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

Williams Talks ACC Championship Loss to Irish

North Carolina's Roy Williams met with the media after the Tar Heels 90 - 82 loss to Notre Dame in the ACC Tournament Championship game -- here's a brief excerpt from that press conference -- along with a link to the complete press conferences for both teams:

LINK:  ROY WILLIAMS

LINK:  BOTH PRESS CONFERENCES

On Court Reaction After ND's FIRST ACC Title!

Here's Jerian Grant, Mike Brey and others -- on court -- after Notre Dame's 90 - 82 win over North Carolina last night to win the ACC Basketball Tournament!

LINK:  JERIAN GRANT

LINK:  MIKE BREY

LINK:  BONZIE TAKES OVER INTERVIEW

Media Reaction the Mornin' After An ACC Title!

Oh what a night!

Isn't it great to see a Notre Dame team take on a challenge like this -- these last three days!  WOW!!!

Here's what the media saying this morning about Notre Dame's FIRST EVER conference title of any shape or size in its 110 year history of men's basketball.

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  RALEIGH SPORTS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE 

LINK:  CHICAGO TRIBUNE

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

LINK:  RALEIGH SPORTS #2

Notre Dame's Post Game Press Conference

What a moment for Coach Brey, his staff, his players and the Notre Dame family!

Here's the post game press conference after winning the ACC Tournament Championship!

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Notre Dame Celebrates ACC CHAMPIONSHIP!

Here's what it looked like on the court after Notre Dame's 90 - 82 win over North Carolina for the ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP!

LINK:  VIDEO

Pat Connaughton & Jerian Grant Post Game!

Got to love what these two seniors gave to Notre Dame basketball today! 

Here's what they had to say -- on court -- after the school's "FIRST EVER" conference tournament championship in men's basketball!

LINK:  PAT AND JERIAN

Media Reaction to ND's ACC Championship!

Here's the early media reaction to Notre Dame's ACC Tournament Championship win tonight over North Carolina -- the first ever conference title for a Notre Dame men's basketball team!

LINK:  CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

LINK:  SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

LINK:  SPORTING NEWS

LINK:  ASSOCIATED PRESS

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

Game Highlights: Notre Dame ACC Champs!!!

You will want to watch this -- great play-by-play by Jack Nolan -- CLASSIC!!!

LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Photos of the ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPS!

Here are the photos and video -- below -- coming from Greensboro over the past few minutes!!!

LINK:  CUTTING DOWN THE NET!

Can You Believe It -- ACC CHAMPS !!!

Wow...

Never been so proud of a Notre Dame team in a long, long time.

The team no one gave a chance (ESPN) these last two nights -- beats DUKE and NORTH CAROLINA in their backyard -- winning the first ever Conference Tournament Championship in the 110 year history of Notre Dame men's basketball!!!

Now, I must admit when we were down 9 points in the second half -- I didn't think we'd be celebrating a win -- but, how good was that 24 - 2 RUN that QUIETED that Carolina crowd!

We'll be the best #3 Seed in the NCAA Tournament -- come get some!!!

LINK:  ESPN GAME RECAP

ACC Championship Game Tonight at 8:30 PM

The Fighting Irish will be taking on the Tar Heels tonight on ESPN in the ACC Tournament Championship game at 8:30 PM ET.

Here's what the media is saying...

LINK:  ESPN

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  SB NATION

LINK:  TAR HEEL BLOG

LINK:  SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE

#4 Notre Dame vs. #7 Virginia on ESPNU

The Fighting Irish men's lacrosse team will be playing on ESPNU today at NOON ET -- tune in!

LINK:  GAME NOTES

ESPNW Names Jewell Loyd "Player of the Year"

Notre Dame All-American Jewell Loyd was just named PLAYER OF THE YEAR by ESPNW for women's college basketball.

Congratulations!

LINK:  JEWELL