Is Notre Dame the best team in the Big East?
The Fighting Irish (24-5, 13-4), who jumped to eighth in the latest AP poll, celebrated the bump with a 93-72 pasting of Villanova on Monday as Tim Abromaitis and Ben Hansbrough combined for 60 points on 18 of 29 shooting. Notre Dame has won 10 of 11 since consecutive losses at Marquette and St. John’s.
But are the Irish legitimate championship contenders? They have wins over Pittsburgh, Georgetown and Louisville, a potent offense and a trio of seniors leading the way. But Notre Dame comes with red flags. In six trips to the NCAA tournament under Mike Brey, the Irish have reached the Sweet 16 only once. In 2007 and 2010, Notre Dame lost in the first round — both times as a six seed.
There’s also a question about style of play. If Brey’s burn offense has one flaw, it’s an overreliance on perimeter shooting. The Irish attempt 20 3-pointers a game — most are taken by Hansbrough and Abromaitis — and when Notre Dame is on, it’s a thing of beauty. The Irish were 20 of 32 from beyond the arc against Villanova. But in four Big East losses — all games in which Notre Dame was held under 60 points — Brey’s boys were a torpid 21 of 79 from 3-point range.
“Live by the 3; die by the 3” is a clich? because it’s true. This is Brey’s best team in South Bend, but the Irish could make a deep run in the NCAA tournament or shoot themselves out of the opening weekend and neither would come as a surprise.
