Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1044500
50 NOV. 5, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BY LOU SOMOGYI S ince the start of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tour‑ nament in 1982, only three schools have repeated as na‑ tional champions: USC (1983‑84), Tennessee (most recently 2007‑08) and Connecticut (most recently 2013‑16). That's another version of a "Final Four" Notre Dame is aiming to join this season, which begins with an exhibition versus Division II Lewis University Oct. 30 before the season opener against Harvard Nov. 9. The unfurling ceremony for the 2018 national title banner will be three days later when the Fighting Irish host Penn. Meanwhile, 32nd‑year Irish head coach Muffet McGraw is striving to join Tennessee and Connecticut as the lone schools to win a third na‑ tional title in women's basketball. "That's something they would like to leave their mark on in history," McGraw said of keeping her squad hungry. "It's up to as coaches to be a little more disciplined, to demand a little more and make sure they're going 100 percent each time." With four returning starters plus two‑time Associated Press All‑Amer‑ ican forward Brianna Turner — side‑ lined last year with a torn ACL — back at full strength, Notre Dame is the unanimous selection by ESPN, Athlon, Lindy's and Sporting News as the 2018‑19 preseason No. 1. "We definitely have the talent, so it's going to be a question can we do it?" McGraw said. "Everybody's come back with a mindset of, 'Target on our back, we've got to be ready.' I see a team that really wants to prove something again — and I don't think I'll let them get complacent." All 11 scholarship players were healthy and practicing the final weekend of October after senior forward Jessica Shepard (foot) and freshman guard Katlyn Gilbert (shoulder) missed some early ses‑ sions. Notre Dame is gunning for its sev‑ enth Final Four appearance since 2011 and these are four major themes for the Irish in 2018‑19: 1. SELFLESSNESS/TEAM PLAY Every member of the starting five has tallied at least 30 points in a game except senior guard Marina Mabrey — whose career high of 29 is among her more than 20 career games with at least 20 points. "We probably have five people that can lead us in scoring, and nobody would be surprised," McGraw said. Who scores the most points in a given night is not nearly as relevant as who does the "dirty work" consis‑ tently by taking charges or facilitat‑ ing the greater good with the extra pass or hustle plays, diving on the floors for loose balls … which gradu‑ ated seniors Kathryn Westbeld and Kristina Nelson excelled at last sea‑ son. Court divas need not apply, and college basketball's newest icon, senior Arike Ogunbowale, whose horn‑beating game‑winners against UConn and Mississippi State in the Final Four are immortalized, has taken it to heart. "She got back in the gym, and she was determined to be the hardest worker in practice," McGraw said, praising Ogunbowale. "She's taken it to another level. "She's been a really great role model … with a more determined attitude." CHASING HISTORY Notre Dame is favored to become the fourth repeat champion in women's basketball Head coach Muffet McGraw and her Notre Dame team are striving to join Tennessee and Connecticut as the lone women's basketball programs to win at least three national titles. PHOTO BY JOSH BATES