Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Upon Further Review todd D. burlage M Answering Questions With More Questions ike Brey unintentionally, but adeptly, summed up the feelings of most supporters of his Notre Dame men's basketball program, just minutes after adding another line item to his list of NCAA Tournament disappointments. When asked to explain why his seventh-seeded Irish were embarrassed 76-58 last month by 10th-seeded Iowa State, Brey offered only questions as his answers for persistent postseason failures. "How do you take the next step?" said Brey, whose teams have lost by at least 14 points in three of their last six NCAA Tournament games. "We've kind of maxed it out in all the other areas. How do you do that? … This is the one thing that still drives me on a daily basis." With five losses in the last six NCAA games against beatable opposition — three losses coming to No. 10 seeds, two to No. 11 seeds and the other to a No. 4 seed — expectations continue to shrink within the program, while Brey's contract continues to grow. Signed through the 2021-22 season after inking a 10-year extension last summer, perhaps coaching at a "football school" helps insulate the struggles of a basketball program. Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith actually won his NCAA Tournament opener against UCLA this season. Yet, he was fired a few days later after los- Head coach Mike Brey's Irish teams are 2-6 in the NCAA Tournament since 2007, with four of the defeats coming against double-digit seeds. photo by joe raymond ing to Florida in his next game. UCLA head coach Ben Howland won an outright Pac-12 title this season, and was only five years removed from leading the Bruins to three consecutive Final Four appearances, but he was also fired after that first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Minnesota. These are just two recent examples of coaching casualties that take place every year during and after what would be considered solid careers and great seasons at many other places. Yet, one Sweet 16 appearance in 13 seasons and a 2-6 NCAA Tournament record since 2007 warrants a 10-year