The IRISH Play Rutgers Tonight @ 9 PM ET

You can watch Notre Dame's opening game of the Big East Tournament against Rutgers -- tonight on ESPN2 at 9 PM ET.  It's our last time playing in this event...

The IRISH beat Rutgers back in January 69 - 66 at home -- in their only meeting this season.  It's going to be a tough game!  The photo above is of Rutger's Wally Judge -- who went 9 for 9 from the field last night in their win over DePaul...

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

The Catholic Church Has a New Pope!

The College of Cardinals have completed their Conclave in less than 30 Hours -- just selecting the next Pope.  His name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina.  He has taken the name Pope Francis -- the first to take this name -- and the 266th Pope in the Church's history.  He is 76 years old.  Here's the live coverage!

LINK:  FOX NEWS COVERAGE

Notre Dame's Relay For Life Auction -- Bid Now!

The University of Notre Dame's UR Relay For Life Auction just went live today at NOON EST.

Over the next 48 hours -- you can bid on many items -- with all of the proceeds going towards fighting Cancer.

There are 80 UNIQUE ITEMS that Notre Dame fans would love -- so get to the site and BID!

The Auction ends Friday at Noon!

LINK:  RELAY FOR LIFE AUCTION

LIVE -- Conclave Chimney Webcam

Thought the ND GO IRISH BLOG followers might appreciate a LIVE link to a webcam pointed at the Chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel -- where the Conclave is taking place in Vatican City.

Here's the projected voting schedule today:

• 12:30 PM ET
• 2:00 PM ET

LINK:  LIVE WEBCAM

Photo of the Day: ND Students in Rome!

You've got to love this sign made by a number of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame, IN) students who are in Rome over Spring Break...

The Mornin' After: Big East Champions!

The #2 ranked Fightin' Irish keep racking up the wins -- we're at 26 IN A ROW and counting -- for a team that wasn't even ranked in the top ten in the preseason rankings.  And last night's win came over arch-rival UCONN -- the third time Notre Dame has beat them this season!

Here's what the media has to say about ND's first Big East Tournament Championship in basketball!

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT

LINK:  HARTFORD COURANT #2

LINK:  NEW YORK TIMES

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

LINK:  BIG EAST SITE