Notre Dame Shows Lack of Discipline in 72-68 Overtime Loss to Georgetown
Another Saturday and another loss for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-6) as Georgetown (7-4) left Purcell Pavilion with an overtime win 72-68.
In a season defined by runs, Notre Dame once again showed a lack of discipline at key stretches, including on its final possessions as Kebba Njie had a three blocked with the Irish trailing by two.
Njie, who entered the game shooting 20.8 percent from the field, was not the option on the final play as Micah Shrewsberry wanted Markus Burton to drive to the right side of the floor.
“We were trying to get to a right-hand drive,” explained Shrewsberry. “That’s where I think our discipline has to be better as a group. There were a lot of breakdowns in communication or breakdowns in trust. It was set up for right-hand drive and the whole side of the court cleared.
“We were definitely not looking for what happened.”
Georgetown freshman Drew Fielder led the Hoyas with 16 points on the night as he proved 23 big minutes off the bench and paved the way to a strong end to the first half and start of the second half.
In fact, the Hoyas went on runs of 7-0 and 13-2 to overcome a 35-26 deficit with 2:42 remaining in the first half to take the lead at 48-39 with 15 minutes to go in the game.
“At the end of the first half and the start of the second half was terrible on our part,” said Shrewsberry. “I thought they really pushed the ball in transition. I thought their bigs ran the court really hard and our bigs were behind the play and late to get in position, so they got some fouls.
“I thought Drew Fielder game in there and outworked every single one of our bigs. You have to play hard. He’s a freshman. There’s no excuses. He was running and playing hard. Our guys were behind the play.”
Shrewsberry knew there would be growing pains entering the rebuilding process, but for the first time this season, he was extremely frustrated with his team’s inability to master the details or even listen.
“We gave up a three on an out of bounds and Coach (Mike) Farrelly is standing up telling you what’s coming,” Shrewsberry explained. “There’s no excuses for that. I get you on some things, but there are no excuses when somebody tells you what’s happening and it happens. There’s no surprise moments. We have to be tough enough to end the half the right way and start the half the right way.”
Notre Dame’s three-point shooting woes also continued on Saturday as the Irish finished a measly 8-for-32 from deep. In the first half, Shrewsberry’s team was a respectable 6-for-18 from three, but the Irish took shots outside the framework of the offense in the final 20 minutes to finish 2-for-13.
The bad shots have been an emphasis in practice and Shrewsberry was far from pleased to see it continue again against Georgetown as Markus Burton, Braeden Shrewsberry, Julian Roper II and JR Konieczny shot a combined 4-for-25 from deep.
“I’d love to be 16-for-32,” stated Shrewsberry. “I thought in the first half we took bad ones. When we take good shots, open shots, rhythm threes, we’re a good shooting from three. When we take threes off the dribble, we’re not. We have to eliminate threes off the dribble.
“It’s been talked about. I’m coaching this team every single day. I’m showing them film every single day. At some point in time, you have to stop doing it. The numbers don’t lie.”
Perhaps the most difficult piece of the loss was both teams were in similar situations as it related to building a program and overcoming roster turnover. It’s clear Notre Dame’s discipline wasn’t good enough, but Shrewsberry also wasn’t pleased with his team’s effort on key plays.
“In those moments - and maybe this is youth people not thinking the game - through college basketball all time, there’s a shot at the rim and those games are usually tied and won on an offensive rebound,” Shrewsberry explained.
“So why are you standing at the three-point line? Simple as that.”
Roper, who finished with 13 points, knows Saturday’s lack of discipline was unacceptable, but he hopes the Irish can build off specific points in the game as Notre Dame did come back from down nine with less than 10 minutes to go in the game.
“We showed the intensity and we picked up that level to where we need to play at to be able to win,” said Roper. “Relaying that message - if we keep coming with that energy, and poise that we showed throughout the game, I think we can turn that corner. We’re in a tough stretch right now and they’ve never been through it.”
YOUTH NO EXCUSE
Burton continued his hot streak as he finished with a game-high 17 points, while Konieczny added 13 points and eight rebounds. 10 games into the year, Notre Dame doesn’t have the lack of experience excuse after playing in some tough road atmospheres and against Top 25 competition.
The lack of a killer instinct is noticeable and Shrewsberry knows his team has to start closing the door in close games.
”Game on of the season, game 10, game 15, we should be winning,” stated Shrewsberry. “I thought our discipline let us down. They hit two threes in overtime. Those were discipline. It had nothing to do with what they did. It was all us. Notre Dame can’t beat Notre Dame and Notre Dame beat Notre Dame in overtime.”
Shrewsberry looked defeated following the game, but his message in the locker room to his team was a clear one.
“Don’t hang your head and come ready to go tomorrow,” Koniecnzy said of the message following the loss. “We’re right back at it. We have another one on Tuesday and keep competing hard. Keep practicing hard and come out on Tuesday to get another win.”
UP NEXT
Notre Dame will host The Citadel on Tuesday at 6:00 PM ET.
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