Reputation Driving College Hoops Rankings

Let's look at two teams currently ranked in the TOP TEN this week -- one team will be called TEAM A and the other will be called TEAM B...

• TEAM A has three losses this season
• TEAM B has three losses this season

• TEAM A has beat 3 ranked teams
• TEAM B has beat 4 ranked teams

• TEAM A has 3 losses by a total of 11 points
• TEAM B has 3 losses by a total of 32 points

• TEAM A beat TEAM B
• TEAM A beat the other two teams that beat TEAM B 

• TEAM A is 4 - 2 against like opponents with TEAM B
• TEAM B is 4 - 2 against like opponents with TEAM A

• TEAM A is in 2nd place in same conference as TEAM B
• TEAM B is in 5th place in same conference as TEAM A 

One of the teams is ranked #10 in the country and the other is ranked #4 in the country -- in today's AP POLL.

Which team is ranked #4?  Is it TEAM A or TEAM B...

LINK:  THE ANSWER

OT: How "Far is Far" to a Notre Dame Parent?

Those of you who follow the ND GO IRISH BLOG on a regular basis have seen stories over the past year that I've posted from a South Bend resident named Rick Becker.  Rick's son Ben is a freshman at the University of Notre Dame.

Rick recently was asked by a METLIFE agent "if his son attended college more than 100 miles away" from home -- as they negotiated a discounted auto insurance policy.

You'll enjoy this story...

Thanks for sharing Rick!

LINK:  AN OPEN LETTER TO METLIFE

OT: Must Read Story for a Day Like Today...

If you think a little snow in the Midwest made your morning commute a little difficult -- read this story.

James Robertson walks a total of 21 miles a day to get to and from his job in suburban Detroit.  (FOURTEEN TOTAL HOURS A DAY -- COMMUTE TIME)

When you get done reading Robertson's story -- read the second link, on how a community has come to his aid...

LINK:  WALKING MAN

LINK:  FOLLOW-UP STORY

LINK:  GOOD MORNING AMERICA

Now 41 Domers Have Won Super Bowl Rings!

The New England Patriots win over Seattle last night earned two more former Notre Dame student-athletes SUPER BOWL RINGS.

Jonas Gray and Darius Fleming (Fleming is #58 in the photos above) have become the 40th and 41st former Fighting Irish players who have at least one Super Bowl ring.

You've got to love Darius' post on INSTAGRAM around midnight -- along with the photo he posted of his Dad after the game.

CONGRATS!

A Special Moment for Domers Bettis & Brown

Jerome Bettis and Tim Brown (photo above) will become the 11th and 12th former Notre Dame student-athletes to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame...

Here was last night's announcement -- along with a video of the family of Tim Brown in their hotel room when he learns he's in the HALL OF FAME and Jerome Bettis' emotional reaction...

LINK:  HALL OF FAMERS -- ANNOUNCEMENT

LINK:  BROWN FAMILY

LINK:  JEROME BETTIS

Do Gray and Fleming Become "40 & 41" Today?

39 former Notre Dame student-athletes have won a SUPER BOWL ring -- today, Jonas Gray and Darius Fleming -- could add to that total!

Jonas wears #35 and Darius wears #58 for the Patriots...

Here is a video message from Coach Kelly to Jonas and Darius:

LINK:  COACH KELLY

LINK:  JONAS GRAY -- SUPER BOWL

LINK:  DARIUS FLEMING -- SUPER BOWL

Domer Tim Brown a NFL HALL OF FAMER!!!

It's about time!

Former Notre Dame All-American Tim Brown just became the 12th Fighting Irish football player to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame!

He's also the NINTH former Heisman Trophy winner to earn such an honor.

Congratulations TIM!!!

LINK:  HALL OF FAMER!

Domer Jerome Bettis NFL HALL OF FAMER!!!

WPXI in Pittsburgh just broke the news that former Notre Dame All-American Jerome Bettis will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame!!!

It will be announced officially at 9 PM ET on NFL HONORS on NBC.

Jerome becomes the 11th former member of the Fighting Irish to earn this great honor!

Congratulations to THE BUS!

LINK:  BREAKING NEWS

Domer Kendall Moore '14 Named Team Captain

Former Notre Dame student-athlete Kendall Moore '14, who was suspended from football this past season -- was named a Team Captain for today's College Gridiron Showcase in Arlington, TX.  He posted this photo and caption on his Instagram account -- see link below.

You can watch the game live -- on the web -- beginning at 2:30 PM ET TODAY.

Moore, gave an interview to the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen this week where he talked about his experience as one of the five suspended players -- see link below:

LINK:  WATCH GAME -- LIVE RIGHT HERE

LINK:  MOORE:  "ND TREATED US FAIRLY"

LINK:  KENDALL MOORE INSTAGRAM

Domer Tuck Recruiting Suh to Oakland Raiders

Former Notre Dame All-American Justin Tuck is down in Phoenix this week enjoying the spoils of being a Super Bowl Champion -- meeting with the assembled media.

Well, he started a recruiting pitch for Ndamukong Suh...

LINK:  TUCK RECRUITING

Rankings of Notre Dame Teams in Season

Here's the current rankings of Notre Dame teams currently in season -- EIGHT TEAMS RANKED IN THE TOP TWENTY (6 IN THE TOP 10) -- pretty impressive!

• WOMEN'S FENCING:  #1 IN THE COUNTRY
• MEN'S LACROSSE:  #2 IN THE COUNTRY
• MEN'S FENCING:  #2 IN THE COUNTRY
• WOMEN'S BASKETBALL:  #4 IN THE COUNTRY
• MEN'S BASKETBALL:  #8 IN THE COUNTRY
• WOMEN'S LACROSSE:  #9 IN THE COUNTRY
• MEN'S TENNIS:  #14 IN THE COUNTRY
• WOMEN'S TENNIS:  #20 IN THE COUNTRY

Coach Brey Talks Noon Tip With Pittsburgh

Here is Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey with his radio and TV shows this week -- talking about Saturday's NOON tip-off in Pittsburgh:

LINK:  RADIO SHOW

LINK:  TV SHOW

The Media Is Now Jumping on ND's Bandwagon

Well, it took 22 games in the 2014 - 2015 season for the national media to finally BELIEVE Notre Dame might be pretty good in basketball...

Here's what they're saying now:

LINK:  ESPN'S -- ADAM RITTENBERG

LINK:  FOX SPORTS -- REID FORGRAVE

LINK:  CBS SPORTS -- SAM VECENIE

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS -- TROY MACHIR

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS -- JEFF EISENBERG

LINK:  BLEACHER REPORT'S -- ROB GOLDBERG

Grant & Vasturia Relive the "Duke Dagger"

The folks at Fighting Irish Digital Media got together with Jerian Grant and Steve Vasturia in the locker room after Notre Dame's big win over Duke.

The photo above was taken by @mattcashore -- as Steve Vasturia released his big shot!

Here's what they had to say about the key play in the game:

LINK:  DUKE DAGGER

Coach Brey Talks With Media After Duke Win

The #8 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame beat the #4 ranked Duke Blue Devils last tonight 77 - 73. 

Here's Coach Mike Brey with the media after the game:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

ND Gold Gang's -- Duke Game Signs!

The ND Gold Gang came to play tonight!  #NDGoldGang  @NDGoldGang

Photo of the Night: Vasturia's "Duke Dagger"

With 22 seconds left in the game -- Notre Dame's Steve Vasturia nailed a 3-pointer to put the Irish up 76 - 72. 

Game Stats: #8 Notre Dame 77 -- #4 Duke 73

A great night by Notre Dame's Jerian Grant!

Mike Brey Has Coach Krzyzewski's NUMBER!

How's this for a FUN FACT -- Notre Dame's Mike Brey came into tonight's game as the only "Coach K" former assistant to beat him...

Well -- he's now done it TWICE!  Coach K is now "19 - 2" in his career against his former assistant coaches.

Big win for the Fighting Irish as they overcome Duke's ten point second half lead to win 77 - 73 in front of a sold-out Purcell Pavilion.  ND moves to 20 - 2 on this magical season.

LINK:  ESPN HIGHLIGHTS

Three ND Recruits McDonald's All-Americans!

McDonald's released the participants in their 2015 All-American Game and THREE FUTURE DOMERS -- all guards -- will be playing for the East Team!

• Arike Ogunbuwale
• Ali Patberg
• Marina Mabrey

Muffet just re-loads! 

This will give the Fighting Irish -- EIGHT McDonald's All-Americans on their roster for the 2015 - 2016 season.

LINK:  McDonald's All-Americans