Irish Name Captains, Defeat Briar Cliff, 103-64

Kyle McAlarney, Luke Zeller, Ryan Ayers, and Zach Hillesland have been named the captains for the 2008-2009 season and it marks the 5th time in Notre Dame history that the role of captain has been shared by 4 players.  

Notre Dame also played their first exhibition game of the season on Halloween night and easily defeated the Briar Cliff Charger.  All 5 starters scored in double digits, Ayers was on fire the whole night with 21 points, Jackson contributed with a game-high 18 points, Harangody had yet another double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, and McAlarney and Zeller added 11 and 12 points.  Tim Abromiatis saw good minutes and picked up 8 points and 4 rebounds, and Charleton Scott also had a good night with 6 points and 4 rebounds.  

Irish Nationally Recognized

The first pre-season poll came out today and is good news for the Irish and the other teams in the Big East.  The Irish are ranked 9th in the new ESPN/USA Today Preseason poll, the highest pre-season coaches poll ranking ever for Notre Dame.  The last two seasons Notre Dame was not recognized in preseason polls even though both seasons resulted in at-large NCAA bids.  This year however, is different.  With pretty much everyone returning the Irish are now a team to be reckoned with.  

Irish Previous Pre-season Rankings

2006-2007:

Preseason Conference Rank: 12

Actual Rank: 4

Preseason National Rank: None

Actual Rank: 21

2007-2008:

Preseason Conference Rank: 9

Actual Rank: 2

Preseason National Rank: None

Actual Rank: 14

Here is the full poll which includes 7 Big East teams.

Pre-season Big East Poll (Vote)

1. Connecticut

2. Louisville

3. Pittsburgh

4. Notre Dame

5. Villanova

6. Marquette

7. Georgetown

8. Syracuse

9. West Virginia

10. Providence

11. Cincinnati

12. Rutgers

13. Seton Hall

14. St. John's

15. DePaul

16. USF

Notre Dame has been underestimated in the preseason polls for the last 3 seasons and I don't think season will be an exception.  Notre Dame will certainly live up to their current 4 ranking in the conference and most likely be better than it.

On the side you can vote for who YOU think will win the Big East this year.

Notre Dame 08-09 Schedule Announced

Months after some conferences released their teams schedules, the Big East has finally got there schedule out.  The bigger games are in blue. Here is the toughest season ever for the Irish:

Non-Conference Games

November 18: VS South Carolina Upstate

November 21: AT Loyola Marymount

Maui Classic

November 30: VS Furman

December 1: VS South Dakota

December 6: Ohio State (neutral site)

December 13: VS Boston University

December 20: VS Delaware State

December 22: VS Savannah State

*Road Games in December yet to be officially announced

Conference Play

December 31: AT DePaul

January 3: AT St. John's

January 5: VS Georgetown

January 10: VS Seton Hall

January 12: AT Louisville

January 17: AT Syracuse

January 24: VS Connecticut

January 26: AT Marquette

January 31: AT Pittsburgh 

February 4: VS Cincinnati 

February 7: AT UCLA

February 12: VS Louisville

February 15: VS South Florida

February 18: AT West Virginia

February 21: AT Providence

February 25: VS Rutgers

February 28: AT Connecticut

March 2: VS Villanova

March 6: VS St. John's

This season the team will have 14 games covered on the ESPN family and will have 2 nationally televised games on CBS.  The games not covered by these stations will likely be locally broadcasted and available through the ESPN full court college basketball television package.

College Gameday to visit the Joyce Center

For the first time in school history the ESPN's College Basketball Gameday show will visit the Joyce Center for the Big East match-up vs Connecticut.  College Basketball Gameday usually visits teams where the students are loud and where they are great games played, and Notre Dame certainly fits the bill. 

ND basketball is becoming increasingly popular.  It seems more and more games are nationally televised every year.   By coming to the campus, College Basketball Gameday will only increase Notre Dame's rising basketball popularity and will help to make the college known for something other than football.  This season is already becoming exciting.

OFF TOPIC: Tampa Bay Rays

Why are Tampa Bay Ray fans the only one's who hold up this kind of sign?  I mean seriously, Holy Cow? Awesome? Can't you just yell those things not hold up a sign.  I guess only crazy people could stick with a team that finishes in last place every season. But, holy cow is it there time now, good for them. 

2008 Maui Invitational Bracket Announced

Click to Enlarge

Notre Dame is set to play in-state rival Indiana in the first round.  I am not going to do the whole run down again, you can look back in older posts to see it.  I am very excited for this, great teams and  it could turn into a great start to the season for the Irish