SOUTH BEND ― So many moments. So many games in so many different arenas. Early in the year. Middle of the year. Late in the year – in March – when the games and the moments matter more.
How do you shave a list of nearly 900 Irish games played between 2000 and 2025 to a top 25? You do your best. Following are the Top 25 Notre Dame basketball games, ranked Nos. 25 to 1, in the first 25 years of the 2000s.
∎ 25. Notre Dame 101, Boston College 96 OT (Conte Forum; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts; January 25, 2003)
Storylines: In front of a sellout crowd of 8,606 on a Saturday afternoon, Irish guard Chris Thomas scored 25 of his 28 points after halftime. He also had eight rebounds and seven assists. The Irish scored 47 points in the first half and led by 10 before an 11-0 BC run gave the Eagles the lead. Guard Matt Carroll scored 18 points with six rebounds and three assists in 42 minutes. With 60 family members and friends in the stands, Massachusetts native Torin Francis had 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Significance: This was Notre Dame’s first win at Boston College in a series that saw the Irish eventually win 16 of 18.
Speaking: “We’re going to get out of character sometimes, but when you have such a confident group that we have, a group that has a lot of weapons, there’s no reason why you can’t ever be in the game.” -Thomas as the Irish won for the 12th time in their last 14 games.
∎ 24. Notre Dame 80, North Carolina 76 (Purcell Pavilion; February 6, 2016)
Storylines: After scoring 30 points in the first half and trailing by as many as 15, Notre Dame roared back with 50 points in the second against a Carolina team ranked second in the Associated Press poll, first in the USA Today rankings. Bonzie Colson had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Zach Auguste added 15 points and 10 rebounds and Demetrius Jackson had 19 points, six rebounds and two assists in all 40 minutes. Irish fans stormed the court after the final horn in what is still the last ESPN College Gameday event for men’s basketball at Notre Dame.
Significance: In a series dominated by North Carolina, Notre Dame won for the third straight time and won at home over a Top 10 team for an eighth straight season.
Speaking: “We were crisp.” – Jackson after the Irish finished with only two turnovers – one in each half.
∎ 23. Notre Dame 94, Providence 93 (Dunkin’ Donuts Center; Providence, Rhode Island; February 23, 2011)
Storylines: On a weeknight in New England, Irish seniors Tim Abromaitis and Ben Hansbrough proved that two really is better than one. Abromaitis scored 28 points and Hansbrough, the Big East player of the year, had 32 to negate a staggering night by Friars guard MarShon Brooks, who erupted for a career-high 52 points on 20-of-28 from the field. Notre Dame led by as many as 16 and survived after allowing 55 points in the second half of a game that featured zero ties and only one lead change. The win wasn’t assured until freshman guard Eric Atkins made two free throws with 7.4 seconds remaining to give the Irish needed breathing room.
Significance: Brooks kept taking – and making – shots from seemingly everywhere, but Abro and B-Hans and a group of seniors (which also featured 13 points, eight rebounds and seven assists from Ty Nash) wouldn’t let the Irish lose.
Speaking: “I would have liked to say there was something we would have done, but we tried to do everything against him.” – Abromaitis on trying to slow Brooks.
∎ 22. Notre Dame 78, Alabama 64 (Viejas Arena; San Diego; March 18, 2022)
Storylines: Irish guard Cormac Ryan became Score-mac Ryan with a then-career high 29 points on seven-of-nine from 3. Freshman Blake Wesley added 18 points and graduate senior Paul Atkinson had 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists and four steals in a game that featured seven ties and 11 lead changes. On the heels of a red-eye flight out, it was Notre Dame’s second NCAA tournament win in three days.
Significance: It marked the third time in eight years – and first since 2016 – that Notre Dame won at least two NCAA Tournament games. It’s the last time the Irish have been to – and won a game – in the NCAA Tournament.
Speaking: “We were hungry in Dayton, and I don’t think we ever lost it. We kind of rolled into California with that hunger.” – Ryan
∎ 21. Notre Dame 71, Virginia 58 (Barclays Center; New York; March 9, 2017)
Storylines: Sprinting to a 14-4 lead minutes into the game, Notre Dame led the Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinal for all but 39 seconds thanks to 21 points and 10 rebounds from Bonzie Colson, 14 points, four assists from Matt Farrell and 12 points, five rebounds and five assists from Steve Vasturia. Virginia came into the contest allowing an average of 55.1 ppg.
Significance: Notre Dame snapped a 10-game losing streak, six by double digits, dating back to 1982 to Virginia and moved to 6-1 all-time at Barclays Center.
Speaking: “For 40 minutes, every single possession, we did what we wanted to do.” – Vasturia
∎ 20. Notre Dame 68, Connecticut 66 (Purcell Pavilion; February 12, 2000)
Storylines: Notre Dame trailed by six at half and by seven early in the second period before leading for the final 10:28. Freshman center Ivan Kartelo preserved the win with his block of a 3-pointer from Albert Mouring, the leading 3-point shooter in the Big East. Troy Murphy led the Irish with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Head coach Matt Doherty was hoisted by the student section after they rushed the court.
Significance: It was the first season series sweep of Connecticut and the first home win over a Top 15 team since January 21, 1998.
Speaking: “It was a gut check. We did it for ourselves, the fans, the community, the university.” – Irish swingman David Graves
∎ 19. Notre Dame 84, Duke 79 OT (Verizon Center; Washington, D.C,; March 10, 2016)
Storylines: Down by 16 early in the second half, Notre Dame switched from zone defense to man to man and held Duke scoreless for seven and half minutes during a 14-0 run. Power forward Zach Auguste had 19 points and a career-high 22 rebounds in 41 minutes. V.J. Beachem added 19 points while Bonzie Colson had 12 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. The five Irish starters all played the final 10:14 of regulation.
Significance: It was the fifth win in six meetings against Duke for Notre Dame, which improved to 11-1, including eight straight wins, against league teams from North Carolina.
Speaking: “This was huge for us, but we feel like we’re not done yet.” – Auguste
∎ 18. Notre Dame 67, Syracuse 58 (Purcell Pavilion; January 21, 2012)
Storylines: Notre Dame weathered 17 turnovers against undefeated Syracuse thanks to 17 points and 10 rebounds from Jack Cooley and 13 points, six rebounds and three assists from Scott Martin. The Irish were up 12 at half and led by as many as 18. Guard Jerian Grant, who said earlier in the week that Notre Dame would “shock the world” had 11 points, two rebounds and six assists in 37 minutes.
Significance: For the seventh time at home, the eighth in program history and for the first time since February 1987, Notre Dame beat the nation’s No. 1 ranked team.
Speaking: “I’m thinking this might be a dream right now. There are no words for it.” – Irish power forward Tom Knight
∎ 17. Notre Dame 74, Rutgers 62 (Madison Square Garden; New York; March 8, 2000)
Storylines: Having lost by 25 points at Rutgers earlier in the year, Notre Dame led 11-3 early and by as many as 17 in the first half. The Irish shot .529% from the field and made 10 3-pointers. Troy Murphy had 25 points and 14 rebounds while David Graves, Jere Macura and Harold Swanagan all scored 10 points.
Significance: This was the first Big East Tournament win in program history for Notre Dame, which was 0-4 since joining the league in 1995-96. The Irish won 11 BET games during their 18-year affiliation with the league.
Speaking: “Every game has been physical the entire Big East season. That’s the way the Big East is.” – Murphy after Notre Dame went 20-of-25 from the free throw line in a game that featured 44 fouls.
∎ 16. Notre Dame 75, Connecticut 70 (Hartford Civic Center; Hartford, Connecticut; January 5, 2000)
Storylines: The Irish led for the final 13:56 in their second win (Ohio State) over a team that advanced the previous season to the Final Four. Murphy announced his arrival as a serious presence in the Big East (he’d earn the first of two conference player of the year honors) with 33 points and 16 rebounds in all 40 minutes. Matt Carroll added 10 points.
Significance: It marked the first time since February 17, 1990 (Syracuse), that Notre Dame won a road game against a team ranked inside the Associated Press top five. Defending national champion Connecticut was ranked No. 2.
Speaking: “We jumped around like crazy in the locker room, chest-bumping, everything.” – Carroll.
∎ 15. Notre Dame 83, Xavier 71 (Kemper Arena; Kansas City, Missouri; March 16, 2001)
Storylines: In a game sent to 38% of the country by CBS (back before every tournament game was televised in its entirety), Notre Dame, the No. 6 seed, sprinted to a 25-12 lead, led by 14 at half and led for the final 31 minutes thanks to sophomore guard Matt Carroll. He went 9-of-11 from the field with 21 points, six rebounds and two assists. Swingman David Graves returned to the starting lineup for the first time since January and made all seven of his shots for 20 points.
Significance: Playing for its third coach in as many seasons, Notre Dame advanced to the NCAA Tournament – and won a game – for the first time since 1990.
Speaking: “The best games we’ve played this year are where we we’re playing unselfish. When we do that, we’re hard to stop.” – Carroll after the Irish finished with 19 assists.
∎ 14. Notre Dame 68, Illinois 60 (RCA Dome; Indianapolis; March 22, 2003)
Storylines: Playing less than 48 hours after almost being beaten at the buzzer by Milwaukee, No. 5 seed Notre Dame shot .614% from the field, scored 47 points and led by 13 in the first half of a game in which it made a school record for an NCAA Tournament game 13 3-pointers. Swingman Dan Miller, in his only season with the Irish, scored a career high 23 points with five 3s. Chris Thomas added 17 points, two rebounds and five assists. Jordan Cornette hounded Big Ten player of the year Brian Cook into 6-of-23 from the field. In a show of team unity, the Irish shaved their heads before the tournament.
Significance: Notre Dame advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 16 seasons on head coach Mike Brey’s 44th birthday.
Speaking: “We’re going to the Sweet 16, but I know we’re not satisfied. I’m not satisfied.” – Miller.
∎ 13. Notre Dame 61, Wisconsin 56 (Wells Fargo Center; Philadelphia; March 25, 2016)
Storylines: Down by one with 19 seconds remaining in a game in which it scored only 19 points in the first half, No. 6 seed Notre Dame watched guard Demetrius Jackson go for six points with two steals in a 16-second burst for the ultimate steal of a win. Jackson finished with 16 points, three rebounds, six assists and three steals. Zach Auguste added 13 points and 12 rebounds. V.J. Beachem added 19 points. Irish coach Mike Brey suffered a tear to his right calf in the closing minutes of the game.
Significance: Able to run its NCAA Tournament record to 6-1 over the past two seasons, Notre Dame advanced to the Elite Eight for a second straight season for the first time since 1978-79.
Speaking: “It’s crazy, man. It’s still so surreal. I’m still trying to put it together.” – Auguste on the lightning-strike Irish comeback.
∎ 12. Notre Dame 70, Connecticut 67 (Gampel Pavilion; Storrs, Connecticut; March 5, 2011)
Storylines: Picked seventh in preseason, Notre Dame finished second after wrecking Connecticut’s Senior Day in a game that featured four ties and six lead changes. Ty Nash had 13 points, five rebounds, two assists and three big free throws the final 3:55. Carleton Scott added 13 points and three rebounds.
Significance: It was the first (and only) win for Notre Dame in Storrs and the last loss for Connecticut, which would win 11 straight for its third national championship. At the time, the 25 wins marked the most for the program in the modern era. Notre Dame also vaulted to No. 4 in the Associated Press poll, its highest ranking since January 1981 when it was also No. 4.
Speaking: “I’m just glad we went out there and showed them what this Notre Dame team is all about.” – Hansbrough, who had 21 points, four rebounds and five assists before fouling out with 8:24 remaining.
∎ 11. Notre Dame 89, Rutgers 87 2OT (University of Dayton Arena; Dayton, Ohio; March 16, 2022)
Storylines: A game that started on March 16 finished in the early morning hours of March 17 – Saint Patrick’s Day – and featured a staggering 12 ties and 17 lead changes. It took two hours and 24 minutes to complete. Power forward Paul Atkinson made 13 of 15 shots for 26 points and six rebounds as Notre Dame scored 58 points in the paint. Atkinson’s rebound bucket with 1.4 seconds left sealed the win and an overnight flight to San Diego for the Irish, who got 18 points and six rebounds from Nate Laszewski.
Significance: Coming off a 3-15 league record the previous season, Notre Dame won a school record 15 ACC games, finished one game behind league champion Duke and was still stunningly sent to Dayton to the play-in game as a No. 11 seed. Mike Brey never recovered from the slight.
Speaking: “What an unbelievable game.” – Ryan
∎ 10. Notre Dame 98, Texas 92 (MCI Center; Washington, D.C.; December 8, 2002)
Storylines: In a matchup of elite point guards, Chris Thomas got the best of T.J. Ford with 19 points, six rebounds and eight assists while Torin Francis flirted seriously with the school’s second triple double – 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks. Dan Miller added 20 points and eight rebounds as Notre Dame delivered a 12-0 run after trailing by five with three minutes remaining.
Significance: The Sunday afternoon win in downtown D.C., capped a run of three victories in seven days over teams ranked in the Top 10. Notre Dame entered the next Associated Press poll at No. 10. It marked only the third time in AP poll history that a team went from unraked one week to Top 10 the next.
Speaking: “We’re in new territory right now. It’s where we want the program.” – head coach Mike Brey.
∎ 9. Notre Dame 104, Louisville 101 5OT (Purcell Pavilion; February 9, 2013)
Storylines: For nearly 39 minutes, this game was just another game. A blah game. A boring game. With 1:28 remaining in regulation of a game that tipped after 9 p.m. with ESPN College Gameday in town, Louisville led 53-45 and looked headed for an easy W. Jerian Grant then turned the game and the night and everything else on its collective head. Grant scored 12 straight points the final 51 seconds to force overtime and the craziness was off and running in a game that would eventually feature 16 ties and 26 lead changes. It finally ended at 12:36 a.m.
Significance: Eleven years to the day that Notre Dame played the longest regular season game in Big East history, Notre Dame went one overtime better to again play the longest regular season game in Big East history – in its last season in the Big East. This was part of a series/rivalry with Louisville where five of six and six of eight games went to at least one overtime.
Speaking: “I don’t feel tired; I just can’t move. This was the best game I’ve ever been a part of.” – Irish swingman Pat Connaughton, who laid his body across a group of high-top chairs in the locker room lounge after going for 16 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists in 56 minutes.
∎ 8. Notre Dame 116, Georgetown 111 4OT (MCI Center; Washington, D.C.; February 9, 2002)
Storylines: MCI Center turned into Purcell Pavilion Mid-Atlantic as many in the crowd of 14,698 broke out chants of “Let’s Go Irish!” as Georgetown had chances to win it with the last shot at the end of regulation and at the end of each of the first three overtimes. Chris Thomas played a school record 60 minutes with 22 points, eight rebounds, 12 assists and three steals. Despite the noon tip, Notre Dame nearly missed its commercial flight home that night. The Irish made it and made their connection through Cincinnati. Mike Brey went to watch tape of the game the next day, but the video system in the basketball offices wasn’t programmed to record all the overtimes.
Significance: Notre Dame won in MCI Center for the third straight time on a streak that would hit four in a row. With the first of five wins in six games in this series, it felt like Notre Dame had finally found a Big East rival in Georgetown.
Speaking: “I like to play here (but) I was tired. I wanted that game to be over.” – Matt Carroll, who played 55 minutes and finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds.
∎ 7. Notre Dame 79, Duke 77 (Purcell Pavilion; January 4, 2014)
Storylines: Notre Dame shot .625% from the field and .500% from 3 in the second half and finished with 44 points in the paint in a game that featured 10 ties and nine lead changes. Eric Atkins had 19 points and 11 assists while Pat Connaughton had 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes. Garrick Sherman added 14 points and eight rebounds.
Significance: Welcome to the league, Notre Dame. The first ACC game in program history was one to remember, and started a run in which Notre Dame beat Duke in five of six meetings.
Speaking: “The ref told me he didn’t know how I could get up there. I said, ‘Hey, you haven’t watched enough (Irish) games.’” – Connaughton following his second half drive and dunk over Duke’s Jabari Parker.
∎ 6. Notre Dame 67, Wichita State 66 (Lahaina Civic Center; Maui, Hawaii; November 22, 2017)
Storylines: Guard Matt Farrell earned tournament most valuable player honors after 15 points, four rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes of a championship game that Notre Dame led for all of 22 seconds. Bonzie Colson had 25 points and 11 rebounds. Notre Dame rocketed to No. 5 in the national polls the following week.
Significance: Everyone who’s anyone in college basketball wants to be on that wall inside Lahaina Civic Center. If your program’s name is on that wall, you’ve won a Maui Invitational championship. Your program is taken seriously. Notre Dame, after its third trip to the island, is forever on that wall alongside Connecticut, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina.
Speaking: “Marty’s been grinding the whole year. It’s great to see him show his heart and pride and make those two free throws for our program.” – Colson on Martinas Geben, who made two free frows with 3.3 seconds remaining and the win.
∎ 5. Notre Dame 71, North Carolina 70 (Dean Smith Center; Chapel Hill, N.C.; January 5, 2015)
Storylines: Coming off a double overtime home victory over Georgia Tech (the Jerian Grant dunk game) barely 48 hours earlier, No. 13 Notre Dame withstood being outrebounded by 17 and allowing 21 offensive rebounds to move to 3-0 in ACC play for the first time. Zach Auguste had 18 points, six rebounds and two blocks while Pat Connaughton added 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Significance: If you want to win in the ACC, you better win at North Carolina. In its fourth visit to Chapel Hill, Notre Dame won for the first time.
Speaking: “This is a great win for us; we’re definitely a great team. We’re going to make a big statement in the ACC this year. We have that edge to us.” – Auguste.
∎ 4. Notre Dame 67, Butler 64 OT (Consol Energy Center; Pittsburgh; March 21, 2015)
Storylines: With two seconds remaining in regulation and Butler ball in a game that would feature six ties and nine lead changes and had long gone past midnight, one timeout was called, then a second and finally, a third before play resumed. Pat Connaughton then soared in from somewhere near Scranton to swat a potential game-winning corner 3-pointer from Kellen Durham and force overtime. “Not tonight!” Connaughton barked when he landed and the regulation horn sounded. Steve Vasturia delivered 20 points, six rebounds and two assists in 43 minutes.
Significance: Notre Dame advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2003. The Irish also moved to 4-0 in overtime games in 2014-15, a sign that there was something different about this group.
Speaking: “She was with me all the way tonight. Man, she had a great run. An amazing woman.” – Mike Brey, who learned earlier in the day that his mother, Betty, had died of a heart attack in Florida.
∎ 3. Notre Dame 95, Duke 91 (Cameron Indoor Stadium; Durham, North Carolina; January 16, 2016)
Storylines: Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski probably still can’t comprehend what Bonzie Colson did on this Saturday afternoon in mid-January. Coming off the bench, Colson scored a career-high 31 points with 11 rebounds in 33 minutes. Demetrius Jackson added 24 points, two rebounds and four assists after the Irish trailed by eight not even two minutes in. When Rex Pflueger banged in a 3-pointer from the top of the key to beat the shot clock to put the Irish up six with 3:10 remaining, you started to believe they were going to get this one.
Significance: Not even a year after a veteran Notre Dame team went to Cameron and was blitzed by a 43-7 scoring run in a 30-point loss (90-60), the Irish won for the first time in program history in arguably the toughest place to play in the ACC. It was the fourth win in five games for Notre Dame over Duke and the sixth time in seven games that Notre Dame had won an ACC game in the state of North Carolina. This was a time when the Irish owned Tobacco Road.
Speaking: “After playing here, I feel like we can play anywhere. This is the craziest atmosphere in college basketball.” – Colson
∎ 2. Kentucky 68, Notre Dame 66 (Quicken Loans Arena; Cleveland; March 28, 2015)
Storylines: When Pat Connaughton drove the lane in transition and delivered a two-handed dunk to push the Irish up by four with 14:25 to play, it was time to buckle up for a ride that might lead Notre Dame to its first Final Four since 1978. In a high-stakes game where neither team led by more than six and featured 12 ties and 20 lead changes, Notre Dame was up by two with 2:35 remaining – but never scored again. On a night the Irish played their A game, an A+ effort was needed.
Significance: If you were in Quicken Loans Arena on this Saturday night, you know. The waves of emotion. The swings of momentum. The nervous energy that swept through the stands as Notre Dame played its first Elite Eight game since 1979. There’s a reason it was the highest rated sports program in cable television history with 14.7 million viewers. This one had it all. It remains a Notre Dame/NCAA Tournament game without peer. Maybe forever.
Speaking: “We really controlled the game and were in position to take over the game. It’s extremely tough to know how close we were to doing something special. And now, it’s over.” – Grant
∎ 1. Notre Dame 90, North Carolina 82 (Greensboro Coliseum; Greensboro, North Carolina; March 14, 2015)
Storylines: In a season of lightning strikes, the bolt that banged down on the Greensboro Coliseum court was equally dominating and devastating. With 9:21 remaining, Notre Dame trailed by eight in front of a crowd of 22,026 that featured at least 21,500 sporting Carolina blue. Notre Dame then went on a 26-3 run that featured an 11-0 burst in 68 seconds and 36 points in the final 9:42. Notre Dame won its only conference tournament in program history in its second ACC season. All five Irish starters scored double figures and accounted for 85 of the 90 points. Tournament most valuable player Jerian Grant led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds. This was Notre Dame basketball at its best.
Significance: There’s no conference basketball tournament like the ACC Tournament. To do what Notre Dame did – beating a ranked Duke team (No. 2) and a ranked North Carolina team (No. 19) on consecutive nights in the birthplace of ACC basketball – is something that cannot be dismissed when you write the history of Notre Dame basketball. This win is right there near the top.
Speaking: “That charter (flight home) is going to be wired, baby. I may play the trumpet on that thing.” – Mike Brey after Notre Dame did what many didn’t believe could be done.
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com
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