Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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teams, any Irish loss would be a sign the program has not returned to its typical habit of holding serve at Purcell Pavil‑ ion. BUBBLE GAMES These are the games that could go either way. If Notre Dame is to accom‑ plish Brey's goal of making the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six sea‑ sons, it will hinge on the results of these contests. Non-conference (2): Providence (23‑12) and Michigan State (29‑9). The Irish will play the Friars Nov. 23 in Uncasville, Conn., and host the Spar‑ tans Dec. 3 in the ACC‑Big Ten Chal‑ lenge for the two programs' first meet‑ ing since 1979. Notre Dame is fortunate to face Michi‑ gan State before the turn of the calendar to 2015. The Spartans endured signifi‑ cant personnel losses, but head coach Tom Izzo always has them peaking near March. His squad will serve as a tell‑ ing litmus test for the Irish early in the season. As an existing member of the Big East, Providence is a name familiar to Irish fans. Head coach Ed Cooley led the Fri‑ ars to a Big East Tournament champion‑ ship last season, but nearly 40 points per game have been removed due to graduation. ACC (7): Florida State (22‑14), Virginia (30‑7), at North Carolina State (22‑14), at Pittsburgh (26‑10), at Clemson (23‑13), Syracuse (28‑6) and at Louisville (31‑6). Four of these seven are road games. Although North Carolina State and Clemson are projected ninth and 11th, respectively, in the preseason media poll, it will be no simple task for the Irish to beat them away from home. 2014-15 NOTRE DAME MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Nov. 1 Minnesota-Duluth^ W, 88-71 Nov. 7 Lewis^ 7 p.m. Nov. 14 Binghamton! 9 p.m. Nov. 16 Navy! (ESPN3) 2 p.m. Nov. 19 Coppin State 7 p.m. Nov. 22 vs. Massachusetts@ (ESPN3) 12 p.m. Nov. 23 vs. Providence@ (ESPN2) 2:30 p.m. Nov. 26 Grambling State 7 p.m. Nov. 29 Chicago State TBA Dec. 3 Michigan State (ESPN2) 7:15 p.m. Dec. 6 Fairleigh Dickinson 8 p.m. Dec. 9 Mount St. Mary's 7 p.m. Dec. 13 Florida State* (ESPN2) 8 p.m. Dec. 20 vs. Purdue% TBA Dec. 22 Northern Illinois 7 p.m. Dec. 30 Hartford 7 p.m. Jan. 3 Georgia Tech* (ACCN) 2:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at N. Carolina* (ESPN/ESPN2) 7 p.m. Jan. 10 Virginia* (ESPN2) 6 p.m. Jan. 14 at Georgia Tech* (RSN) 7 p.m. Jan. 17 Miami* (ESPN/ESPN2) 2 p.m. Jan. 22 at Virginia Tech* (RSN) 7 p.m. Jan. 25 at NC State* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 Duke* (ESPN2) 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 12 p.m. Feb. 4 Boston College* (RSN) 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at Duke* (CBS) 1 p.m. Feb. 10 at Clemson* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Feb. 17 Wake Forest* (ESPNU) 7 p.m. Feb. 21 at Boston College* (RSN) 4 p.m. Feb. 24 Syracuse* (ACCN) 8 p.m. March 4 at Louisville* (ESPN2) 7 p.m. March 7 Clemson* (ACCN/RSN) 4 p.m. March 10-14 ACC Tournament TBA ^ Exhibition; ! Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament, pre- liminary rounds; @ Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament at Uncasville, Conn.; % Crossroads Classic at Indianapolis; *ACC game