Saturday is significant for Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Coach Niele Ivey, and it’s not just because she will showcase her top-10 basketball program in the first ever women’s college basketball game televised on NBC.
The No. 9 Irish (1-0) are set to take on Cal (1-0) in the Citi Shamrock Classic, which will be held at St. Louis’ Enterprise Center. Ivey is a native of the area and has not been to the arena in a playing or coaching capacity since Notre Dame won its first national championship there in 2001.
“It’s going to be really surreal to feel that vibe again,” Ivey said. “I will never forget the feeling of winning in that arena.”
While there is a game to played on Saturday, the weekend is filled with programming promoting women’s sports and young athletes. The Irish team will practice at Ivey’s high school, Cor Jesu Academy, on Friday morning before heading to a luncheon with a women-in-leadership theme. Jackie Joyner-Kersee will be a keynote attendee.
Notre Dame will also visit the Mathews-Dickey Boys & Girls Club, where Ivey grew up and began her basketball journey. Cal will join the Irish for the trip as well.
Turning to the court, Notre Dame had few troubles with its first opponent of the year, topping Northern Illinois 88-48 on Nov. 7. Four players posted double-figure points, and sophomore point guard Olivia Miles led the team with 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and six steals.
Cal head coach and fellow St. Louis native Charmin Smith is looking to improve upon a rocky 2021-22 season in her fourth year at the helm. Cal was led last season by Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Jayda Curry and finished with an 11-13 record. Curry averaged 18.6 points per contest and posted 9 points in an 86-56 victory over CSUN earlier this week.
Not unlike Notre Dame, Smith picked up a few valuable transfers this offseason to plug necessary holes in her roster. Kemery Martin (Utah) and Peanut Tuitele (Colorado) made their first starts for the Bears against CSUN and will continue to play valuable minutes.
The Citi Shamrock Classic tips off Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on NBC. Notre Dame is 2-0 all-time against the Bears with the most recent win coming in a first-round NCAA Tournament game in 2012.