Duke Vs Notre Dame — duke vs notre dame: Top-Ranked Duke Returns to ACC Play at Notre Dame
In a return to ACC play, duke vs notre dame ended as a one-sided game: top-ranked Duke dominated on offense and on the boards while Notre Dame struggled to find its shot. The Blue Devils looked like a complete team and a national championship contender, and the result left Notre Dame scrambling for the postseason.
Duke Vs Notre Dame: Game Flow
Duke opened the game looking the part of the nation's No. 1 team, beginning on a 6-2 run that expanded into a 16-4 lead by the first media timeout. Early in that stretch Cameron Boozer had 7 points, and Patrick Ngongba II collected six. At the under-12 timeout all seven Fighting Irish points were courtesy of forward Brady Koehler, who had a three-pointer and two made free throws. Commentators noted the game already resembled a football score as Duke surged.
Cameron Boozer's dominance
Cameron Boozer was uncontainable. He finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 2 assists. At one point Boozer had 14 points and 5 rebounds, and he hit at least two nothing-but-net three-point shots. He closed the first half with 20 points, 9 rebounds and two assists, then hit free throws coming out of the break to match Notre Dame's point total. Multiple runs centered on Boozer; Duke has outscored Notre Dame 34-20 since halftime, and the run was noted as 25-13 for Duke since halftime.
Notre Dame shooting struggles
Notre Dame could not make shots all night, finishing at 37 percent from the field and 27 percent from behind the three-point arc. The Irish were also outrebounded 49-27. The Irish simply couldn't stop Cameron Boozer, and only a few players offered offensive resistance: Brady Koehler and Braeden Shrewsberry each had 14 points, and Cole Certa supplied some points at one stretch. Logan Imes hit threes, but his makes could not change the trend.
Bench impact and scoring runs
Duke received a lift off the bench as Darren Harris scored 12 points in nine minutes. Four of the five Duke starters finished in double digits. Duke got two threes from Dame Sarr and another from Caleb Foster as the half ended. The Blue Devils ran a 13-4 spurt that included Harris, and earlier runs pushed the gap wide enough that Notre Dame was doubled-up by Duke at the first break of the second half.
Late game details and reactions
Sir Mohammed hit a three for Notre Dame with 10: 40 to play to make it 78-39, but the basket did not spark a comeback. Carson Towt had 7 rebounds for Notre Dame. The Irish have given Matthew MacLellan playing time in the contest. At one point Notre Dame's head coach Michah Shrewsberry appeared to hurt himself, and later Micah Shrewsberry was given a technical foul at the 16: 36 mark.
ACC implications and standings
The loss leaves Notre Dame in a difficult position for postseason qualification: Notre Dame falls to 12-16 overall and 3-12 in the ACC and now will have to win one more game than Pitt to make the ACC tournament, with three games remaining on their schedule. Now Notre Dame will have to scramble to be one of the 15 teams in the ACC tournament. Duke improved to 26-2 overall and 14-1 in the ACC.
Observers noted the margin was historic in scale for Notre Dame at home, with a broadcast calling it the program's worst home loss since the 19th Century. The Blue Devils left no doubt about their standing in the league, while the Fighting Irish must regroup quickly with three games to go.
Closing: Duke's balanced offensive output and control of the glass produced a comprehensive victory, and Notre Dame faces a steep climb to reach the ACC tournament.
