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This is no time for followers or members of the ND women's basketball team to panic.
It is, however, time for the Irish to remember what made them look like the best team in America as recently as three weeks ago.
On that night, the Irish DESTROYED Tennessee. They made it look easy.
But being great isn't easy, and Notre Dame got an unwanted reminder of that on Sunday.
West Virginia shocked the world by knocking off the Irish on their home floor. And the timing couldn't be much better if you ask me.
Coach Muffet McGraw told me Monday, "It's difficult when you're winning games easily, on the road against ranked teams, and you start to feel invincible. And you forget how you got to be invincible."
The Irish have been in need of a little wake up call for a couple weeks. Muffet McGraw has tried sending it with her post-game comments, after sub-standard, albeit victorious, performances against St. John's and Syracuse. She likely tried sending it in practice too.
You can't just walk out on the court and expect an easy win.
But the message didn't get through. And they lost.
Judging by the team's reaction 24 hours later....message received.
"At this point in the season you don't need to lose a game like that, especially at home," Devereaux Peters says. "Everybody's taking responsibility for their part."
"We responded well today in practice," Skylar Diggins said. "I'm interested to see how we respond in the game tomorrow."
I wouldn't want to be Providence right now. The Friars that will likely feel the wrath of a motivated, talented Irish squad. And if the message truly was received, they won't be the only ones.
Here's the best part.
This loss doesn't mean a thing. The Irish are still tied for 1st place in the BIG EAST. And in order to win their first league title in program history...they have to beat UConn again anyways.
If the season ends today, they're STILL a #1 seed in the tournament, and they STILL get to play the first two games at home.
Like Skylar Diggins said after the game Sunday, "It's not the end of the season. It's just a bad loss"
And if one loss in early February can prevent another one in late March...I'm all for it.
With the right frame of mind, Notre Dame's march to a championship could begin right now.