If Wednesday night in Dayton was a taste of the chaos that will follow the Men’s NCAA tournament, we’re in fantastic shape. Well, it depends on your definition of “shape,” actually. That prospect might be dicey if we’re talking physical fitness, i.e., putting your heart through the wringer. March isn’t the time to test your blood pressure. It’s about watching dramatic do-or-die basketball with everyone successfully playing hero. And we’re already in a fantastic place.
You can thank Notre Dame (-1) and Rutgers for that.
In the final First Four matchup of the tournament, with the winner moving on to play the No. 6 seeded Alabama, the Fighting Irish and Scarlet Knights left it all on the floor. That, in actuality, might even be an understatement because Wednesday evening was everything a tournament game is supposed to resemble.
Let’s take it to the final minute of the first overtime, where Notre Dame was nursing a tenuous 75-73 lead. Who would lift Rutgers? Who would put the Irish back on the ropes?
Yes, I believe Ron Harper Jr. was planning to go to the bank to get a cashier’s check. Oh, and to make ridiculous shots. That, too.
RON HARPER JR ARE YOU SERIOUS! 😱@RutgersMBB retakes the lead! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/t5R6lZsGwc
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2022
These two squads were not done, far from it. Rutgers had trouble inbounding the ball a few possessions later as Notre Dame issued a full press. In a tournament game, that’s usually a death sentence. Lo and behold, that came into fruition here, too.
NOTRE DAME STEALS THE INBOUND AND RETAKES THE LEAD! WHAT IS HAPPENING!? 🤯@NDmbb #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/GUQL1STbgi
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2022
That led to this sequence: The Irish and Knights casually exchanging clutch buckets with their seasons on the line.
THIS. SEQUENCE! 🔥
We’re heading to DOUBLE OT in Dayton. #MarchMadness@NDmbb @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/smN70n9BQ7
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2022
With no end in sight, to double-overtime, we went.
Let’s fast-forward once more.
Finally, after taking an 87-84 lead in the final half-minute, the Irish had to feel safe. Why wouldn’t they? Oh, right, March. And Ron Harper Jr.
Again. Awkward.
RON HARPER JR AGAIN! 🤯@RutgersMBB #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/nmBCe7Uitj
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2022
The beauty of the tournament is seeing young players like this pour their hearts out onto the floor in the name of competition and team. That’s also the cruelest part because you know that it eventually ends in bitter disappointment for half of them. It’s a lesson we so easily forget until March rears its beautiful head around every year.
As the clock shifted to St. Patrick’s Day in the Eastern Time Zone, the luck of the Irish and senior Paul Atkinson (26 points) shined through in a tie 87-87 game:
With a put-back dagger through Rutgers’ heart.
NOTRE DAME WINS IT IN DOUBLE OT!
THE LUCK OF THE IRISH ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY 🍀@NDmbb #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/BmeIiznSF2
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 17, 2022
My post-game interview with Notre Dame's Mike Brey. pic.twitter.com/At9lAkEuzg
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 17, 2022
Notre Dame barely survived, but they have to like their chances against Alabama on Friday. If they weren’t already, they should be chanting, “We want Bama.” It’s the tournament, after all. Anything can happen. And if this was only a taste of the chaos to come, we can only hope our hearts survive in the meantime.
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