Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/176703
Coach Brey is from that area. Those guys will love playing those teams. Coach Brey has [Duke] Coach [Mike] Kryzyzewski as a mentor so that will be a great matchup. "The Big East was down with a lot of the powerhouses leaving. I think it was right for Notre Dame basketball to join the ACC party and play against the Carolinas, the Dukes, the big-time competition. "Notre Dame's doing a good job and getting some good recruits. You have Demetrius Jackson … and Cameron Biedscheid and the big fella Zach Auguste. I've seen those guys this summer, and they have a lot of potential to be a great team in the ACC." ✦ Notre Dame Receives National Attention Sporting News Ranks Irish No. 21 Sporting News listed Notre Dame 21st in its preseason rankings, which it released the third week of September. "An already-terrific backcourt gets another weapon when Demetrius Jackson enrolls to join Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant," the publication stated. "Atkins averaged 38.3 minutes last season, Grant 36.3. Think they can't use a break?" The Irish finished 25-10 (11-7 Big East) a year ago after bowing out to Iowa State in their first NCAA Tournament game. This year, they move to the Atlantic Coast Conference. Three ACC foes (No. 4 Duke, No. 8 Syracuse and No. 9 North Carolina) made the top 25, as did three non-conference opponents (No. 11 Ohio State, No. 23 Iowa and No. 25 Indiana). Exhibition play begins at Purcell Pavilion Oct. 28 when Notre Dame hosts Indianapolis. Eric Atkins ESPN Calls ND Legitimate Title Contender ESPN's Jeff Goodman wrote last week that the 2013-14 Irish squad is the best suited to make a run in the NCAA Tournament since head coach Mike Brey arrived back in 2000. Goodman, pointing out the recent string of disappointing tournament finishes, says the backcourt duo of seniors Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant, with freshman Demetrius Jackson added in, could lead to Notre Dame's first Sweet 16 appearance since 2003. "We've been incredibly consistent the last few years in the Big East," Brey told Goodman. "But what keeps driving me is how we can get out of the first weekend." Practices Set To Begin After the NCAA implemented a new accelerated calendar this year, Notre Dame's first practice is Sept. 27, a month and a day before its first exhibition game. Teams can practice for an hour each day as opposed to the regular two-hour workouts that will begin in October. Brey expressed his opinion this summer that September is too early to begin practice. In 2010, the NCAA began allowing coaches to work with their teams for as many as two hours a week during the eight-week summer period. — Andrew Owens