Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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12 SEPT. 14, 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Notre Dame released its women's basketball nonconference schedule in late August, and every- one's eyes darted to two matchups that were already known — home games against Connecticut and Texas, a pair of programs in the top six of ESPN's way-too-early top 25 rankings. The Irish host the Longhorns Dec. 5 and the Huskies Dec. 12. Notre Dame and Texas have only played twice before and have not met since 1997 in Austin. It's the first time these two teams, with a 1-1 record against each other, are meeting in South Bend. There is a longstanding history with UConn, obviously, and much of it is not in favor of the Fighting Irish. The Huskies have a 39-15 record against Notre Dame, but the Irish are looking to win consecutive games against Geno Auriemma's squad for the first time since 2013. The Irish went to Storrs, Conn., and handled the Huskies last season. The other marquee matchup on Notre Dame's nonconference schedule was also previously announced. The Irish are headed west to face USC Nov. 23. The head-to-head between sophomores JuJu Watkins of the Trojans and Hannah Hidalgo of the Irish will be must-see TV. Like the Notre Dame men's team, the women are taking a holiday trip to an exciting location. The Irish will face two opponents from a pool of Mississippi State, South Flor- ida, TCU, Utah and Washington in the Cay- man Islands Classic over Thanksgiving week. — Tyler Horka Notre Dame men's basketball has officially announced its nonconference schedule, and it includes an unprecedented, "NIL-driven" multi-team event in Las Vegas. The event, called the Players Era Festival, comes with "the opportunity for each team to engage in at least $1 million of NIL activities separate from competition," according to its website. The Irish will face Alabama, Houston and Rutgers (order of play to be determined) during Thanksgiving Week Nov. 26-30. Notre Dame was originally slated to play in the Rady Children's Invitational in San Diego during Thanksgiving Week — against Purdue, Arkansas and BYU — but it pulled out to participate in the Players Era Festival. Alabama, Houston and Rutgers were ranked No. 2, No. 4 and No. 25, respectively, in ESPN's way- too-early rankings. The Tide are coming off an appearance in the Final Four and brought star play- ers Mark Sears and Grant Nelson back for one more season. Head coach Nate Oats also poached star center Clifford Omoruyi from Rutgers in the transfer portal. Notre Dame will open the 2024 season with a home game against Stonehill College Nov. 6. Stone- hill, a private Catholic school in Easton, Mass., is entering its third year in Division I athletics. The Irish play one repeat nonconference op- ponent from the 2023-24 season: Georgetown, to whom they lost 72-68 in overtime. The Hoyas are entering their second season under head coach Ed Cooley, and they went 9-23 a year ago. They'll host the Irish this season. The other Notre Dame nonconference oppo- nents are Buffalo, North Dakota, Elon, Georgia, Dartmouth and Le Moyne. The Irish will travel to Athens, Ga., Dec. 3 for the SEC/ACC Challenge, but they'll play each of the other games listed at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend. — Jack Soble 2024-25 NOTRE DAME WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE Date Opponent Oct. 30 Davenport# Nov. 4 Mercyhurst Nov. 10 at Purdue Nov. 13 James Madison Nov. 17 at Lafayette Nov. 23 at USC Nov. 29-30 Cayman Islands Classic* Dec. 5 Texas^ Dec. 12 Connecticut Dec. 15 Eastern Michigan Dec. 22 Loyola (Md.) # Exhibition; * will play two of Mississippi State, South Florida, TCU, Utah, Washing- ton at George Town, Cayman Islands; ^ SEC/ACC Challenge 2024-25 NOTRE DAME MEN'S BASKETBALL NONCONFERENCE SCHEDULE Date Opponent Nov. 6 Stonehill College Nov. 11 Buffalo Nov. 16 at Georgetown Nov. 19 North Dakota Nov. 22 Elon Nov. 26-30 Players Era Festival* Dec. 3 at Georgia^ Dec. 11 Dartmouth Dec. 22 Le Moyne * Will play Alabama, Houston and Rut- gers (order of play to be dtermined) at Las Vegas; ^ SEC/ACC Challenge Early December Could Define Women's Basketball's Season Men's Hoops Nonconference Schedule Highlighted By Trip To Vegas Micah Shrewsberry enters his second season as Notre Dame's men's basketball coach with some interesting non- conference games on the horizon. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER Niele Ivey did not shy away from a tough nonconference slate in her fifth season as Notre Dame's women's bas- ketball coach. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER