Loyola of Maryland took a much slower route to the NCAA lacrosse championship game than the Greyhounds are accustomed to.SOUTH BEND – The next two games could go a long way in defining Notre Dame’s basketball season.
The No. 23 Irish (8-0) tip off a big week in Louisville against No. 17 Kentucky (5-2) at 9:30 tonight in Freedom Hall. Notre Dame follows that with a home game against Gonzaga (4-3) at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
The two games will help shape Notre Dame’s NCAA tournament résumé, and the week will also help the Irish prepare for conference play.
“It’s Big East kind of preparation,” coach Mike Brey said. “When we talk about trying to survive and thrive in the Big East, it’s a lot of guys getting to the lane off the dribble.”
Topping Notre Dame’s to-do list will be trying to slow down the Wildcats’ talented freshmen.
Forward Terrence Jones is leading Kentucky with 19 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, and his classmates, guards Brandon Knight and Doron Lamb, are averaging a combined 30.3 points.
But Brey was quick to point out it isn’t just first-year phenoms leading the Wildcats.
“I think (junior guard Darius) Miller, (junior guard DeAndre) Liggins and (senior forward Josh) Harrelson give them some men that have been through battles, and then three young guys are extremely talented,” Brey said. “I think they have a nice blend. It’s a great test for us in a road atmosphere.”
Although the contest that is part of the SEC/Big East Invitational is billed as a neutral-site game, there is little doubt that most of Freedom Hall’s 18,865 seats will be filled with fans wearing blue and white.
Brey said having a veteran team – the Irish start seniors Ben Hansbrough, Tyrone Nash, Carlton Scott, Tim Abromaitis and Scott Martin – will help the Irish handle the environment.
“They are older and have been through it a little bit,” Brey said. “Any time you have older guys who have played a lot of games, I think that is an advantage for us. Hopefully, it will be Wednesday night in the first true kind of road atmosphere for us.”
