Monday, March 13, 2017

Time to Get to Know Robert Morris University



Muffet's Fighting Irish will host the Robert Morris "Colonials" this Friday night at 7:30 PM ET at Purcell Pavilion.

Get to know Robert Morris University:
  • Founded:  1921
  • Located:  Moon Township, PA  (suburb of Pittsburgh)
  • Enrollment:  4,144 undergraduates

The Colonials:

Domer Golden Tate Got Married This Weekend


Congrats to Golden Tate and his bride Elise Pollard who were married this weekend!

Here is how Golden proposed...

LINK:  GOLDEN & ELISE

Notre Dame a #1 Seed in Lexington Region!


Muffet's Fighting Irish start down the road to "UCONN" -- this Friday at home against Robert Morris.

The bracket is set up for a UCONN vs. NOTRE DAME rematch the final day in Dallas.   

We just have to win the next game...

Here are the "road-blocks" for the Fighting Irish:
  • Road block #1:  Robert Morris
  • Road block #2:  Green Bay or Purdue
  • Road block #3:  Ohio State or Kentucky
  • Road block #4:  Stanford or Texas
  • Road block #5:  South Carolina or Oregon State

LINK:  WOMEN'S BRACKET

Notre Dame's Path to the NCAA Final Four

Here's what stands in Notre Dame's way to a trip to the FINAL FOUR:
  • ROAD BLOCK #1:  Princeton
  • ROAD BLOCK #2:  West Virginia or Bucknell
  • ROAD BLOCK #3:  Gonzaga, Northwestern or Vanderbilt
  • ROAD BLOCK #4:  Arizona, Florida State or Maryland

We got a great draw -- other than being labeled a FIVE SEED -- for Notre Dame's game...


LINK:  BRACKET



Muffet's Irish Learn Their NCAA Seed Tonight


The Women's NCAA Selection Show is on ESPN -- beginning at 7 PM ET tonight.

It will be a huge shock if the Irish are not a #1 seed.  The only open issue is whether Notre Dame is seeded as #2 overall or #3...

Stay tuned!

LINK:  LATEST BRACKETOLOGY -- NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNEY

An Under Armour Surprise for the Fighting Irish


Sunday, March 12, 2017

Next Up for Notre Dame: Princeton Tigers



What we know about the IVY League Champions -- they are a dangerous opponent!

Starting Lineup:

Notes:
  • Cannady played his high school ball at Marian HS (South Bend)
  • Notre Dame will have the height advantage if they start Geben
  • Princeton won the IVY League at 23 - 6
  • They did not play a Top 25 team this season
  • Balanced scoring -- 4 starters average in double-figures, led by Cannady at 13.7 per game 

NCAA Tournament history:
  • Last played in the NCAA Tournament in 2011 -- lost in their first game to Kentucky 59 - 57  (Kentucky made the Elite Eight that year)

What Does the NCAA Committee Look At?


Here is how the ACC regular season standings factored into NCAA Tournament seeding this year:
  • North Carolina:  14 - 4 -- #1 SEED
  • Notre Dame:  12 - 6 -- #5 SEED
  • Louisville:  12 - 6 -- #2 SEED
  • Florida State:  12 - 6 -- #3 SEED
  • Duke:  11 - 7 -- #2 SEED
  • Virginia:  11 - 7 -- #5 SEED
  • Virginia Tech:  10 - 8 -- #9 SEED
  • Miami: 10 - 8 -- #8 SEED
  • Wake Forest:  9 - 9 -- #11 SEED

ACC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:
  • Duke:  #2 SEED
  • Notre Dame:  #5 SEED

LOST IN SEMI-FINALS:
  • North Carolina:  #1  SEED
  • Florida State:  #3 SEED

LOST IN QUARTERFINALS:
  • Louisville:  #2 SEED
  • Virginia:  #5 SEED
  • Virginia Tech:  #9 SEED
  • Miami:  #8 SEED

Here's what you can deduct from the NCAA Selection Committee giving Notre Dame a #5 Seed:
  • They didn't look at the ACC regular season
  • They didn't look at the ACC Tournament
  • They looked at who ND played in November and December
 

Notre Dame is a #5 SEED in the West Region


The Fighting Irish will play Princeton in Buffalo, NY on Thursday afternoon -- 12:15 PM ET tip off...

I can not believe we received a FIVE SEED -- disrespect.
  • We won FIVE games against teams seeded at #5 or higher! 
  • We beat the #3 Seed in the West Region (Florida State) TWO TIMES!
  • We finished in a three-way tie for 2nd in ACC -- the other two received a 2 & 3 SEEDS!


ACC / NCAA TOURNAMENT SEEEDS

EAST REGION:
  • Duke -- 2 Seed
  • Virginia -- 5 Seed
  • Virginia Tech -- 5 Seed

MIDWEST REGION:
  • Miami -- 8 Seed
  • Louisville -- 2 Seed

SOUTH REGION:
  • North Carolina -- 1 Seed
  • Wake Forest -- 11 Seed

WEST REGION:
  • Notre Dame -- 5 Seed
  • Florida State -- 3 Seed

C.J. Prosise's "Touchdown Jesus" Cleats


These were created by the self-proclaimed "shoe genius" Brittish Kustoms for former Notre Dame running back -- turned Seattle Seahawk -- C.J. Prosise.

Just click on photo to enlarge.

ACC Player of the Year Voting -- Really ???


I just spent the last four nights watching the top teams and players in the Atlantic Coast Conference play in their annual year-end tournament...

There is not a single player in the ACC better than Bonzie Colson -- let alone two...

How does the "ACC Voting Panel" place Bonzie a DISTANT THIRD in the vote for Player of the Year -- really???


FINAL ACC PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTING:                                         
  • Justin Jackson, North Carolina -- 24 first place votes
  • John Collins, Wake Forest -- 15 first place votes
  • Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame -- 8 first place votes
  • Luke Kennard, Duke -- 5 first place votes
  • Donovan Mitchell, Louisville -- 1 first place vote

BONZIE'S ACC RESUME for Player of the Year:
  • 17.9 points per game (10th in the ACC) -- Jackson: 18.1
  • 10.2 rebounds per game (1st in the ACC) -- Jackson: 4.6
  • 52% field goal shooting (4th in the ACC) -- Jackson: 44%
  • 1.6 blocks per game (6th in the ACC) -- Jackson: 0.2
  • Only player in the ACC to average a "double-double"


ACC TOURNEY RESULTS for the TOP 3 POY FINALISTS:

Justin Jackson (1 - 1)
  • 14 points (average)
  • 3 rebounds (average)
  • 11 for 33 -- shot 33% for the tournament

John Collins (1 - 1)
  • 17 points (average) 
  • 11 rebounds (average)
  • 11 for 20 -- shot 55% for the tournament

Bonzie Colson (2 - 1)
  • 22.6 points (average)
  • 8.3 rebounds (average)
  • 25 - 48  -- shot 52% for the tournament

NCAA Selection Show: 5 PM ET on CBS



Well, we'll soon know what Notre Dame's path will be to an NCAA Championship -- CBS' Selection Sunday show begins at 5 PM ET today...

After watching the IRISH these past few days -- I believe we have another March run in us.

Notre Dame is seeded as high as a THREE and as low as a SIX -- in the "bracketology" predictions linked below:

LINK:  ESPN'S LUNARDI

LINK:  CBS SPORTS

LINK:  TEAM RANKINGS


Duke 75 - Notre Dame 69 -- ACC Tourney Final


An ACC Championship "Turned on an Ankle..."


Notre Dame led 58 - 55 (with 8 minutes left ) when Bonzie Colson twisted an ankle and left the game...

He only scored 3 points and grabbed one rebound the rest of the way.  He had 26 points and 8 boards over the first 32 minutes of the game.

We were so close...

LINK:  BONZIE FIGHTS THROUGH ANKLE INJURY