SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Coach Mike Brey likes Notre Dame's mind-set heading into the Big East Tournament.
The 20th-ranked Irish (23-6), winners of five straight, are a lock for the NCAA tournament. So they will enter their first game at the Big East Tournament on Thursday without the worries of years past when they needed tournament wins to move on.
“We just want to go for it. You don't want to play afraid to lose, you don't want to play looking over your shoulder,” Brey said. “This team has played well when they've been in that mind-set and we've been in that mind-set the last five games. When we're in that frame of mind, we have a chance to beat anyone.”
The Irish haven't had much success at the tournament, posting a 3-11 record since joining the league in 1995-96. But with a first-round bye, the Irish need just one victory to match their best finish in the tournament in 2002, when they lost to Connecticut in the semifinals.
Brey said he believes this year's squad - picked before the season to finish 11th in the conference - is better prepared to do well in New York. Asked why, he quickly ticked off the reasons: “Depth, frame of mind, confidence, swagger, etc.”
The Big East recognized Notre Dame's depth Monday, naming Russell Carter and Colin Falls to the All-Big East first team - the first time the Irish have had two first-teamers in one season. Notre Dame also placed two players - Luke Harangody and Tory Jackson - to the 11-member all-rookie team for the first time.
“I think four guys getting postseason mention speaks volumes to the season we've had,” Falls said.
Especially for a team that lost a key player, starting point guard Kyle McAlarney, days before starting the Big East segment of their schedule when he was suspended after being arrested on a marijuana possession charge. Falls said team members were heartbroken when they lost McAlarney because they not only lost a key player but a good friend.
“But we regrouped and coach Brey got Tory ready. We all chipped in and made sure he was confident. He really developed,” he said. “It was definitely a setback, but we never wavered from where we wanted to end up.”
Carter said the Irish are taking the approach that they still have a lot to prove.
“We're not done accomplishing goals individually or as a team,” Carter said. “We have a lot of basketball left in us so we just want to continue to have fun and go out there and play hard.”
Conference Awards
Player of the Year
Jeff Green, Georgetown
Coach of the Year
Mike Brey, Notre Dame
Rookie of the Year
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
Defensive Player of the Year
Jerel McNeal, Marquette
Most Improved Player
Herbert Hill, Providence
Sportsmanship Award
Brandon Jenkins, Louisville
“We just want to go for it. You don't want to play afraid to lose, you don't want to play looking over your shoulder,” Brey said. “This team has played well when they've been in that mind-set and we've been in that mind-set the last five games. When we're in that frame of mind, we have a chance to beat anyone.”
The Irish haven't had much success at the tournament, posting a 3-11 record since joining the league in 1995-96. But with a first-round bye, the Irish need just one victory to match their best finish in the tournament in 2002, when they lost to Connecticut in the semifinals.
Brey said he believes this year's squad - picked before the season to finish 11th in the conference - is better prepared to do well in New York. Asked why, he quickly ticked off the reasons: “Depth, frame of mind, confidence, swagger, etc.”
The Big East recognized Notre Dame's depth Monday, naming Russell Carter and Colin Falls to the All-Big East first team - the first time the Irish have had two first-teamers in one season. Notre Dame also placed two players - Luke Harangody and Tory Jackson - to the 11-member all-rookie team for the first time.
“I think four guys getting postseason mention speaks volumes to the season we've had,” Falls said.
Especially for a team that lost a key player, starting point guard Kyle McAlarney, days before starting the Big East segment of their schedule when he was suspended after being arrested on a marijuana possession charge. Falls said team members were heartbroken when they lost McAlarney because they not only lost a key player but a good friend.
“But we regrouped and coach Brey got Tory ready. We all chipped in and made sure he was confident. He really developed,” he said. “It was definitely a setback, but we never wavered from where we wanted to end up.”
Carter said the Irish are taking the approach that they still have a lot to prove.
“We're not done accomplishing goals individually or as a team,” Carter said. “We have a lot of basketball left in us so we just want to continue to have fun and go out there and play hard.”
Conference Awards
Player of the Year
Jeff Green, Georgetown
Coach of the Year
Mike Brey, Notre Dame
Rookie of the Year
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova
Defensive Player of the Year
Jerel McNeal, Marquette
Most Improved Player
Herbert Hill, Providence
Sportsmanship Award
Brandon Jenkins, Louisville
