I'm encouraged by Tony's analysis.
But Old Dude has a point as well.
I was thrilled by the team's play in the ND game and by the coach's
schemes to limit ND's effectiveness; brilliant planning and brilliant execution combined with poise and confidence.
But remember; many of us, in the lead-up to that game (not irrationally) surmised that ND was the more seasoned and experienced team, with height and heft that we were not prepared to deal with and that in the game, their bigs missed many, many makable shots and botched numerous plays.
Those strengths (of theirs) would not necessarily be absent in a future meeting just because on that one night we were superior.
It may be that we have delivered a mortal blow to their confidence.
It may be that our superior guard play trumps their height and heft.
But their guards also possess skills and smarts...and on a different day, might very well be much more effective.
I would be more confident of a national championship, if ND were upset on the way to the title game.
But in my mind, a final with the Irish is still a tossup.