The Big East is looking ever further removed from last year’s record-setting 11 NCAA tournament bids, but Notre Dame (15-8, 7-3 Big East) isn’t letting the fortunes of the conference affect its resume. The Fighting Irish have won five of their last six games against ranked teams after losing the first three in that category to start the season and losing Tim Abromaitis to a season-ending injury in November.
While the rest of the country takes it one game at a time, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey talked March Madness after Saturday’s 76-59 win over Marquette kept his team within a half-game of second place in the conference — they were picked ninth in the preseason coaches’ poll.
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Led by D.C.’s own Jerian Grant (12.7 ppg, 4.9 apg) — another progeny of former Bullets player Harvey Grant — in the backcourt, Notre Dame has three games remaining against teams with winning conference records: a pair against West Virginia and one final contest against a ranked team at Georgetown on Feb. 27. By then, the Irish may have already determined their NCAA tournament status.
– Craig Stouffer
