The Golden Dome at Notre Dame is more like a Golden Bubble these days. Touchdown Jesus? How about "Please Let us into the NCAA Tournament" Jesus?
Mike Brey's Fighting Irish team is fighting for its NCAA Tournament life for the second consecutive season heading into Saturday's home game against Pitt. Last year, things did not work for Notre Dame, which went to the NIT after posting a 16-11, 9-7 Big East, regular-season mark. So, Brey is leaving nothing to chance.
He put his team through a post-midnight workout last Sunday after a crucial 10-point home loss to UCLA that nearly burst their NCAA Tournament bubble. He also moved his players out of their plush locker room at the Joyce Center and into a bland dressing room in the rear of the building, where he was sending a message that it's time for his players get back to the basics.
The Irish (17-9, 9-6) and 24th-ranked Pitt (19-7, 9-6) clearly have much at stake tomorrow, including a fifth-place finish in the Big East Conference and a first-round bye in the league tournament.
"We haven't been on punishment. (Brey's) theme was -- 'We have to play like we're poor,' " Notre Dame senior guard Chris Thomas told the South Bend Tribune this past Wednesday, after the Irish posted a 66-56 victory over Rutgers. "We have to get back to playing like (we want) people respect us."
Notre Dame lost its previous two games, against Connecticut, 88-74, and UCLA, 75-65, before defeating last-place Rutgers two days ago. Brey insists the Irish are not approaching the Pitt game as a do-or-die affair for the NCAA Tournament, but as a chance to earn that important Big East tournament bye.
Brey did, however, suggest that 10 wins in conference play should immensely benefit the Irish, alluding to the fact that five of past seven Big East teams with 10-6 records have gone to the NCAA Tournament.
"It's very clear that double-digit wins in league play are great for an NCAA Tournament resume, if you look at the history of our league," said Brey, who was frustrated with the committee's decision to keep the Irish out of the 2004 tournament, despite winning nine league games. "We're also playing for a bye in the Big East tournament. Having gone through the schedule we've gone through, it's good that we still have a chance for a bye."
The Irish clearly faced the toughest conference schedule in the Big East this season. After Saturday, they will have played the three teams picked to finish first, second and third in the preseason (Syracuse, Connecticut and Pitt) twice, while also playing fourth-place Villanova twice and potential NCAA Tournament qualifier Georgetown twice.
That, however, has not transferred into a good RPI. The Irish have a projected RPI of 57. Nonetheless, Brey said he is not overly concerned with the RPI after speaking with an NCAA Tournament committee member prior to the season.
"The gentleman said don't lose much sleep over the RPI, it's something we use, but not the end-all, be-all," said Brey, whose team owns quality wins over No. 5 Boston College, No. 15 Connecticut and No. 19 Villanova. "So, I used to get nervous about it until I heard that."
Several things could work against the Irish in their quest for an NCAA berth. First, a loss to Pitt and a loss in the Big East tournament's first round would be devastating, considering that would represent four losses in five games. Also, their non-conference strength of schedule is rated 271, something the committee frowns upon.
Brey is not concerned.
"I think we have a heck of an argument right now," he said, regarding his team's NCAA Tournament chances. "But we're, by no means, satisfied. We're working like we still have to earn it. But if things stopped right now, we'd have a heck of an argument."
Mike Brey's Fighting Irish team is fighting for its NCAA Tournament life for the second consecutive season heading into Saturday's home game against Pitt. Last year, things did not work for Notre Dame, which went to the NIT after posting a 16-11, 9-7 Big East, regular-season mark. So, Brey is leaving nothing to chance.
He put his team through a post-midnight workout last Sunday after a crucial 10-point home loss to UCLA that nearly burst their NCAA Tournament bubble. He also moved his players out of their plush locker room at the Joyce Center and into a bland dressing room in the rear of the building, where he was sending a message that it's time for his players get back to the basics.
The Irish (17-9, 9-6) and 24th-ranked Pitt (19-7, 9-6) clearly have much at stake tomorrow, including a fifth-place finish in the Big East Conference and a first-round bye in the league tournament.
"We haven't been on punishment. (Brey's) theme was -- 'We have to play like we're poor,' " Notre Dame senior guard Chris Thomas told the South Bend Tribune this past Wednesday, after the Irish posted a 66-56 victory over Rutgers. "We have to get back to playing like (we want) people respect us."
Notre Dame lost its previous two games, against Connecticut, 88-74, and UCLA, 75-65, before defeating last-place Rutgers two days ago. Brey insists the Irish are not approaching the Pitt game as a do-or-die affair for the NCAA Tournament, but as a chance to earn that important Big East tournament bye.
Brey did, however, suggest that 10 wins in conference play should immensely benefit the Irish, alluding to the fact that five of past seven Big East teams with 10-6 records have gone to the NCAA Tournament.
"It's very clear that double-digit wins in league play are great for an NCAA Tournament resume, if you look at the history of our league," said Brey, who was frustrated with the committee's decision to keep the Irish out of the 2004 tournament, despite winning nine league games. "We're also playing for a bye in the Big East tournament. Having gone through the schedule we've gone through, it's good that we still have a chance for a bye."
The Irish clearly faced the toughest conference schedule in the Big East this season. After Saturday, they will have played the three teams picked to finish first, second and third in the preseason (Syracuse, Connecticut and Pitt) twice, while also playing fourth-place Villanova twice and potential NCAA Tournament qualifier Georgetown twice.
That, however, has not transferred into a good RPI. The Irish have a projected RPI of 57. Nonetheless, Brey said he is not overly concerned with the RPI after speaking with an NCAA Tournament committee member prior to the season.
"The gentleman said don't lose much sleep over the RPI, it's something we use, but not the end-all, be-all," said Brey, whose team owns quality wins over No. 5 Boston College, No. 15 Connecticut and No. 19 Villanova. "So, I used to get nervous about it until I heard that."
Several things could work against the Irish in their quest for an NCAA berth. First, a loss to Pitt and a loss in the Big East tournament's first round would be devastating, considering that would represent four losses in five games. Also, their non-conference strength of schedule is rated 271, something the committee frowns upon.
Brey is not concerned.
"I think we have a heck of an argument right now," he said, regarding his team's NCAA Tournament chances. "But we're, by no means, satisfied. We're working like we still have to earn it. But if things stopped right now, we'd have a heck of an argument."
