Irish Hands Orange First Loss of Season

Syracuse came into the game a perfect 20-0 for the first time in school history, but coach Mike Brey used a deft ball control offense and pinpoint passing to dissect the vaunted Syracuse zone to shock the #1 ranked team, giving coach Boeheim and the Orangemen their first loss on the season.

Prior to the game, prized sophomore big man Fab Melo had been ruled ineligible due to an undisclosed academic issue, and will miss at least one more game against Cincinnati on Monday night. In his 2nd season, the prized 7 footer had lost weight and become a defensive stalwart, averaging 7.2 ppg, 5.6 rebounds, and 3 blocks, in anchoring Cuse’s 2-3 zone.

Without Melo, ND’s 6’9 and 250lb big man Jack Cooley dominated the inside, notching a game best 17 points and 10 boards along with 2 blocks, helping the Irish to a 38-25 rebounding advantage. Prior to this season, Cooley had been known as a look-a-like to former Irish great Luke Harangody but has come into his own averaging 10.7 ppg, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in his junior campaign.

Irish freshman Pat Connaughton was also huge, knocking down several key 3 pointers, mostly with the shot clock under 3 seconds to help Notre Dame take control early. Syracuse was led by James Southerland’s 15 pts, Dion Waiters’ 11 pts, and Kris Joseph with 12 points and 5 rebounds, but the Orange shot just 34% from the field. Back-courtmates Scoop Jardine and Brandon Triche combined for only 8 points and 8 assists. Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant, older brother of future Syracuse commit Jerami Grant, also was key, chipping in 11 points and 6 assists.

We all know about the mystique surrounding the luck of the Irish, but Notre Dame just seems to have a knack for knocking off top ranked teams as they now sport an impressive 8-3 career mark playing against the #1 ranked team in the country.

Notre Dame Shocks Unbeaten Syracuse: