Photographing March Madness 2015: Kentucky Beats Notre Dame

Andrew Weber

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Midwest Regional-Notre Dame vs Kentucky

I was in Cleveland photographing the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8 March Madness Rounds for USA Today. This was my 3rd basketball game I covered all season. I am not much of a fan of shooting basketball, but when it’s crunch time and the game is on the line, I love the hustle and determination players put in to try to win the game and move onto the next round.

Notre Dame was giving Kentucky a run for their money, but a foul in the final seconds of the game sent Kentucky to the line to shoot two baskets putting them ahead 68-66.

Notre Dame attempted to take a shot in the last two seconds of the game, but the shot came up short. Kentucky won and celebrated keeping their season a perfect 38-0 and moving onto the Final Four.

General view of tickets prior to the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
General view of tickets prior to the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) goes up for a shot while guarded by Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Demetrius Jackson (11) during the final minutes of the second half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) goes up for a shot while guarded by Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Demetrius Jackson (11) during the final minutes of the second half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Midwest Regional-Notre Dame vs Kentucky

Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) dunks ahead of Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) during the second half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) dunks ahead of Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) during the second half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) reacts with guard Demetrius Jackson (11) during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) reacts with guard Demetrius Jackson (11) during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) goes up for a shot while guarded by Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) goes up for a shot while guarded by Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) shoots while guarded by Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Jerian Grant (22) shoots while guarded by Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) reacts during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) shoots while guarded by Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) shoots while guarded by Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) goes after a loose ball ahead of Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) goes after a loose ball ahead of Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Zach Auguste (30) reacts after a dunk during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Zach Auguste (30) reacts after a dunk during the first half against the Kentucky Wildcats in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) shoots while guarded by Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) shoots while guarded by Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lebron James (left) attends the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Lebron James (left) attends the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Kentucky Wildcats during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) shoots while guarded by Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) shoots while guarded by Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) works to control the ball ahead of Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Zach Auguste (30) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard/forward Pat Connaughton (24) works to control the ball ahead of Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Zach Auguste (30) during the first half in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats flag prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats flag prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats fan Thomas Younce shows off his tattoos prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats fan Thomas Younce shows off his tattoos prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats fan Thomas Younce shows off his tattoos prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats fan Thomas Younce shows off his tattoos prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats band plays prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats band plays prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame fan Tim Clarke prior to the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Notre Dame fan Tim Clarke prior to the game between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) reacts after the win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (2) reacts after the win over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) and guard Aaron Harrison (2) and guard Tyler Ulis (3) jump in the air after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) and guard Aaron Harrison (2) and guard Tyler Ulis (3) jump in the air after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) cuts the net after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) cuts the net after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats fans hold up a sign after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats fans hold up a sign after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) after cutting the net after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) after cutting the net after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-Midwest Regional-Notre Dame vs Kentucky

Movie actress Ashley Judd celebrates after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Movie actress Ashley Judd celebrates after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari and guard Andrew Harrison (right) walk off the court after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach John Calipari and guard Andrew Harrison (right) walk off the court after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Andrew Harrison (right) walk off the court after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.
Kentucky Wildcats head coach Andrew Harrison (right) walk off the court after the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the finals of the midwest regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Quicken Loans Arena. Kentucky won 68-66.

About the author: Andrew Weber is a freelance sports photographer based in Toledo, Ohio. His images regularly appear in Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times and many other online and print publications. You can find more of his work on his website. These photos originally appeared here.

,
, , , ,
Related Articles
coalminer Touching Photo of ‘Father of the Year’ Coal Miner and Son at a Basketball Game
I Shot Expired Film at the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Man Allegedly Hid Bombs in Trail Cameras, ATF Says Beware
Portraits of People Who Attend the Kentucky Derby
Discussion