Once again, Notre Dame basketball was short-handed. After playing a six-man rotation earlier in the year, the Irish were forced to play a seven-man rotation with Juwan Durham still sidelined with an ankle injury.
Mike Brey had a decision to make sooner than later. Chris Doherty pulled off the redshirt to play his first minutes in an Irish uniform against North Carolina State.
And while Notre Dame was forced to play at a faster pace than they were used to, they didn’t look too shook up about it.
In the opening minutes, it was clear; this game would be close and it would be fun.