lost, but nobody is thinking about it now. All anyone (and everyone, based on my Twitter research) is thinking about is that amazing last shot.
imagine hitting a game winner to send your team to the championship and it's not even the best shot you made that weekend lol arike became an honest to goodness legend these last three days
— Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) April 2, 2018
Things to Ponder
This game had so many great story lines, it’s hard to choose where to start:
- It’s been said a million times this year, but this is a team that lost FOUR players to torn ACLs, and struggled through a variety of other injuries. They lost the ACC Tournament for the first time since joining the conference. People questioned whether they deserved a 1-seed. People thought they wouldn’t make it back to the Final Four. And this is the team that won the title. Pretty amazing. It’s a really incredible demonstration of grit, adaptability, mental toughness, and just pure talent.
- This was Muffet McGraw’s 800th win at Notre Dame. A national championship is a pretty good way to celebrate the milestone.
- This game occurred exactly 17 years to the day after the program’s first national title. I guess April Fool’s Day is lucky for the Irish.
- The 15-point deficit in the third quarter is the largest deficit a women’s basketball team has ever overcome to win the national championship.
And now, I’m going to go watch the video of the final shot 100 more times. I suggest you do the same:
ARIKE OGUNBOWALE JUST WON NOTRE DAME THE 2018 NATIONAL TITLE! pic.twitter.com/ZCNhyF1uIf
— ESPN (@espn) April 2, 2018
Can’t wait for the 30 for 30 on ESPN! What if I told you, they had more ACL tears than losses… Go Irish!
What if I told you…
Freaking amazing. I was screaming at the TV in joy. Unreal.
Muffet McGraw for Prez!
i turned the game on late, ND was up by two. A few minutes later we were down 5. i was regretting my decision to risk jinxing the team by watching, but i couldn’t help myself. These women are AMAZING! 4 ACLs, 3 losses, 2 buzzer beaters in the final games, and 1 National Championship!
Friday night, I had been following via ESPN score tracker. I turned on the online broadcast when we were up 5 with 15 secs left, because I thought it was safe. NOPE. As soon as I watched UCAWN hit the three and then the steal to tie it and go into OT. Turned it off with a quickness, followed until the end via the score tracker. Same drill last night–didn’t turn on the broadcast until the score tracker said FINAL.
Arike’s shots were ICE COLD, and her exchange via Twitter with Kobe Bryant has been hilarious. So happy for Muffet to finally get her 2nd with a win over Geno as part of it, and so proud of these women.
Can Arike play quarterback??
Jokes aside what a really awesome and awe-inspiring run by this team. Those 2 game winning shots will forever be a huge piece of ND lore and really college basketball too. Legendary is an overused term but it’s fitting here, that’s the stuff of literal dreams to hit those shots, at the buzzer, for all the glory. So so great.
Arike is a better runner but Wimbush is a better passer.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Did you see that accuracy? Arike’s a WAY better passer! ha.
On Easter I learned that John is a better runner. But Peter is a better swimmer
Peter couldnt swim, that’s why JC had to save him
Which, in hindsight, is probably not a good trait in a fisherman.
Well, catching is the best trait a fisherman should have.
I think when 40 days are gone, Im gonna be a fisherman
Currently the only women’s hoops jersey on und.com is number 32. That’s gotta change, because I need an Arike jersey right now.
They won 2 games in which they were on the wrong end of a 30-6 run and a 3 point quarter. Incredible.
I have long said that the Women’s Basketball Team under Muffet McGraw is the most consistently dominating Irish team since the first six years of Lou Holtz’s coaching regime. They have always been a pleasure to watch, since they’re so disciplined, but this year, it has been a special pleasure to watch these athletes perform. They are everything you want in an athlete, talented, gutsy (if you want to define “gutsy”, just put together a highlight reel of Jessica Shepard’s play in this last game, and you’ll understand – that woman is tough!) and they never give up.
They make me proud to be ND.
Amen, Cubsfan… amen! I myself dared to watch despite IrishKelly’s warning, but sitting on the couch was no good… so, eventually, on the floor with the sound off, pretending to grade papers, that worked better…
Seriously! Muppet is one hell of a coach, and it is just those intangibles you cite that she builds in her teams year in and year out which were so visible tonight.
Let me add poise to that list: take a look at Mabrey’s three and the way she shot it, having been stone cold and bothered all night; Jackie’s jumper same way.
OK. ice hockey guys… we could use the Natty hat trick!!
I’m selfish. I want a third title this weekend. GO IRISH HOCKEY!!! F** MICHIGAN!
I especially want to get Michigan after they beat my brother’s school this weekend, i.e., Loyola.
Muck Fichigan!
Hopefully that’s not the only reason you hate the Skunks
Not including the Cal State Northridge game, ND was -28 in the first halves of games in the other 5 NCAA Tourney games, +56(!) in 3rd quarters, and +19 in 4th quarter/OT. Trailed or were tied at every halftime but never lost any second-half quarter.
I’m not sure what Muffet did/said during those halftimes, but I think whatever it was worked pretty well.
https://twitter.com/FlyByKnite/status/980602293056778241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fthebiglead.com%2F2018%2F04%2F01%2Fgreat-videos-show-crowd-and-announcer-reactions-to-arike-ogunbowale-notre-dame-game-winner%2F&tfw_creator=sportsrapport&tfw_site=thebiglead
Doubt this will post but the reaction by the announcing team (Rebecca Lobo and Adam Amin going nuts, Kara Lawson just sitting there rapt) was awesome.
Adam Amin put together an entire career’s worth of highlight reel calls over the three games in Columbus, hopefully that’ll all be good for his career because he’s both pretty good at his job and by all accounts a really good guy.
Agree, loved his call there and glad they have that view of the announcers. Reactions were priceless too. Really adds to a great moment in sports when you get a great play-by-play voice for it.
That gal in the middle must have had money on MSST to win
Tennessee grad, so maybe some ESS EEE SEE sympathies.
Two games in a row! Go see the video from the UCONN win. Lawson’s reaction is nearly identical. SMH.
This game occurred exactly 17 years to the day after the program’s first national title. I guess April Fool’s Day is lucky for the Irish.
Holy crap, does that make me feel old. I remember watching that game with a bunch of people in the basement common room of Zahm. Also, no big deal, but Ruth Riley sat across the aisle from me at graduation…
Two days later and I’m still in awe of the way they closed that game out. An absolutely unbelievable job by Muffet and the team.