Notre Dame vs. Florida State: Football Powers Clash for Sweet 16 Berth

March 19, 2011 By Leave a Comment

ty nash

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Florida State Seminoles have never met in college basketball. They’ve played some classic battles in college football, including #1 vs #2 “game of the century” in South Bend in 1993.

They’ll meet on the United Center hardwood Sunday night, with a NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance on the line. Expect a tough, physical and very defensive-minded game. The Seminoles specialize in defense, and they have their main weapon back in junior forward Chris Singleton. The 6-9 forward is the ACC’s Defensive Player of the year, and a probable NBA Draft pick.

By Paul M. Banks

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Notre Dame Beats Akron in Atypical #2 vs. #15 Game

March 18, 2011 By 1 Comment

Ben Hansbrough

It wasn’t a typical #15 vs. #2 NCAA Tournament game, but that’s what college basketball is all about. Especially this time of year. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish won by double digits, 69-56, but they didn’t win by the margin Vegas expected them to.

And it wasn’t easy. They were never to able to get ahead by more than 16, and the Akron Zips cut it to five on two occasions late in the second half.

“It took us a long time to get away from them because they’re old, they’re smart, and they play well defensively, ” Irish Coach Mike Brey said.

“I think we can still use tape as a teaching tool.”

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#2 Seed Notre Dame Looking to Make Noise in Tourney

March 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

ben-hansbrough

“Ben is our nuclear weapon in a lot of ways, and Ty is a nice offset to him,” ND college basketball coach Mike Brey told the media this St. Patrick’s Day during his turn at the United Center podium.

When his #2 seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish set to take on the #15 seed Akron Zips tomorrow in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, I guess point center Tyrone Nash would be the precision missile or the smart bomb to Ben Hansbrough’s nuclear blast.

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Notre Dame Gets #2 Seed in NCAA Tournament Regional

March 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

abromaitis

Many thought the Notre Dame Fighting Irish would get a #1 seed today, considering that they have won 12 of their last 14 college basketball games. Seven of those wins over teams selected for the 2011 NCAA bracket, and one of them is a road win over #1 seed Pittsburgh. However, the Irish fell to Louisville in the Big East Tournament, and failed to reach the conference tournament championship. (It would have been the first time in ND history).

Duke won the ACC Tournament, and grabbed the final #1 seed. The Irish received a #2 seed, its best since a #2 seed in 1981 when Notre Dame defeated James Madison in a second-round game and then fell 51-50 to BYU in a regional semifinal in Atlanta.

The Irish were last a #1 seed in 1979

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