Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/208902
Must Haves, Bubbles And Steals After their move to the ACC, the Irish hope to prove their worthiness right away T By Andrew Owens he 2013-14 season will be one of change for Notre Dame. The Irish embark on their first Atlantic Coast Conference journey with considerable momentum from the last four seasons — all of which ended in the NCAA Tournament — but there is a greater interest in one question: When will this team appear in the Sweet 16 (or beyond) again? It will be 11 years since head coach Mike Brey's third Irish squad reached the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament by the time March rolls around. The past decade has been marked by consistent regular seasons that rival any other member of the Big East, followed up by inexplicable play in the postseason. After the move to the ACC, Brey outlined the top goal for his team this season: Qualify for the NCAA Tournament, and worry about exorcising those demons later. Last year, the Irish flopped in Dayton, Ohio, with a 76-58 debacle against Iowa State in the round of 64. Notre Dame began the season 12-1 in non-conference play, with the lone tripup occurring against St. Joseph's in a neutral-site game. The Irish finished tied for fifth in the Big East with their 11-7 conference record, highlighted by a thrilling 104-101, five-overtime victory against eventual national champion Louisville Feb. 9. The Cardinals did not lose another game the rest of the season. This year, expectations are high again after the Irish returned every contributor other than departed forward Jack Cooley, whose rebounding prowess will be missed. Notre Dame welcomes four freshmen to the team, three of whom will play immediately. Mishawaka, Ind., native Demetrius Jackson has already impressed Brey with his energy and defensive skills. With captains Eric Atkins (the first three-time captain in program history)