Notre Dame’s Greatest Basketball Comeback Wins

When a Mike Brey-coached team falls behind by double digits, the opposition enters the danger zone, especially in recent years.

The 84-79 overtime victory Thursday afternoon in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals against Duke was yet another example. Trailing 64-48, the Fighting Irish held the Blue Devils to 2-of-18 shooting from the field over the final 16:08 (including the five-minute overtime).

Where does it rank among Notre Dame’s greatest comeback victories ever in men’s basketball?

I can only account for the years since 1970-71, Austin Carr’s senior season, when I first began following the program. Over the past 47 seasons, my top 10 in this category is based on four factors:

• How hopeless did victory appear?

• What caliber was the opponent (with extra credit on the road)?

• How much was the deficit (with extra credit when there was no shot clock and three-point line, the latter implemented in 1986)?

• How much did the win mean to the program?

Here is our top 10 countdown since 1970-71:

10. Jan. 25, 1982: Notre Dame 50, Idaho 48 (OT)

The No. 11-ranked Vandals shot 81.8 percent from the floor in the first half to build an 18-point lead, but the Irish closed regulation time with a 14-4 run to send the game into overtime. Freshman Ron Rowan tallied 17 points. We don’t rank it higher because it came during a 10-17 season.

9. Jan. 25, 2015: Notre Dame 81, North Carolina State 78 (OT)

Same date as Idaho, same 18-point deficit (40-22 in first half), and this one also went into overtime. Led by Jerian Grant’s 25 points, and a V.J. Beachem put-back shot with 1.8 seconds left in regulation, the Irish won this on the road last year.

8. Feb. 18, 2012: Notre Dame 74, Villanova 70 (OT)

The Wildcats dropped to 11-15 (4-10 in the Big East), but this was on the road and — to our knowledge — the lone Irish comeback win after being down by at least 20. Notre Dame trailed 39-19 before cutting it to 39-23 at halftime.

The Irish then converted 9 of 12 threes in the second half, with freshman Pat Connaughton finishing with seven treys, to win their eighth straight contest. Grant’s three put the Irish ahead for good at 68-65.

7. Feb. 6, 2016: Notre Dame 80, North Carolina 76

Unlike the aforementioned games, this didn’t go into overtime, but it came against the No. 2 team that many analysts believe is a bona fide national title contender. The Irish trailed by 15 late in the first half before posting their third straight win over the Tar Heels — and will shoot for four in a row shortly.

6. Feb. 1, 1987: Notre Dame 60, North Carolina 58

For the seventh time under head coach Digger Phelps, the Irish vanquished a No. 1-ranked team, this time after trailing 32-16. This win helped Notre Dame gain momentum en route to the Sweet 16, led by guard David Rivers and forward Donald Royal.

5. Feb. 26, 1978: Notre Dame 65, Marquette 59

The defending national champs were ranked No. 1 and roared to a 34-17 lead that was cut to 39-25 by halftime. But the offense of freshman Kelly Tripucka (15 second-half points) and the defense of sophomore Bill Hanzlik propelled the Irish and helped spark their Final Four run after losing the two previous weekends.

4. Jan. 13, 1973: Notre Dame 71, Marquette 69

One year after finishing 6-20, second-year head coach Phelps’ 3-6 Irish trailed by 10 in the second half at powerful Marquette, which had an 81-game winning streak at home (still tied for fifth-longest in NCAA history) and finished No. 4 nationally. Notre Dame chipped away, with Gary Brokaw’s 28 points and John Shumate’s 21 leading the way, before Dwight Clay’s corner jumper with four seconds left provided the winning margin.

This often overlooked victory ignited the Golden Years under Phelps from 1973-81 — and an almost identical version of what would occur just over one year later (see No. 1).

3. March 10, 2016: Notre Dame 84, Duke 79 (OT)

If you believed in the law of averages, the Irish weren’t “supposed to” beat five-time national champ Mike Krzyzewski (most recently last year) for the fifth time in six games. Just accept it while trailing 64-48 with 11:08 left.

Brey and the Comeback Caravan struck again, led by Zach Auguste’s 19 points and 22 rebounds, plus Beachem’s clutch three-point shooting.

2. Feb. 9, 2013: Notre Dame 104, Louisville 101 (5 OT)

Brey’s crew didn’t have to overcome a double-digit lead here — but victory seemed inconceivable after falling behind 56-48 with 51 seconds left. Grant then had an out-of-body basketball experience by converting three straight Stephon Curry-like-are-you-freaking-kidding-me three-pointers, and added a basket-and-one to knot the game 60-60 at the end of regulation. Twelve points in less than a half-minute? Try that sometime versus a top defense (or any defense).

After 26 lead changes and 16 ties, the Irish survived the marathon while handing the Cardinals, who would go on to win the national title, their final defeat of the year.

1. January 19, 1974: Notre Dame 71, UCLA 70

Yes, the No. 1 Bruins led by 17 at one point in the first half (33-16), but this was more about the invincible John Wooden-led juggernaut that had won seven straight national titles and 88 consecutive games still holding a 70-59 advantage with 3:22 left.

Then, the borderline miracle happened: Notre Dame converted its final six shots — the last by Clay with 29 seconds left — UCLA committed four turnovers (including a hooking foul) and missed its last five field goal attempts, three of them in the final six seconds.

Sports Illustrated recently ranked it as the 37th greatest/most famous moment in the annals of sport (mainly in America).