Tonight’s showdown between Notre Dame and Florida State inside the Donald L. Tucker Center reminded us of the tenacity in college basketball—but unfortunately for the Irish, history repeated itself with another notch in the loss column. Notre Dame’s search for a victory here remains elusive, extending their record to 0-8 after a 67-60 defeat against the Seminoles.
The evening got off to a rocky start as senior transfer Matt Allocco was a surprising scratch from the lineup, sidelined by a wrist injury during warmups. Stepping up to fill the void was true freshman Sir Mohammad, a choice tailored to contend with Florida State’s formidable size and athleticism.
Florida State wasted no time asserting themselves, employing a full-court press from tip-off. Notre Dame, however, wasn’t just going to sit back; they responded by pushing the pace with dynamic play. The absence of Allocco quickly shuffled the lineup, with Coach Micah Shrewsberry diving into his bench, bringing in Garrett Sundra, Cole Certa, and Logan Imes for some early minutes.
Notre Dame kicked things off with a promising 12-5 lead, fueled by a precise 7-0 run and a determined pace that seemed to catch the Seminoles off guard. Yet, mid-way through the first half, as key players Markus Burton and Tae Davis took a breather, the Irish’s rhythm faltered. The once fluid ball movement hit a snag, leading to a series of turnovers and disruptions.
In a blink, Florida State capitalized. A punishing 17-0 run saw Notre Dame’s composure unravel, with turnovers mounting up to seven before the first half waned. But just as hope seemed fleeting, Burton ignited a personal surge, clawing eight unanswered points to narrow the deficit to a single point at halftime, 29-28. Unsurprisingly, the switch to a 2-3 zone defense caught Florida State off guard, momentarily stalling their offense.
The second half maintained the nail-biting pace with both teams exchanging blows. Yet Notre Dame’s early promise waned under mounting pressure. Davis, who had moments reminiscent of his prime form, scrapped on the boards and slashed through defenses, but Florida State’s calculated strategy to double-team Burton forced the Irish to seek other answers in vain.
Despite the Herculean effort from Burton, who finished with 25 points, Florida State’s relentless defense led to another prolonged dry spell for Notre Dame. Missed opportunities, particularly layups, and a five-minute stretch without points underscored the evening’s struggles. Even a big-time three-pointer from freshman Sundra couldn’t shift momentum back in Notre Dame’s favor. Although Davis knocked down a clutch three to trim the deficit to two, Florida State’s steady poise in the closing moments secured their victory.
As the dust settled, Notre Dame’s offensive stats painted a story of missed chances—23 of 63 from the floor and a meager 6-13 from the stripe, with turnovers reaching 16. Burton and Davis were the only Irish players breaking double digits, showcasing grit amidst a tough night overall. Meanwhile, Sundra flashed potential, hitting two of three from deep and manifesting a solid all-around performance, hinting at a promising future.
Despite the loss, Notre Dame showed glimpses of resilience and areas to build upon. Developing depth and finding consistent scoring support for Burton remains pivotal as the season progresses. The Irish will need to harness these silver linings and transform them into sustained success in subsequent clashes.
