Everything Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said after NCAA Tournament win vs. Michigan

Notre Dame beat Michigan, 76-55, in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. This is everything Fighting Irish head coach Niele Ivey said after her team’s victory.

Opening statement

So grateful to have this opportunity to win this game with this incredible group, to go back to the Sweet 16. This is so big for the program. We had an incredible fan base today. Sold-out arena. Just exciting basketball. I couldn’t be more proud of this group. Obviously everyone knows we went through a couple weeks of touch stretch and the way that they have fought back, got back on track, the way we have defended the last two games has been just phenomenal.

So I’m so proud of this group. Just an incredible performance for the whole team. The whole weekend was just outstanding, and again, excited to survive and advance and excited to keep dancing and get to the next round.

On Notre Dame being better with half court offense

We have been working on our spacing. We’ve been working on making reads versus the defense that we were going to see versus Michigan. I thought they did an excellent job of sticking to the game plan.

And like Hannah said, it was a lot of carryover from practice. We have really great versatile scorers on the court.

So I thought they did a great job of manipulating their defense and just stepping and shooting with confidence, and Liatu, 7 for 7. Everybody took efficient shots and took great shots. I thought our shot selection was a lot better today, and then we got out and got the stops and got a chance to run in transition. So I feel like we had both, in the transition and in the half court.

On what she learned about Notre Dame this weekend

Well, I knew that they were fighters, like they mentioned. I knew that they were resilient. We just went through a tough stretch. We did the same stretch back in November. This group wants to win. They are unselfish, and just came across a couple bad performances that we learned from.

So I knew that this team was going to respond. It’s something that we’ve done in the past this season, and I’m just happy that it’s happening right now.

Obviously mistakes are high, so I’m really encouraged and really proud of this group that we have turned the page, and the last two games, we’ve shown up and we’ve been really great.

On if she has a preference in playing Louisville or TCU in the Sweet 16

No. We are just focused on whoever the opponent. Is we are very familiar with Louisville, and like you said, with TCU.

But I’m just kind of focusing on us. Going to enjoy this win, embrace it, and get prepared when we know who our opponent is going to be.

On Notre Dame’s defense, especially at the start of the game

Yeah, I thought it was incredible. It’s a carryover from Friday into something we’ve stressed and emphasized, is our defense. They came out with the same mindset, same energy as kind of what I talked about, dominant. And again, it’s a will; a will to win, understanding what it means to get to the next round and get to the Sweet 16.

They have been focused and locked in, and I’m really proud of them. Because again it has not been easy. Being their coach challenging them, and they responded so well. And they know that this is the way we need to be. This is our identity and to see it on a consistent basis in the last week and a half has been great.

On Notre Dame senior guard Olivia Miles playing through an ankle injury

I was going to say MVP is and Anne Marquez; I give her the credit. She came back to work. They have been working on Liv for the last 48 hours, 36 hours, however long it’s been. But she is my MVP.

And Liv, she did exactly what she’s supposed to do. Thank God she had the opportunity to come out here. I thought she was really good. I know she’s playing through a lot of pain. But our training staff has been just phenomenal, so I’m really grateful for all the work, all the late-night treatments that they have put in for her.

On Notre Dame’s three-point defense

Yeah, that was a big emphasis. They average seven and they made 12 versus Iowa State. They only had one at the half and that was really great.

And then Silah (ph) made a couple towards the end in the fourth quarter but held them below their average. That was big, defending the three-point line, especially with them having five guards on the floor.

I was really proud of my posts. That was really hard to play on the perimeter. But I thought everybody did a great job and held them below their scoring average, which was exactly what we wanted.

On continuing to play defense when the game is getting out of hand

They know but I encourage them continuously throughout 40 minutes because I know it’s a game of runs. So they know that I try to make sure that I keep my foot on the gas for them, and they are self-motivated. But also give them that extra boost.

On this weekend being a confidence booster for the Sweet 16

I think it’s a tremendous confidence booster for us because we did it defensively. It was on the defensive end where you’ve seen a shift for this team. No matter when that wake-up call happens, I’m just happy that we responded and I know that defensively is where we need to bring our energy, especially at this point.

So I’m grateful. I always feel like there’s always lessons and things that you go through. This is part of the journey and I’m grateful we responded and turned the page and playing great basketball defensively right now.

On Notre Dame having a future home-and-home series with Michigan

I’m working on that. I try to always stay regional with matchups. So hopefully we can get something going so we can have a home-and-home.