Notre Dame outlasts Butler to advance to Sweet 16
PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WISH) – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish advance to the Sweet 16 after taking down the Butler Bulldogs, 67-64, on Saturday in overtime.
It was a game of runs, including six ties and ten lead changes.
Pat Connaughton hit a three point basket, with a little more than three minutes remaining in overtime.
It gave the Irish a 62-59 lead and Notre Dame never looked back.
“I wouldn’t have wanted to be a part of any other team, play for any other coaches. It’s been a lot of fun and has really been special. I am going to have memories and friendships for the rest of my life from these four years and that’s really all I could ask for. I got a chance to do a lot of things that not a lot of college kids get to do. So for that I am just thankful for my time here,” said Butler senior, Alex Barlow.
The good news for the Bulldogs is that most of the team will return for next season. However, the two players that they will lose to graduation will be hard to replace.
Alex Barlow and Kameron Woods graduate from Butler University in May.
“They are going to be huge losses, and there will be no way we can replace them, but looking forward we have a tough enough program to make the most of it,” said Butler junior, Kellen Dunham.
The Irish will play the winner of Wichita State/Kansas next week in Cleveland, Ohio.