Duke Dominates Notre Dame in Historic Blowout
Notre Dame faced an uphill battle against Duke on February 24th, a challenge that seemed daunting even before the season tipped off. With key injuries depleting their roster, the Fighting Irish found themselves overwhelmed by a Duke team firing on all cylinders.
The final score read Duke 100, Notre Dame 56. It was a game without lead changes or sparks for Notre Dame, as Duke fans filled the arena with their presence and cheers.
This 44-point defeat set a new record for the largest margin by a visiting team in Notre Dame's storied basketball venues, surpassing a previous 39-point loss to Kentucky in 1995. Overall, it marked the sixth-largest defeat in Notre Dame's history.
Duke's head coach, Jon Scheyer, acknowledged Notre Dame's struggles with injuries, noting, "Obviously that's not Notre Dame's team. They've had terrible injuries this year. The guys they have are playing very hard."
Notre Dame's coach, Micah Shrewsberry, who admirably faced the media despite suffering an Achilles injury during the game, reflected on the loss. "We wanted to play well but we didn't, and they have a lot to do with it.
There's a reason they're the No. 1 team in the country," he said. Despite the setback, Shrewsberry emphasized the importance of resilience, stating, "We have to embrace tomorrow and keep fighting as hard as we can."
Duke's Dominance on Display
The game showcased Duke's traveling fan base, who made their presence felt with chants of "Let's Go Duke!" echoing through the arena. Coach Scheyer expressed pride in the support, highlighting how Duke fans consistently show up on the road.
Duke's performance was a masterclass in execution. They led by 32 points at halftime, extending that lead to 44 by the final buzzer. Dame Sarr and Caleb Foster's three-pointers punctuated a dominant first half, leaving Notre Dame trailing 54-22 at the break.
Breaking Down the Game
Duke's superiority was evident from the start, racing to leads of 9-2, 16-4, and 30-11. By halftime, they had outshot Notre Dame by a significant margin, with a 52.4% field goal percentage compared to the Irish's 26.3%. Duke also excelled at the free-throw line, hitting 13 of 14 attempts.
The Blue Devils dominated in assists and rebounds, with a 13-2 assist advantage and a 26-10 rebounding edge in the first half alone.
Statistical Standouts
Cameron Boozer led Duke with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba contributed 13 points each. Maliq Brown added 10 rebounds off the bench.
For Notre Dame, Cole Certa and Brady Koehler each scored 14 points, with Sir Mohammed adding 11. However, the Irish struggled with turnovers, finishing with 15 compared to Duke's 9.
Duke's fast break points also highlighted their advantage, outscoring Notre Dame 19-3 in that category.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, Duke improved to 26-2 on the season, maintaining their strong position in league play. Notre Dame, now 12-16 overall, looks to regroup as they prepare to face North Carolina State. Despite the loss, Coach Shrewsberry remains focused on building for the future, urging his team to learn from the experience and keep fighting.
As Brady Koehler put it, "We all really want to make the ACC Tournament. This season isn't done." The Irish still have games left to prove themselves, and they aim to bounce back with determination.