To avoid a psychological free fall, Notre Dame told itself and anyone in the vicinity that Wednesday night’s 84-78 loss to Connecticut was a learning experience, a Big East life lesson: Staunch effort. Tough loss. It happens.
As the No. 20 Irish exited Gampel Pavilion, you almost could hear the chimes that close those “One to Grow On” public service ads on NBC. Still, with another late-game offensive swoon, and with another career-night from Luke Harangody being nearly enough itself, the defeat was something else, too.
It was an opportunity missed. Misses being the unfortunate theme of the evening, given the Irish’s 1 of 19 shooting over the final seven minutes and change.
“Those shots fall, it’s a whole different story for us,” said Harangody, whose 32-point, 16-rebound effort was another Player of the Year stump speech. “We gave a great effort. [But] definitely we feel like we got one taken away from us that we wish we could have gotten back.”
The outcome wasn’t unbearable. The No. 17 Huskies (19-5, 8-3) have won eight straight and a gallant road effort surely beats the long-ago demolitions at Marquette and Georgetown.
But a five-game winning streak ended for Notre Dame (18-5, 8-3) despite chances for resuscitation. The offense was nitrous oxide-fueled to start with 64.7 percent shooting and 29 points in the first 10 minutes, and the Irish still led 70-66 with 7 minutes, 45 seconds to go.
Then came the misses. A Harangody putback was Notre Dame’s lone basket the rest of the way. As the Huskies seized control, some of the Irish shots were decent, some were rushed, but too many were simply off.
“We had the right guys taking good shots,” said guard Kyle McAlarney, who was smothered all night but eked out 12 points. “They just didn’t fall for us.”
Still, the Irish lingered, down two with two minutes left before Connecticut’s Stanley Robinson hit a shot clock-beating three-pointer for the dagger.
“We had all the opportunities in the world,” Irish guard Tory Jackson said.
Mostly thanks to Harangody, who continues to carry preposterous tonnage. He shot 5 of 23 in the first meeting with Connecticut, befuddled by 7-foot-3-inch Hasheem Thabeet. Working all over the court Wednesday, he hit 13 of 24 from the floor, his 32 points a career-best.
“I talked to the coaches this week, tried to change it up a bit,” Harangody said. “I was just much more patient. I let the game come to me.”
Had it only arrived for others. Jackson scored 11 of his 13 points in the first 10 minutes. McAlarney shot 4 of 14. No one else threatened double-figures.
Something missing, indeed.
“I don’t want us not attacking. We did that all the way down to the end,” Irish coach Mike Brey said. “I hope we get those looks on Sunday [at Rutgers].”
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bchamilton@tribune.com
