FACT: Baylor Had Trouble Guarding the Irish

Folks, the story that hasn't been told is this -- Notre Dame went into Baylor's gym back in November and scored 81 points -- without Natalie Achonwa even scoring a point -- she only played 12 minutes, she wasn't in the main rotation back then.   

Unfortunately, the Irish gave up 94 that day...

Fact:  The IRISH scored the most points against Baylor this season -- no other team scored more than 68.   And, Notre Dame shot only 38% from the floor (only 3 - 18 from 3pt.) that night.

Fact:  The IRISH were within one point in the second half 56 -55 with 13 minutes to play -- only to see the Bears go on a 14 - 3 run to extend their lead by 12 points with 9 minutes to go.  A four-minute lapse by the IRISH cost them this game...

Fact:  The IRISH have played 24 games in 2012 and they have not given up more than 70 points in regulation time to any opponent.  The IRISH defense has vastly improved since November!

The "experts" have not been telling this story -- this is going to be a great game.  It's the most dominant offensive TEAM in women's basketball against the most dominant defensive INDIVIDUAL in women's basketball.

THE TEAM vs. THE INDIVIDUAL

Don't count out the IRISH!

HAVE FAITH!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME'S MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  MUFFET'S MONDAY PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Notre Dame Super Fan Wins Volvo!

Her name is Lisa Kelly '93 and she's a die-hard Notre Dame fan and now the proud owner of a Volvo S60 -- courtesy of VOLVO after being named the BIGGEST FAN of the BIG EAST!  Here's a link to the video and Lisa' blog:

LINK:  BIG EAST'S BIGGEST FAN!

LINK:  LISA KELLY'S BLOG

ESPN Experts Give ND NO CHANCE Tomorrow!

If Notre Dame wasn't already in Denver -- the NCAA might have just given the National Championship last night to Baylor...

So says seven of the "experts" at ESPN who selected Baylor today to defeat the IRISH tomorrow night.

Ironically, this is the FOURTH time many of these experts have picked against Notre Dame this tournament.  First they thought California would beat the Irish, then it was Maryland, then it was UCONN and surprise, surprise now it is Baylor's turn to beat Muffet's girls.

Note to experts - BAYLOR has yet to meet the WILL of the IRISH.  They "will" tomorrow night.  It's going to be fun!

LINK:  ESPN EXPERTS PICK THE NATIONAL CHAMP

LINK:  ESPN PREVIEWS THE MATCHUP

Nineteen Days to the Blue Gold Game!

Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish held their first "April Practice" of the 2012 Spring Football season this morning (April 2) at the LaBar Practice Complex.  And, our friends at Fighting Irish Digital Media were in attendance -- here's their report:

LINK:  FOOTBALL PRACTICE REPORT

The Rebound & Put-Back That Saved a Season!

 

This photo sequence will undoubtedly be framed in the Novosel household for the rest of time...

In the top photo -- Notre Dame senior Natalie "Nasty" Novosel -- is in position to grab an offensive rebound.  In the middle photo, Natalie is grabbing the rebound.  And, in the bottom photo, Natalie has already let loose of the shot off the backboard -- awaiting it to fall in.

Natalie made the put-back with 4.6 seconds left on the clock to put the game into OT!

The rebound and put-back that saved Notre Dame's season!

The Mornin' After Irish Win Over UCONN

Notre Dame fans all over the world had to wake up this morning with a smile on their face -- the guy in this photo, probably did not...

THE IRISH ADVANCE IN THE FINAL FOUR TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!

Muffet's Fightin' Irish decided it was so much fun beating Auriemma's gang last night -- that they thought "why not five more minutes of this!"

Here's the UND.COM coverage of the celebration "after the game" and a look around the worldwide web this morning, with what the media has to say about ND's big win:

LINK:  NOTRE DAME POST GAME CELEBRATION

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  ESPN #1

LINK:  ESPN #2

LINK:  ESPN #3

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #1

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #2

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT BLOG

LINK:  DENVER POST

LINK:  THE DAILY CAMPUS -- UCONN STUDENT NEWSPAPER

LINK:  THE OBSERVER -- NOTRE DAME STUDENT NEWSPAPER

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #1

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #2

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE #3

LINK:  WNDU-TV