Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/499410
UNDER THE DOME Notre Dame's football program is recognized as having won 11 consen‑ sus national titles. This spring, the Notre Dame men's basketball program posted its own "11" regarding championships. With the Duke Blue Devils winning the national title, this was the 11th time since 1948 the Fighting Irish defeated the NCAA Tournament champion at least once during the regular season. Duke won 21 of its last 23 games — with both defeats coming to Notre Dame, 77‑73 at the Purcell Pavilion Jan. 28 and 74‑64 in the ACC Tourna‑ ment semifinals March 13 en route to the conference championship. It was the third time in the last five years under head coach Mike Brey that Notre Dame defeated the even‑ tual national champion. Here is the chronological order of the other 10 seasons: FEB. 2, 1948: NOTRE DAME 64, KENTUCKY 55 The 36‑3 Wildcats not only won head coach Adolph Rupp the na‑ tional title a month later, but Rupp also coached them to the gold medal at the Summer Olympics. Notre Dame's Season: The Irish de‑ clined postseason invites in this era, but finished 17‑7 under head coach Ed "Moose" Krause. DEC. 6, 1952: NOTRE DAME 71, INDIANA 70 Guard Jack Stephens drove the length of the court for the game‑win‑ ning basket in the Old Fieldhouse. Notre Dame's Season: The year ended with a 79‑66 loss in the Elite Eight to the Hoosiers for a 19‑5 finish in the first year Notre Dame accepted an NCAA Tournament bid. JAN. 23, 1971: NOTRE DAME 89, UCLA 82 Austin Carr's 46 points were the most ever against a John Wooden‑coached team, and this was the lone blemish during the Bruins' 29‑1 season. They AT THEIR BEST AGAINST THE BEST Jerian Grant and his teammates handed the even- tual national champion Duke Blue Devils the only two defeats they suffered over their final 23 games. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN