I don't think that the team that lost to ND in triple overtime, or on the errant pass that Diggins snagged or in any of the other five losses we suffered during that run was afraid of ND, or lacked confidence. As 21 says, they outplayed us, but only by the slimmest of margins.
A team that is afraid folds against outstanding competition. I think we tried and got beat. We didn't give up. In '12-'13 we went one and three. That team didn't quit on themselves. It just took them awhile to get over the Diggins factor.