No matter the sport, Miami currently owns Notre Dame. On Tuesday night, the Hurricanes, led by floor general Tre Donaldson, defeated the Fighting Irish in South Bend by 12 points. UM earned its 10th consecutive victory and is still undefeated in conference play.
This winning streak marks the longest for the program in eight years. In the 2017-18 season, Miami won its first 10 games, which included an upset over a No. 12 Minnesota team on the road. UM grabbed the victory with multiple players stepping
up once again.
Donaldson stole the show, recording 23 points on 57% shooting. He also dished out five assists. The outing allowed the veteran to hit the 1,000 career point milestone. Fellow starters Malik Reneau and Shelton Henderson scored 17 points each. Reneau led the team in rebounding by collecting 10 boards.
For the third straight game, Jai Lucas saw one of his frontcourt stars get in foul trouble. After Reneau picked up four fouls in the team’s previous three games, Ernest Udeh recorded four of his own against the Fighting Irish. He picked up three of them in the first half.
It symbolized his lack of effectiveness, as the former TCU big man didn’t score and grabbed only two rebounds. Luckily, he managed to stay under the limit and continued to disrupt on the defensive end. A foul-out would’ve been detrimental for the team, as Notre Dame stayed in the contest.
After leading by 11 with 4:44 to go, the Irish cut the Hurricanes’ lead to single digits. Fortunately for UM, a few key baskets by Reneau and Donaldson, as well as great foul shooting, allowed the team to walk out of Purcell Pavilion with a 15-2 overall record.
Along with the combined 57 points scored by Donaldson, Reneau, and Henderson, freshman Dante Allen was able to provide some key minutes off the bench for Lucas. The hometown Miami native scored 11 points and added three boards.
At halftime, both teams were tied at 39. It was evident that Notre Dame had manhandled Miami in the trenches during the opening 20 minutes, as the Canes allowed 10 Irish offensive rebounds. For the game, UM lost the important rebounding battle 35-28, but got better at controlling the glass in the second half.
What made up for it was the 18 turnovers that the Hurricanes recorded. Notre Dame has the worst turnover margin in the ACC, and its biggest issues were on display in front of a national audience on Tuesday night. The scorching hot squad from South Beach totaled 19 points off the takeaways.
Not only did Miami take advantage of the turnovers, but they also took advantage of their size advantage on the offensive end. One of the ACC’s best offenses outscored Notre Dame 40-28 in the paint. Miami was also able to get to the foul line frequently, connecting on 81% of free throws.
They are continuing to make strides in improving one of the biggest concerns throughout the season. Now, sitting 13 games over .500, Miami should no longer be considered a dark horse to make the NCAA Tournament. Throughout the season, they have successfully battled adversity.
The team has displayed tremendous poise and chemistry. Every player has filled a particular role flawlessly. The talent is there, and so is this team’s motivation. The confidence has skyrocketed with every win, and now they will be put to the test.
On Saturday, the Canes will hit the road again for an afternoon tilt against Clemson. The Tigers stand as one of three teams in the ACC with an unblemished mark, as they sport a 5-0 record. With a national ranking in sight, Miami would love to steal another game in hostile confines. A win will give UM a potential hold on first place.
