Monday, March 12, 2018

Muffet's Irish a #1 Seed in NCAA Tournament!



The Fighting Irish just learned they're playing in the Spokane Region against CSU Northridge here at 5 PM ET Purcell Pavilion on Friday night!

This is the 8th time in program history that we've been a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament -- and, that's SEVEN STRAIGHT!!!

Keep winning and Notre Dame plays UCONN in the Semi-Finals in Columbus, OH.

Go Irish!

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.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Cleveland Browns Just Did Kizer a Huge Favor!


It's being reported that the Cleveland Browns have traded former Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer to the Green Bay Packers...

How good is this for DeShone!!!

LINK:  TRADE

Friday, March 9, 2018

Big Question: "Is Notre Dame NCAA Bound?"



There are plenty of opinions -- we'll know for sure around 6:21 PM ET on Sunday...

Video above courtesy of my friends at Irish Illustrated.

LINK:   CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

LINK:   CBS SPORTS

LINK:   WASHINGTON POST

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Notre Dame Had No Answers for Duke Tonight


Notre Dame vs. Duke at 7 PM ET on ESPN


Do the Fighting Irish have anything left in the tank?

We'll find out in the next 9 hours -- as Notre Dame will play its third game in three nights and Duke plays its first -- on ESPN beginning at 7 PM ET.

When the teams played each other in January -- both Bonzie and Farrell were in street clothes on the bench.  Not tonight!

LINK:  DUKE MEDIA ON TONIGHT'S GAME

A Shout Out to My Dad -- Happy Birthday!


Congrats on another lap around the Sun and here's to many more trips around the bases! 

Happy Birthday Dad!

Brey with Van Pelt on Sideline Look for NCAA



The Media's Attempt to Capture Last Night...


Took a lap around the worldwide web this morning to see how the media, assembled in Brooklyn last night, told the story of Notre Dame's improbable comeback from 21 points down -- with 15:07 remaining -- in their ACC Tournament win over Virginia Tech.

Enjoy!

LINK:  NEW YORK POST

LINK:  NEWSDAY

LINK:  WASHINGTON POST

LINK:  ROANOKE TIMES

LINK:  INDY STAR 

LINK:  FORT WAYNE JOURNAL GAZETTE 

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  DURHAM HERALD SUN

Proof the "Luck of the Irish" is Alive and Well!

The SHOT!
The CATCH!


Andy Katz Interviews Bonzie After Win Over VT