What a frustrating loss! So very close. Some quick takes:
I thought Terry and Deebo both had really tough games (couldn't hit even wide open shots- combined were 0-10 from three), but Smith and Sturdivant and Franklin kept us in the game. I said last game that if you give Smith 40 minutes he might get a triple double and he was 4 minutes and only 3 assists short. Sturdivant somehow had 18 points in 18 minutes and almost single-handedly willed us to a win. Franklin played like a beast and is our best rebounder, shot-blocker and offensive threat down low, particularly against a team with a smaller frontcourt (like ND). We missed Jalen Moore. I don't like what Maxwell brings. ND is not a good team, and we let them pull out the win. We had our chances. Oh well. More fuel to the "Pastner Hot Seat" story.