Sunday, March 11, 2018

Brey, Colson and Farrell Talk NCAA / NIT





Here's hoping the Fighting Irish can get motivated to play in the NIT!

Videos courtesy of my good friends at Irish Sports Daily -- you can subscribe HERE.

ND vs. Hampton / Common Opponent: Virginia



The Hampton Pirates played Virginia back on December 22nd losing 82 - 48.  Here's what we know about the Pirates:

LEADING SCORERS:

STARTING LINE-UP:
  • Jermaine Marrow -- 6'-0"
  • Malique Trent-Smith -- 6'-2"
  • Kalin Fisher:  6'-2"
  • Akim Mitchell:  6'-5"
  • Trevon Barnes:  6'-9"

RECORD:  19 - 15

FOUNDED:  1868

MASCOT:  PIRATES


ENROLLMENT:  4,619 students -- 3,793 undergrad / 826 grad students

MALE / FEMALE:  33% / 67%

Muffet Named by ESPNW -- National COY!


It's the second National Coach of the Year Award for Notre Dame's Muffet McGraw in the past week!

LINK:  NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR

2018 NIT -- Notre Dame's Road to NIT Final


To enlarge the 2018 NIT Bracket -- just click on the image above.
 
The Fighting Irish will host Hampton, Tuesday night at 9 PM ET in their NIT First Round game.  The winner of this game will play the winner of Temple vs. Penn State.

The other four teams in this bracket;  Harvard, Oregon, Rider and Marquette.

If the #1 seeds hold up -- Notre Dame would play Baylor on March 27th in Madison Square Garden.

LINK:  TICKET INFORMATION 

LINK:  DOWNLOADABLE -- 2018 NIT BRACKET

2018 NIT Final Four at Madison Square Garden


If you're feeling "bullish" about Notre Dame's chances in the National Invitational Tournament -- you might want to look at airfare and hotels to New York City -- here are the dates:
  • Semi-Finals -- Tuesday, March 27th
  • Finals -- Thursday, March 29th

The first THREE ROUNDS are played on the higher seed's court -- which should mean the Fighting Irish would have to win three "home games" to earn a trip to Madison Square Garden.

We'll know more at 8:30 PM ET on ESPNU

LINK:  NIT TICKET INFO

NIT Selection Show on ESPNU at 8:30 PM ET


Here's hoping the Fighting Irish can get excited about playing in the NIT -- they'll be the team with the target on their back -- a logical #1 overall seed...

We'll learn the path to Madison Square Garden and the NIT Championship Game -- tonight at 8:30 PM ET on ESPNU.

GO IRISH!

NIT Makeover for Purcell Pavilion Floor & Clock


The NIT Tournament will be experimenting with changes to the playing court and changes to how the time will be kept during the game...
  1. The three-point line will be moved back 20" -- same as the FIBA three-point distance
  2. The "paint" area inside the free throw lane will be widened four-feet -- same as the NBA
  3. There will be four quarters instead of two halves -- same as NBA
  4. And, on a missed shot -- the shot clock will re-set at 20 seconds instead of 30 seconds

LINK:  NIT MAKEOVER

It's Okay -- Let's Go Win the NIT in the Garden!


Notre Dame was passed over for the NCAA Tournament -- now it's time to see who and where they will play in the NIT.