June 13, 2002

Providence, R.I. – The Notre Dame men’s basketball team will play four crossover games against BIG EAST East Division opponents Boston College, Connecticut, Providence and Virginia Tech in the third year of the 16-game BIG EAST regular-season format during the 2002-03 season.

Beginning with the 2000-01 campaign, the league implemented a divisional format in which the 14 teams were broken down into two seven-team divisions – East and West. Each school plays 12 divisional games on a home-and-home basis and four crossover contests against teams from the other division (two at home and two on the road). Notre Dame plays Connecticut and Virginia Tech at home and faces Boston College and Providence on the road. The Irish will not play Miami, St. John’s or Villanova.

Notre Dame won the BIG EAST West Division crown two years ago and finished second during the past 2001-02 campaign. Over the past two seasons, the Irish, under head coach Mike Brey, have compiled a 21-11 (.656) record during each of the last two conference campaigns. Notre Dame is the only conference team to win 10-plus games in each of the last two seasons and earn a bye in the first round of the BIG EAST Championship.

Notre Dame’s West divisional crown in ’00-’01 was the first-ever as a conference member since joining the league in 1995-96. In addition to the Irish, the West Division is comprised of Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Syracuse and West Virginia, while Boston College, Connecticut, Miami, Providence, St. John’s, Villanova and Virginia Tech make up the East Division.

Of Notre Dame’s four crossover opponents for the upcoming season, the only team the Irish played in ’01-’02 was Providence.