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LOOK: Pat Connaughton reacts to Notre Dame upset win over Alabama

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels•03/18/22•

ChandlerVessels

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Pat Connaughton is ecstatic following Notre Dame’s 78-64 upset win against Alabama on Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The former Fighting Irish and current Milwaukee Bucks guard took to Twitter to celebrate the big victory.

“Yuppppp,” Connaughton wrote, followed by four shamrock emojis.

Cormac Ryan scored a career-high 29 points in the win, as Notre Dame pulled away in the second half. Paul Atkinson Jr., Blake Wesley and Nate Laszewski all scored in double figures against Alabama as well. As a team, the Fighting Irish combined to shoot 10-16 (62.5 percent) from deep and to go with a 29-54 (53.7 percent) from the floor, which proved to be the difference.

Pat Connaughton played four years at Notre Dame and was a full-time starter his final three seasons. The Fighting Irish earned a three seed in the NCAA Tournament when he was a senior in 2015, advancing all the way to the Elite Eight. He finished his college career averaging 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game before being taken in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft.

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Connaughton played sparingly he first few seasons in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers before signing as a free agent with Milwaukee in 2018. The sharpshooting guard has since carved out a regular reserve role with the Bucks, who defeated Phoenix to claim an NBA title last season. So far this year, Connaughton is averaging 10.1 points per game on 40.7% shooting from 3-point range in 27 minutes per game. Milwaukee sits at second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 44-26.

Notre Dame will now play Texas Tech in the Round of 32. The Red Raiders had one of the most dominant performances in the first round, demolishing Montana State 97-62 Friday afternoon. The game is slated for Sunday afternoon with the winner advancing to the Sweet 16.

Time for Sunday’s game will be determined at the conclusion of Friday’s NCAA Tournament slate.