When a team struggles as Notre Dame has to start the season, it will take any spark it can get to turn things around. With preseason expectations at a somewhat high level, the Irish absolutely needed something positive that could potentially serve as a turning point. On a day in which LaPhonso Ellis was inducted into the Purcell Pavilion Ring of Honor and Marcus Freeman was in attendance, a 66-62 upset of No. 10 Kentucky was just what the doctor ordered.
This game was tied several times, and the Irish (4-4) trailed for the majority of it. To make things even more intense, neither team ever led by more than five points. Had the Wildcats (7-2) shot better than 2 of 19 from 3-point range, which included an 0-of-8 showing from their bench in that area, we would be talking about a completely different outcome. Alas, the Irish were meant to stay perfect in these Ring of Honor games.
It all came down to how the Irish came out of a timeout in a game tied at 62 with 28 seconds left. What happened was freshman phenom and South Bend native Blake Wesley driving from near the sideline to the paint just inside the free-throw line and hitting a pull-up shot off the dribble to put the Irish in front with 11.7 seconds remaining.
The Wildcats opted not to call their final timeout to try and respond immediately, but Tyty Washington Jr.’s game-tying layup attempt hit the glass and nothing more. Paul Atkinson Jr. got the rebound, and a quick passing sequence got the ball to Dane Goodwin in an open frontcourt, which allowed him to complete a buzzer-beating dunk with two hands. With the biggest win of the season so far complete, the Irish fans in attendance stormed the court.
It was appropriate for Wesley and Goodwin to score the Irish’s final four points because they led their team with 14 points apiece. Trey Wertz was just behind off the bench with 12 points, and Atkinson added 10. Goodwin and Atkinson also had six rebounds apiece to lead the Irish.