The last game of the 2022 NCAA Tournament’s First Four was true March Madness, as former Big East rivals Notre Dame and Rutgers, staged a classic.
Following a miss from teammate Blake Wesley, Notre Dame’s Paul Atkinson Jr. pulled down an offensive rebound, went back up and made a layup. That was enough to finally secure for the Fighting Irish, as Notre Dame prevailed 89-87 in double-overtime.
NOTRE DAME IS DANCING AFTER BEATING RUTGERS IN 2OT
WHAT A GAME pic.twitter.com/kQM6Hn7uKY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 17, 2022
The game ended after midnight in Dayton, meaning the Fighting Irish sealed the hard-earned victory on St. Patrick’s Day.
𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 how you celebrate St. Patrick's Day ☘️#GoIrish | #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/nfGHOUiNp9
— Notre Dame Men's Basketball (@NDmbb) March 17, 2022
Atkinson’s winning bucket ended a game filled with classic moments.
Notre Dame-Rutgers is going to overtime! 🏀#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/BO5A2Ny66O
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 17, 2022
The bank is open late-night for Ron Harper Jr.! 🏀 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/HImxjyv8rD
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 17, 2022
Notre Dame with the steal and go-ahead bucket! 🏀 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/LQ5AFbzZI5
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 17, 2022
DOUBLE ONIONS! DOUBLE OVERTIME! 🏀#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/PfWGb66lIg
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 17, 2022
People following the game had strong reactions to it on Twitter.
If Rutgers@ND is any indication this years #MarchMadness is going to be epic.
— Rick (@rdublife) March 17, 2022
This Rutgers ND game taking years off my life
— GG🫥 (@GrantG765) March 17, 2022
This Rutgers/ND game is what March Madness is all about!!
— BaddogSports (@MrBaddog7676) March 17, 2022
LETS GOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad ND still owns Rutgers. ☺️
— Jack Ryan Cooley (@JackCooligan45) March 17, 2022
This ND/Rutgers game is en 🔥🔥
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 17, 2022
Wow, I'm worn out, and this is the "First Four." What a game. Notre Dame 89, Rutgers 87 in 2OTs.
— Eric Hansen (@EHansenND) March 17, 2022
ND head coach Mike Brey following the 2OT win over Rutgers:
“If there’s a better game in the NCAA tournament I’ve gotta see it” pic.twitter.com/hzRvnZ5zoS
— Andrew Sanders (@ItsDrewSanders) March 17, 2022
With the win, Notre Dame will travel to San Diego for the First Round of the tournament. In San Diego, the Fighting Irish will take on an opponent they’ve become all-too-familiar with in another sport, the West Region’s No. 6 seed, Alabama.
Good news for Notre Dame is that they always do well against Alabama in postseason games
— Pregame Empire (@PregameEmpire) March 17, 2022
Notre Dame’s football team hasn’t had a lot of luck against Alabama. Not in the last decade, anyway. If you’re pulling for the Crimson Tide, you have to hope that the gridiron magic will carry over onto the hardwood. If you’re pulling for the Fighting Irish, remember that it’s an entirely different sport and Nick Saban will not be on the opposing bench.
