Feb. 26, 2001
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Monday night, the Irish can only hope to sweeten the pot.
With the team’s commanding win over the Huskies, the Irish clinched the regular season championship in the Big East West Division.
It marked not only a first for the Irish but the first for the Big East as well. The Big East went to a new format this year with the addition of Virginia Tech, by splitting the team into the divisions.
“We knew what today meant as far as getting a West Division title,” Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey said after the 85-61 win. “I wanted it bad.”
The Irish now stand three games ahead of any challengers with just two games left in the regular season. Syracuse, Georgetown and West Virginia are all tied for second place in the West Division.
Brey may just take Monday night as an opportunity to give some players some much-needed rest. Most likely to take a seat in the UConn contest would have to be Ryan Humphrey who is still nursing a sore ankle.
Huskies head coach believes that Humphrey is the key to this season’s success. He views Humphrey as the inside presence Notre Dame was lacking in the past.
“Ryan is the key difference,” Calhoun said.
Also guard Martin Ingelsby is expected to share duties with Torrian Jones. Ingelsby leads the team in minutes, which would make him a strong candidate to see limited action.
Harold Swanagan is scheduled to play despite a bruised right foot.
“We certainly know we’ll be playing a UConn team that’s playing for their lives up there on Monday,” Brey said.
One thing is certain, that Notre Dame does mean business. Despite having such a successful season, the Irish feel that the respect still isn’t there and winning in Storrs might just help restore some respect.
A Notre Dame victory would give Notre Dame its first 20-win season since the 1988-89 season and only sweeten the taste of this season’s success.
IRISH NOTES
Monday night’s game will be televised on ESPN, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time. . . Also, ESPN’s “The Life,” will re-air its episode, covering a day in the life of Troy Murphy. It is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN2.