By Teddy Greenstein
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The formula for an NCAA tournament bid, as laid out by Notre Dame coach Mike Brey on Tuesday, was this: "Hold our serve at home and then pick off a few on the road. That's the reality of life in this league and most major conferences."
Brey figures that a 9-9 mark in the Big East will get his team "in the discussion" for a tournament bid.
If that's the case -- and it surely is -- then Notre Dame must beat Cincinnati tonight in a game that tips in about five minutes and can be seen on ESPN.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The formula for an NCAA tournament bid, as laid out by Notre Dame coach Mike Brey on Tuesday, was this: "Hold our serve at home and then pick off a few on the road. That's the reality of life in this league and most major conferences."
Brey figures that a 9-9 mark in the Big East will get his team "in the discussion" for a tournament bid.
If that's the case -- and it surely is -- then Notre Dame must beat Cincinnati tonight in a game that tips in about five minutes and can be seen on ESPN.
With a 4-5 league mark (15-7 overall) and at least four tough remaining
games -- at Louisville, at Georgetown, at Marquette and versus
Pittsburgh -- the Irish clearly need to hold serve tonight.
Cincinnati enters in a similar spot -- 14-7 overall, 5-4 in the league. The Bearcats shot just 32.3 percent from the field the first time these teams met -- but won, 60-58. The difference was rebounding margin: 50-31 for Cincinnati.
Cincinnati enters in a similar spot -- 14-7 overall, 5-4 in the league. The Bearcats shot just 32.3 percent from the field the first time these teams met -- but won, 60-58. The difference was rebounding margin: 50-31 for Cincinnati.
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