Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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ranked No. 22 in the preseason Associated Press poll, want to go to the league champion- ship in New York City for the first time ever in what might be their last opportunity before bolting to the Atlantic Coast Conference. They also want to go to the Sweet 16 and be- yond. With al l five starters back from a squad that finished last year with a 22-13 over- all record and a 13-5 Big East mark (third place), they think the welts from past disappoint- ments will inspire them along the way. "I know what this to lead this team to where we want to go." The Irish, who were ally matter to me," he added. "We've been ranked in the back half of the league every year since I've been here. My freshman year I think we were No. 9 or No. 10. We've always finished in the top four my two years here. "The only difference is people aren't going to underestimate us this year. We're going to good he is," Martin said. "He believes in his game and believes in what he's doing. He knows we all believe in him." Hansbrough, set to be- PRETTY GOOD. I THINK IT'S FUN TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE. I FEEL LIKE IT CAN BRING OUT "THE LAST TWO YEARS, I FEEL LIKE WE SNUCK UP ON PEOPLE. THIS YEAR PEOPLE KNOW WE'RE THE BEST IN EVERYONE'S GAME." ATKINS team is capable of," said Atkins, who led the Big East in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.56) as a freshman when the Irish posted a modern-day school- record 27 victories, was then named a team cap- tain, and backed that up by averaging 12.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.1 as- sists in 37.9 minutes per game last season. "Where we're ranked right now doesn't re- have to chase something down this year. The last two years, I feel like we snuck up on people. This year people know we're pretty good. I think it's fun to have a little bit of pressure. I feel like it can bring out the best in everyone's game." Atkins brings out the gin his rookie season in the NBA with the Indi- ana Pacers, said he took away just as much as he dished out in those prac- tice battles with Atkins two years ago. "I was hard on him every day," he said. "When he would make mis- takes, I would get on him because he had to make that process of growing up and playing at a really high, ma- ture level really quickly. We didn't have time to wait on him. "At the end of the best in his teammates with a level of consis- tency that sixth-year se- nior guard Scott Martin said the Irish take for granted at times. "Because that's how day, I was just trying to do the best thing I could possibly do for the team. I know it was kind of hard on some of the guys because they were coming in and they were freshmen, but I was just trying to keep the big picture in mind and trying to get them ready. "There were a lot of days in practice when I couldn't get around Eric. It was both ways." ✦