Tag: Muffet McGraw

Watch: Notre Dame Beats Syracuse and Muffet McGraw’s Postgame

Notre Dame earned a 72-70 win over Syracuse on Sunday that didn’t come easy. However, some clutch free throws and a defensive stand at the end got the Irish to the finish line. Let’s see how they got there. And let’s see what Muffet McGraw said.

Notre Dame earned a 72-70 win over Syracuse on Sunday that didn’t come easy. However, some clutch free throws and a defensive stand at the end got the Irish to the finish line. Let’s see how they got there.

And let’s see what Muffet McGraw said.

Watch: Notre Dame Can’t Close vs. Virginia Tech and Muffet McGraw’s Postgame

It’s easy to get frustrated watching Notre Dame have an uncharacteristically bad season, but at a time when it’s difficult to find highlights, look for a few worthy ones in this reel: Let’s see what Muffet McGraw said afterwards:

It’s easy to get frustrated watching Notre Dame have an uncharacteristically bad season, but at a time when it’s difficult to find highlights, look for a few worthy ones in this reel:

Let’s see what Muffet McGraw said afterwards:

Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw Wins Twitter on President’s Day

McGraw hasn’t won often in 2019-20, but on social media Monday night she was lights out.

When you think Muffet McGraw you think building a program from a near-nothing to a national powerhouse. You also probably think of a couple of national championship banners that hang in Purcell Pavilion and a bunch more Final Four appearances.

When you think Roy Williams you probably think somewhat the same in terms of men’s basketball as he holds a few national championships himself, is a legend in the game and has guided both Kansas and North Carolina to elite levels on an annual basis.

Except this year.

McGraw’s Notre Dame squad sits just 10-16 on the season and 5-9 in ACC play. Meanwhile Roy’s Tar Heels are an unheard of 3-11 in conference play entering Monday night.

McGraw didn’t shy away from the fact the two former champions are suffering through a couple of trying seasons.

You can call Muffet McGraw many things but perhaps more than anything, she’s self-aware.

Bonus points for mentioning Steve Kerr of the 12-43 Golden State Warriors, too.

McGraw hasn’t won often in 2019-20, but on social media Monday night she was lights out.

Skylar Diggins-Smith Traded to Phoenix in WNBA Blockbuster

“Players with Skylar’s skill set and ceiling don’t become available in free agency often” Mercury General Manager Jim Pittman said.

All-time Notre Dame great Skylar Diggins-Smith may not have won a national championship in her time with the Fighting Irish, but she’s easily one of the best to ever wear the blue, gold, green, white and whatever other colors that have been donned under Muffet McGraw.

Since graduating in 2013 Diggins has been starring in the WNBA where she is a two-time all WNBA first-team selection and a four-time All-Star.  She’s averaged 15.9 points and 4.9 assists for her career with Tulsa and Dallas (the team moved after the 2015 season).

Wednesday saw Diggins-Smith being traded from Dallas to the Phoenix Mercury where she will be part of their big three featuring herself, Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.

The cost for Diggins-Smith you ask?

Substansial.

Two of the first round draft picks Dallas gets back are the fifth and seventh overall in this upcoming WNBA Draft while the other is for the 2021 draft.

“Players with Skylar’s skill set and ceiling don’t become available in free agency often” Mercury General Manager Jim Pittman said.

Diggins-Smith did not play in 2019 after giving birth to her first child that April.

The Mercury begin their season on May 17 against the Seattle Storm.

Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Irish Roughed Up vs. Cavaliers

Even with Kobe Bryant’s untimely death earlier in the day, basketball still had to go on. For Notre Dame, that meant a road game against Virginia. Unfortunately for the Irish, it also meant another chapter in a disappointing season. This time, it …

Even with Kobe Bryant’s untimely death earlier in the day, basketball still had to go on. For Notre Dame, that meant a road game against Virginia. Unfortunately for the Irish, it also meant another chapter in a disappointing season. This time, it was a 90-60 loss.

The Irish (7-13, 2-6) shot 32.1 percent from the field, which was enough for the Cavaliers (8-12, 3-6), who shot 47.2 percent. Virginia outscored Notre Dame, 34-17, in the second quarter, breaking open what had been a seven-point contest. Further hampering the Irish’s efforts was a stretch in the third quarter in which they missed 17 consecutive shots en route to a 1-of-18 showing in that quarter. By the time it was over, Muffet McGraw had emptied her bench.

Local native Sam Brunelle, who played almost the entire game, led all scorers with 21 points and four 3-pointers. Katlyn Gilbert scored 16, and Destinee Walker had an 11-point outing despite shooting 2 of 12 from the floor.

Notre Dame: Women’s Basketball Gets Much Needed Win Over Miami

Freshman Sam Brunelle led the way with 25 points while Destinee Walker finished 21 points and seven rebounds herself.

It has been a trying year for Muffet McGraw and the Fighting Irish so Sunday’s win over previously 10-7 Miami had to be satisfying.

Especially considering the second half the now 7-12 Fighting Irish went on.

Holding a the slightest of leads at halftime Notre Dame came out on fire after intermission Sunday, outscoring the Hurricanes 24-7 in the third frame en-route to a 76-53 takedown of Miami.

Freshman Sam Brunelle led the way with 25 points while Destinee Walker added 21 points and seven rebounds.

Mikayla Vaughn (16) and Katlyn Gilbert (12) also reached double-figures.

Notre Dame shot a lights-out 70% from beyond the arc while Miami struggled from the outside, making just four of 23 attempts (17.4%).

The win was just the second for Notre Dame in ACC play as they now sit at 2-5 in the conference.

They’ll look for win number three of the ACC season on January 26 as they resume action with a trip to Virginia.

Notre Dame Women’s Basketball: Trying Season Continues at Duke

Haley Gorecki went on an 8-0 run by herself to draw Duke within one at 42-41 before Notre Dame’s final field goal of the night came with Sam Brunelle hitting her career-high fourth three and the Irish a 45-41 lead with 6:34 to go.

On a night that the Notre Dame Women’s basketball team played their best defensive quarter and half of the season, they fell in perhaps their most-frustrating loss of the season, a 50-47 decision at Duke on Thursday night as three turnovers in the final minute did the Irish in.

“I thought we lost that game entirely on our own – the turnovers were just so costly down the stretch. We couldn’t even get shots” Notre Dame head coach Muffet McGraw said after the game.

The Irish got off to a very fast start, going on a 14-2 run in the first quarter and not allowing a point the final 6:37 of the first frame, taking a 14-4 lead to the second quarter.

Duke’s offense came alive to the tune of 16 second quarter points but Notre Dame’s Mikki Vaughn led the Irish with eight points in the quarter herself to help aid Notre Dame to 15 themselves in the second quarter which led to a 29-20 halftime lead.

A 9-0 Duke run in the third quarter cut the Irish lead to three at 34-31, but Notre Dame responded with a run of their own to stretch the lead back to 40-33 entering the fourth.

Destinee Walker kicked off the fourth with a layup that pushed the Irish lead to nine but unfortunately that accounted for half of her made field goals on the night and Notre Dame would score just five more points on the night.

Haley Gorecki went on an 8-0 run by herself to draw Duke within one at 42-41 before Notre Dame’s final field goal of the night came with Sam Brunelle hitting her career-high fourth three and the Irish a 45-41 lead with 6:34 to go.

The Irish however would be turnover-happy down the stretch and only score again by sinking a couple of free throws as Duke rallied to win 50-47 on their home court.

The loss drops Notre Dame to just 6-12 overall and 1-5 in ACC play while Duke improved to 9-8 overall and 3-3 in the ACC.

Notre Dame looks for their second conference win of the season again Sunday when they return home to take on Miami in a game that can be seen on ACC Network.

 

Watch: Muffet McGraw’s Emotional Response to Blowout Loss

As frustrating as it’s been for fans and players, it’s been that much harder on legendary head coach Muffet McGraw and she let it show after Sunday’s game.

It’s been a trying year for Notre Dame Women’s Basketball.

Rebuilds are tough and whether you like it or not, it’s what you get when your five best players from a season ago are playing in the WNBA now.

After a decade of Final Four appearances being the norm, getting even a home victory has become tough as the Irish sit just 6-11 overall and 1-4 in ACC play after getting routed Sunday by No. 9 North Carolina State.

As frustrating as it’s been for fans and players, it’s been that much harder on legendary head coach Muffet McGraw and she let it show after Sunday’s game.

An incredibly rare moment to see a coach wear their emotions on their sleeve quite like that, especially one as accomplished as McGraw.

Hopefully this dark season is an exception and things get turned around soon because seeings videos like this much longer will get rather tough to watch.