Inside Notre Dame's Blitz of Wichita State!

You're going to want to watch this edition of IRISH CONNECTION -- as it takes a look inside Notre Dame's decisive run in the 2nd half to put the game away against Wichita State.

As the coach at Wichita State said in his post game press conference; "I've never seen a one point lead get out of hand so quickly..."

LINK:  IRISH CONNECTION

BELIEVE! We Are In the ELITE EIGHT -- BABY!

It's time we ALL start believing in NOTRE DAME BASKETBALL.  What an effort tonight as the Fighting Irish won a game -- most of the pundits said they had no business winning...

81 - 70 over Wichita State -- and it wasn't that close...

So, now we hope to play COLONEL SANDER'S TEAM.  Please give Notre Dame a shot at a 37 - 0 Kentucky team Saturday night...

Isn't this fun!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Why Calipari and Company Won't Sleep Well!

The University of Notre Dame has ended MORE STREAKS than any other school in the history of American sport -- and beaten more #1 teams -- take a look:

The Fighting Irish has already beaten Kentucky twice when the Wildcats were ranked #1 -- why not three!


STREAKS NOTRE DAME HAS BROKEN:

• UCLA's 88 game winning streak
• Oklahoma's 47 game winning streak
• Miami's 36 game winning streak
• Texas 30 game winning streak
• Army's 25 game winning streak 

NOTRE DAME BEATING #1 in BASKETBALL

• Syracuse 2012
• North Carolina 1987
• Virginia 1981
• Kentucky 1980
• DePaul 1980
• Marquette 1978
• San Francisco 1977
• UCLA 1974
• UCLA 1971
• Indiana 1954
• Kentucky 1948
• NYU 1948

Wichita State's Greg Marshall Talks Notre Dame

The Shocker's head basketball coach Greg Marshall met with the media today in Cleveland to talk about tomorrow night's Sweet Sixteen game with our Fighting Irish -- and rumors he's headed elsewhere to coach next season...

Here's what he had to say:

LINK:  USA TODAY STORY

LINK:  KANSAS

LINK:  WICHITA EAGLE

Are You Fired Up for Thursday Night's Game!

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame have been in Cleveland since Tuesday -- getting ready for tomorrow night's SWEET SIXTEEN game against the Shockers of Wichita State.

Here's the media coverage from today:

LINK:  COACH BREY PRESSER

LINK:  CONNAUGHTON & GRANT PRESSER

LINK:  PRACTICE FROM THE "Q"

LINK:  A SON MOURNS

OT: NCAA Releases USC Investigation Docs

Some of the documents concerning the NCAA investigation of the USC football program during the Pete Carroll era -- were released today.

Interesting read...

LINK:  USC INVESTIGATION

Brian Kelly Gives Spring Practice Update Today

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today to talk about how the first few Spring practices are going for his Fighting Irish:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

Notre Dame -- IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL!

The verdict is in --- anyway you measure it -- the most successful men's and women's basketball programs in the country hail from Notre Dame, IN.

LINK:  BASKETBALL SCHOOL

Under Armour / Notre Dame -- Bloomberg TV

The folks at BloombergBusiness featured Under Armour's investment in college athletics -- in this story.

Their relationship with Notre Dame was discussed.

LINK:  UNDER ARMOUR / NOTRE DAME

Mike Brey's "Life Coach" -- His Mom...

The Chicago Tribune's David Haugh penned this piece this morning about Mike Brey and his relationship with his Mom...

LINK:  LIFE COACH

A Look at W / L Amongst SWEET SIXTEEN

Here's a look at the "head to head" wins and losses amongst the SWEET SIXTEEN teams left in the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. 

HEAD TO HEAD W / L -- SWEET SIXTEEN - ranked by total wins:

• #3 -- NOTRE DAME:  7 - 1
• #1 -- Duke:  7 - 3
• #2 -- Arizona:  4 - 0
• #4 -- North Carolina:  4 - 7
• #1 -- Kentucky:  3 - 0
• #1 -- Wisconsin:  3 - 1
• #5 -- West Virginia: 2 - 1
• #3 -- Oklahoma:  2 - 2
• #5 -- Utah:  2 - 2 
• #8 -- North Carolina State:  2 - 4
• #2 -- Gonzaga:  1 - 1
• #4 -- Louisville:  1 - 6
• #11 -- UCLA:  1 - 7
• #6 -- Xavier:  0 - 0
• #7 -- Wichita State:  0 - 1
• #7 -- Michigan State:  0 - 4

Brady Quinn One of the Domers in Phoenix

The NFL held their first ever "Veteran's Combine" for NFL free agents still looking for a team to play for this season -- and Fox broadcaster Brady Quinn was on the field looking to impress a scout or two...

LINK:  VETERAN'S COMBINE

Inside Look at Notre Dame's Win Over Butler

You'll enjoy this great inside access to Notre Dame's OT win last night over Butler:

LINK:  INSIDE THE IRISH

Two FOUR GUARD Teams to Meet in Sweet 16!

Notre Dame will be playing Wichita State Thursday night at 7:15 PM ET in Cleveland -- in a match-up of two teams who start "four guards and a forward."

Wichita State -- a #7 Seed -- rolled over #2 Kansas tonight -- wasn't even close in the second half.  

We've got our hands full!  Here's what we know about Wichita State:

STARTERS:

• Guard:  Tekele Cotton -- 6'-3" Senior /  9.6 pts / 4.1 rebounds
• Guard:  Evan Wessell -- 6'-4" Junior /  4.1 pts / 3.4 rebounds
• Guard:  Ron Baker -- 6'-3" Junior /  15 pts / 4.5 rebounds
• Guard:  Fred VanVleet -- 6'-0' Junior / 13.1 pts / 4.4 rebounds
• Forward:  Darius Carter -- 6'-7" Senior / 11.1 pts / 5.4 rebounds

BENCH:

•  Center:  Bush Wamukota -- 6'-11" Junior / 1.1 pts / 1.5 rebounds
•  Forward:  Rashard Kelly -- 6'-7" Freshman / 3.0 pts / 3.0 rebounds
•  Forward:  Zach Brown -- 6'-6" Freshman / 3.2 pts / 1.4 rebounds
•  Forward:  Shaquille Morris -- 6'-7" Freshman / 5.0 pts / 2.7 rebounds

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS OF WIN OVER KANSAS

Full Game Replay: Notre Dame vs. Butler

If you didn't get enough of this game last night -- here's the full-game replay of Notre Dame's 67 - 64 OT win over the Butler Bulldogs:

LINK:  FULL GAME REPLAY

The Media the Mornin' After a "Sweet" Victory

The news of the passing of Betty Brey -- Coach Brey's 84 year-old Mom -- put a damper on any post game celebrating for the Fighting Irish.  Betty, a former world-record holder in the 100 Fly and 1956 US Olympian -- died of an apparent heart attack yesterday morning.

The OT victory over Butler was a HUGE win for Notre Dame as they get back to the SWEET SIXTEEN for the first time in 12 years -- here's the media's post game reports:

LINK:  INDY STAR

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

Prayers for Coach Mike Brey's Family Tonight...

Mike Brey's Mom passed away Saturday morning at the age of 84 from a heart attack...

Now I understand the emotional hug Jack Swarbrick gave to Coach Brey at game's end.

Coach Brey will head to Orlando today to be with his Dad and siblings -- to mourn the loss of his Mom -- will be back at Notre Dame on Monday.

PRAYERS.

LINK:  COACH BREY TALKS ABOUT HIS MOM

LINK:  BETTY BREY

LINK:  FULL POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE 

SWEET SIXTEEN BABY!!! HUGE OT WIN!!!

It wasn't easy -- but WOW!!!

Notre Dame beat Butler 67 - 64 in OT in a game that we will not soon forget!

Steve Vasturia was HUGE all game long -- Jerian Grant made a GREAT left handed layup late -- Pat Connaughton made a HUGE THREE -- Zach Auguste grabbed some HUGE rebounds and Demetrius Jackson -- led HIS team...

It's now on to Cleveland to play the winner of Kansas vs. Wichita State -- Thursday night. 

The ACC already has three teams of the eight teams in the SWEET SIXTEEN -- Notre Dame, North Carolina and North Carolina State.  Duke, Virginia and Louisville play tomorrow for three more spots.

The ACC is 9 - 0 in the NCAA Tournament.

LINK:  GRANT'S HUGE LATE GAME LAY-UP

LINK:  CONNAUGHTON'S HUGE OT THREE POINTER 

LINK:  VASTURIA'S HUGE THREE POINTER IN OT 

LINK:  CONNAUGHTON LAST SECOND BLOCK IN REGULATION

LINK:  NCAA GAME RECAP

New York Times: "It's All About ND's Shoes..."

The folks at Under Armour will love this New York Times story...

LINK:  ALL ABOUT THE SHOES

Montana's Mascot "Monte" Visits Notre Dame

If you were at last night's NCAA game between Notre Dame and Montana -- you would have been entertained by MONTE -- the Grizzlies' mascot...

Enjoy!

LINK:  MONTE

Notre Dame Lacrosse's Corrigan and Ossello

My brother Jay -- who lives in Denver -- sent me a text this morning that I needed to put this interview up on the ND GO IRISH BLOG...

GREAT SUGGESTION -- you must see this!

LINK:  CORRIGAN AND OSSELLO

On to Round Two of the NCAA Tournament!!!

Notre Dame beat Montana 77 - 43 last night in their opening game of the 2015 NCAA Championship.  A game where the Fighting Irish just "did their thing" -- nothing out of the ordinary.

Up next -- the DePaul Blue Demons -- a team that feels they should have beat Notre Dame earlier in the year as they lost to the IRISH by one point 94 - 93 IN OT in a game where DePaul was 12 for 29 from the foul line...

How do we get an opponent like this in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament?

LINK:  JEWELL INTERVIEW AFTER GAME

LINK:  NCAA HIGHLIGHTS

Notre Dame in Pittsburgh: Practice & Press

Here's what the Fighting Irish did yesterday in Pittsburgh -- as they prepare to take on the Butler Bulldogs tonight at 9:40 PM ET on TBS!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

Butler Coach Talks Notre Dame NCAA Game

Butler's head coach Chris Holtmann met with the media yesterday to talk about tonight's match-up with the Fighting Irish -- click on the link below:
 
LINK:  BUTLER COACH

LINK:  NEWS STORY

LINK:  NCAA PREVIEW

LINK:  CAMPUS INSIDERS

NCAA TV TIMES: ND Men & Women

Fans of the Fighting Irish should have quite a weekend of TV -- as both the Men & Women should be on national television the next three days:

FRIDAY NIGHT:

• #1 Notre Dame vs. #16 Montana -- 7:30 PM ET on ESPN2

SATURDAY NIGHT:

• #3 Notre Dame vs. #6 Butler -- 9:40 PM ET on TBS

SUNDAY NIGHT:

• #1 Notre Dame vs. #9 DePaul -- 9:00 PM ET on ESPN

All Three of Muffet's Recruits "Gatorade POY"

Muffet's three incoming recruits; Ali Patberg, Arike Ogunbowale and Marina Mabrey -- all play the guard position and they've all swept the top awards available in women's high school basketball in the country and in their respective states:

• McDonald's All-Americans --- ALL THREE

• Gatorade Player of the Year for their state -- ALL THREE

• State Champion -- ALL THREE

• Miss Basketball  -- PATBERG & OGUNBOWALE (I don't think New Jersey has the award)

Arike Ogunbowale Named "Miss Basketball!"

The state of Wisconsin's "Miss Basketball" this season is none other than future Notre Dame student-athlete Arike Ogunbowale!

Arike -- who scored a state record 55 points in a semi-final game last week -- led her high school to the Wisconsin state championship!

Congrats Arike!

LINK:  MISS BASKETBALL

SEC "Considers" Notre Dame a "Power Five"

Well, isn't that nice of them...

LINK:  SEC ON PLAYING NOTRE DAME

Know Thy NCAA Opponent: Butler Bulldogs

Butler beat Texas today -- contributing to a very poor start for the Big 12 in the NCAA Tournament:

• #3 seed Iowa State -- loss
• #3 seed Baylor -- loss
• #11 seed Texas -- loss

Butler was led today by Kellen Dunham who scored 20 of the Bulldog's 56 in their 12 point NCAA Tournament win over the Longhorns.  Butler only played seven players today, two guards and five forwards -- holding Texas to their lowest point total of the season.  Here's the game detail:

• Guard:  Kellen Dunham, 6'-6" -- 20 points / 2 rebounds / 2 assists
• Guard:  Alex Barlow, 5'-11" -- 7 points / 8 rebounds / 1 assist
• Forward:  Roosevelt Jones, 6'-4" -- 6 points / 1 rebound / 4 assists
• Forward:  Kameron Woods, 6'-9" -- 9 points / 9 rebounds / 1 block
• Forward:  Andrew Chrabascz,  6'-7" -- 7 points / 5 rebounds / 3 assists

OFF THE BENCH:

• Forward:  Tyler Widemen, 6'-8" -- 0 points / 1 rebound / 1 steal
• Forward:  Kelan Martin, 6'-6" -- 7 points / 0 rebounds / 0 assists

Here are the surprising numbers from today's game:

• Texas shot 34% from the field -- Butler shot 33%
• Texas had 12 offensive rebounds -- Butler had 5 offensive rebounds
• Texas made 8 free throws (8 for 12) -- Butler made 20 free throws (20 for 28)
• Texas had 15 turnovers -- Butler had 5 turnovers
• Texas was called for 24 fouls -- Butler was called for 13 fouls                                         
•  LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS  

Ali Patberg Named Indiana's "Miss Basketball"

The future Notre Dame student-athlete was named Indiana's "Miss Basketball' yesterday -- here's her interview:

LINK:  MISS BASKETBALL

Muffet's IRISH Talk NCAA Tournament Today

The Fighting Irish held their opening NCAA Tournament press conference today -- Muffet, Jewell and Lindsay -- answered the media's questions:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

NCAA Tournament Credo: "JUST WIN BABY!"

Rankings, style points, seedings, etc., -- they don't matter anymore.

It's all about WINNING -- ugly, barely -- they all count the same!!!

Notre Dame's 69 - 65 win today was a perfect NCAA Tournament win -- because every win is PERFECT.  Just ask fellow #3 seeds Iowa State and Baylor...

ON TO SATURDAY!

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS 

LINK:  GAME RECAP

NCAA Bans "Hardship Transfer" Waivers...

Fighting Irish fans will remember former "five-star" commit Eddie Vanderdoes who signed a National Letter of Intent --- then a few weeks later decommits -- and signs a National Letter of Intent to UCLA -- "transferring" out of Notre Dame.

The NCAA ruled Vanderdoes eligible to play -- immediately -- at UCLA

With this new NCAA decree -- I don't believe this will happen anymore.

LINK:  NCAA RULE

NCAA Tourney Run Begins at 12:15 PM on CBS

The Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Champions (has a nice ring to it -- doesn't it) -- begin their NCAA Tournament run today against Northeastern at 12:15 PM ET.

The game will be televised on CBS!

One of the assistant's on the Northeastern coaching staff is former Notre Dame student-athlete Chris Markwood.  Markwood played for Coach Brey for a couple of seasons before transferring to Maine to finish his college career.

Here's what you want to see -- to get you ready for today's game.  BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE NCAA FEATURE ON PAT CONNAUGHTON -- BOTTOM LINK!

LINK:  COACH BREY TALKS NORTHEASTERN

LINK:  PRACTICE UPDATE

LINK:  PAT CONNAUGHTON INTERVIEW -- NCAA

Coach Kelly Meets With Media After Practice #1

The Fighting Irish began Spring practice at 7:30 AM ET this morning -- inside -- the Loftus Sports Complex.  After practice -- Coach Kelly met with the media -- and the folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media produced their first report:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

LINK:  PRACTICE REPORT #1

NOTRE DAME DAY 2015 -- Bigger, Better, WOW!

The folks at Notre Dame will be broadcasting LIVE over the internet and local cable TV in the South Bend market -- for 29 straight hours -- from 6:42 PM ET on Sunday, April 26th to Midnight ET on Monday, April 27th.

NOTRE DAME DAY -- is a global celebration of all things Notre Dame.

Some of the scheduled guests;  Jon Bon Jovi, Dick Vitale, Tim Brown, Golden Tate, Manti Te'o, Nicholas Sparks, etc., -- a star studded affair -- along with great stories about students, faculty, staff and ALUMNI.

If you love Notre Dame -- you will love this event!

Here's a link to the COUNTDOWN CLOCK -- and Notre Dame Day info:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME DAY -- 2015

Brian Kelly Talks Start of 2015 Spring Practice

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly -- wearing his green for St. Patrick's Day -- met with the media to talk about his football team and the start of Spring Practice.

Here's what he had to say:

LINK:  SPRING PRACTICE -- OPENING PRESSER

Notre Dame Women's Road to the Final Four!

Here's who will likely be standing in the way of the Fighting Irish's FIFTH STRAIGHT FINAL FOUR!

BUMP #1 IN THE ROAD:

• Montana (not ranked)

BUMP #2 IN THE ROAD:

• Minnesota (not ranked) or DePaul (AP rank #26)

BUMP #3 IN THE ROAD:

• Stanford (AP rank #14) or Oklahoma (not ranked)

BUMP #4 IN THE ROAD:

• Baylor (AP rank #5)  or Iowa (AP rank #18)

LINK:  NCAA BRACKET

Notre Dame #1 Seed in Oklahoma City Region

The road to a FIFTH STRAIGHT trip to the FINAL FOUR begins for Notre Dame this Friday night at Purcell Pavilion when the Fighting Irish take on Montana at 7:30 PM ET -- the game will be televised on ESPN2.

Here are the top 4 seeds in this region:

1. NOTRE DAME (31 - 2)
2. Baylor  (30 - 3)
3. Iowa  (24- 7)
4. Stanford (24 - 9)

This is the 20th consecutive season Notre Dame has earned a NCAA tournament bid

Here's what we know about Montana:

• 24 - 8 
• Won the Big Sky Conference Tournament
• Guard Kellie Rubel leads the team in scoring: 14 points per game

LINK:  SEASON STATS for MONTANA

Selection Monday Women's NCAA -- 7 PM ET

Notre Dame fans will want to tune-in to ESPN tonight beginning at 7 PM ET to see the road Muffet's Fighting Irish will have to travel to return to a FIFTH STRAIGHT FINAL FOUR.

We'll also want to learn if we're the "2nd" or "3rd" overall seed in the Tournament.

ESPNU -- will have a special on the Women's NCAA Championship beginning at 8 PM ET.

GO IRISH!

LINK:  LIVE COVERAGE

Muffet's THREE Incoming IRISH: State Champs

Winning breeds winning...

Muffet McGraw signed three McDonald's All-Americans to National Letters of Intent this past Fall; Arike Ogunbowale (#24 top photo) , Ali Patberg (on left, middle photo) and Marina Mabrey (#23, bottom photo) -- and they all led their teams to STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS this season!

How's that for a HAT TRICK!

LINK:  ARIKE'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP -- 27 POINTS

LINK:  ALI'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP -- 31 POINTS

LINK:  MARINA'S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP -- 28 POINTS

Most Wins Among the Top 16 Seeds in NCAA

If you look at the top 16 seeded teams in the NCAA Tournament -- here are the total number of wins -- against each other this season -- kind of eye-opening isn't it!

FACT:  Gonzaga, a #2 seed, has not beat one of the Top 16 seeded teams in the NCAA Tournament.  Villanova, a #1 seed, has only beat one of the Top 16 seeded teams.


The Top 16 seeded teams in the 2015 NCAA Tournament

• #1 -- Duke:  6 wins
• #3 -- Notre Dame:  5 wins
• #2 -- Virginia:  4 wins 
• #3 -- Iowa State: 4 wins
• #1 -- Kentucky:  3 wins
• #2 -- Kansas:  3 wins
• #3 -- Oklahoma:  3 wins 
• #3 -- Baylor:  3 wins
• #4 -- North Carolina:  3 wins
• #1 -- Wisconsin:  2 wins
• #4 -- Louisville:  2 wins
• #4 -- Maryland:  2 wins
• #1 -- Villanova:  1 win
• #2 -- Arizona: 1 win
• #4 -- Georgetown: 1 win
• #2 -- Gonzaga:  0 wins

Makes you wonder how the Selection Committee -- placed Notre Dame against Kentucky in the ELITE EIGHT -- we didn't earn that!

Notre Dame's Path to the ELITE EIGHT...

Here are the teams that stand in front of Notre Dame from reaching an ELITE EIGHT DATE in Cleveland with #1 seed Kentucky:


STEP ONE:  BEAT NORTHEASTERN

• Record:  23 - 11
• Common Opponents: Florida State & UMass
• Northeastern beat FSU 76 - 73 /// ND beat FSU 83 - 63
• Northeastern loss to UMass 79 - 54 /// ND beat UMass 81 - 68
• Won the Colonial Conference Championship

STEP TWO:  BEAT BUTLER or BEAT TEXAS

• Butler is 22 - 10
• Texas is 20 - 13
• Common Opponents with Butler:  North Carolina, Providence
• Butler beat North Carolina 74 - 66 /// ND beat North Carolina twice
• Butler loss to Providence 66 - 62 /// ND loss to Providence 75 - 74
• Common Opponents with Texas:  None

STEP THREE:  BEAT KANSAS OR WICHITA STATE

• Kansas is 26 - 8
• Wichita State is 28 - 4
• Common Opponents with Kansas:  Michigan State
• Kansas beat Michigan State 61 - 56 /// ND beat Michigan State 79 - 78
• Common Opponents with Wichita State: None

#1 Seed in the NCAA Tourney Lost Twice to ND

So, Duke is a #1 seed -- yet they are 1 - 2 against #3 seed Notre Dame this season.
 
Please explain to me the "spread" between these two teams in the NCAA Tournament!  It's quite obvious the conference tournaments -- mean nothing to the selection committee...

#1 Seed Duke: 29 - 4

• Losses:  North Carolina State, Miami, Notre Dame, Notre Dame
• Quality Wins:  Wisconsin, Michigan State, Louisville, Notre Dame, North Carolina (2), Virginia

#3 Seed Notre Dame:  29 - 5

• Losses: Providence, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Duke, Syracuse
• Quality Wins:  North Carolina (2), Duke (2), Michigan State, Louisville
• ACC Tournament Champions

Notre Dame a #3 Seed Plays Northeastern

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame the "hottest" #3 seed in the country -- will play in the MIDWEST REGION -- where the #1 seed is Kentucky.

The NCAA Tournament begins on Thursday for Notre Dame when they play Northeastern in Pittsburgh at 12:15 PM ET.  Win -- and the IRISH would play the winner of #5 seed Butler vs. #12 Texas.

Here's what we know about Northeastern -- see link below:

GO IRISH!

LINK:    NORTHEASTERN

MUST SEE -- Bonzie Takes Fox Microphone!

The legend grows...

LINK:  BONZIE

NCAA SELECTION SUNDAY -- 6 PM ET on CBS

Notre Dame fans will want to tune-in today to the SELECTION SUNDAY SHOW -- as the NCAA Tournament field will be announced at 6 PM ET on CBS.

Big questions:

• Will Notre Dame be a #2 or #3 seed?
• Who will Notre Dame play in their first two games?
• And, where with the IRISH play?

Now, I must say I'm not crazy about ESPN's Joe Lunardi's latest BRACKETOLOGY -- it has Notre Dame facing Michigan State in the 2nd round -- no one wants a piece of Tom Izzo this early in the tournament...

LINK:  BRACKETOLOGY