NIT ROUND 1 Preview: UAB @ Notre Dame

UAB 21-11 (11-5 Conference USA)









Under former Indiana head coach Mike Davis, now in his second season at UAB, the Blazers have become one of only 2 or 3 teams to legitimately pose a threat to Memphis’ dominance of Conference USA.

The Blazers are coming off a tough loss in the Conference USA tournament semifinal where they fell to Tulsa 70-67.

Despite the loss, UAB has won 12 of its last 16 games and comes to South Bend with a great deal of confidence.

The Blazers are led by senior Robert Vaden who averaged 17.5 ppg and 5 rebounds. The athletic 6-5 guard/forward is effective off the ball but can also handle and distribute the rock.

Vaden is part of a trio of Blazers named All-Conference USA, who have over 1,000 career points. Guard Paul Delaney III averaged 16 ppg and 3.5 assists while forward Lawrence Kinnard added 14.2 ppg to go along with 9 rebounds.

Together, they form a potent “Big Three” that poses problems for the Irish both inside and out.

Notre Dame 18-14 (8-10 Big East)










Notre Dame is a team trending very much in the opposite direction. While UAB has won 12 of 16, the Irish lost 11 of the final 17 games, albeit against much stronger competition.

Obviously, for the Irish it all starts with junior forward Luke Harangody. The Irish big man averaged 23.3 ppg and 12 rebounds. He scored in double figures in all but two games this season.

In the post, Lawrence Kinnard will give up some 45 pounds to Harangody and an immeasurable amount of heart and toughness. Not to say he lacks those qualities, but Harangody is a truly special player and has them in abundance.

Even when their big man delivers, which he clearly does virtually every game, the Irish go as their shooting goes.

When Notre Dame’s trio of outside shooters in Kyle McAlarney, Ryan Ayers and Tory Jackson are hitting their shots, things go well.

All three averaged double figures in scoring this season and the team shot an impressive 40 percent from behind the 3-point arc. Most of that however, is thanks to McAlarney’s impressive 113 made three-pointers.


PREDICTION

Notre Dame has a perceived depth problem this season. Whether that problem is real or imagined, coach Mike Brey certainly believes it. The aforementioned Irish players each logged over 1,000 minutes this season. The top man after that minutes-wise is senior Zach Hillesland with 750. No one else on the team has more than 500 though freshman guard/forward Tyrone Nash has come off the bench down the stretch to help some.

The Irish horses were ridden hard and put away wet this season, and that will catch up with them in this one.

If anyone gets worn down or in foul trouble, there isn’t anyone to turn to on Mike Brey’s bench. Even if there is, he probably wouldn’t put them in.

UAB is a talented and well-coached team fully capable of pulling the “upset” in this one. I put that in parentheses because I think the Blazers are the better team.

A fired up home crowd at the Joyce Center could give the Irish a lift. ND was 13-3 at home this season, but as Brian pointed out when we discussed it briefly yesterday, it’s Notre Dame on St. Patrick’s Day…there are other things to do.

UAB 80
Notre Dame 74

Maui Wowi

AP Photo/ Chris Carlson

Please forgive the horrible pun but if you caught any of the Irish vs. Longhorns Maui Invitational semi-final game earlier tonight you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Notre Dame survived a late scare from the Longhorns after two missed free throws by Luke Harangody with 3.5 seconds left provided Texas' A.J. Abrams with an opportuntiy to win the game. His half court attempt fell short and the Irish prevailed, 81-80.

The game featured the young and talented Longhorns (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) and a mature and experienced Irish (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today, No. 8 AP) team. Both teams entered undefeated and looking for their first marquee win on the young season.

Behind a typical double-double performance by Harangody (29 points, 13 rebounds) and stellar 3-point shooting (11 for 24), Notre Dame secured its first ever slot in the championship game of the Maui Invitational where they will face off against the #1 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.

Here's hoping the Irish wake up the echoes of the famous 1987 match up between the then ranked #1 Tar Heels and Fighting Irish:

Part I

Part II

In the first round of the Maui Invitational the Irish manhandled the rebuilding Indiana Hoosiers, 88-50 and Texas took care of its first round foe, the St Joseph's Hawks 68-50, setting the stage for tonight's heavyweight match up.

Both teams battled back and forth in this one, with neither one pulling away from the other. the Largest lead came with just under 3 minutes remaining in the game as Harangody made a layup to extend the Irish lead to 75-67.

Kyle McAlarney finished with 19 points off of 5-6 shooting from behind the arc and Tory Jackson added 16 points on top of 7 assists for the Irish.

This was certainly a signature win that will help when it comes time for NCAA Tournament seeding, but it didn't come without a few mishaps. 

Notre Dame failed to box out throughout the majority of the game, leaving the Longhorns with several second chance opportunities. Free throw shooting was also an area of concern, as the Irish missed 6 of their final 8 attempts from the charity stripe during the last minute of game time.

Regardless, this will be one of the most important games for the Irish this season. A win would make a statement that the Irish are serious Final Four contenders, while a loss could lead to any number of questions about the potential of this team to compete with the upper echelon in the NCAA.

It's the match up columnists and basketball fans have dreamt about since the field for the tournament was revealed last year: Harangody vs. Hansbrough. Bruiser vs. Bruiser. Lights out shooting vs. fast-break mania. Pure shooting vs. Pure athleticism.

Tune in tomorrow at 10pm EST on ESPN to see what could possibly be the most exciting game of the young season.

Go Irish!