RTC Live: Villanova @ Notre Dame
Posted by rtmsf on February 28th, 2011
Game # 156. Notre Dame has been the surprise team in the Big East this season; can they once again protect home court against the visiting (and slumping) Wildcats?
Notre Dame will look to finish their home season undefeated, as the suddenly sputtering Villanova Wildcats enter the Purcell Pavilion on Monday evening. Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish are 16-0 on their homecourt this season and need a win over the Wildcats to move closer to earning a double bye in what will be an ultra-competitive Big East tournament. Following Pittsburgh’s loss to Louisville on Sunday, the Irish possess an outside shot of winning the Big East regular season title outright. Villanova had a week to forget last week with home losses to Syracuse and St. John’s. A feature of this year’s Wildcat squad has also been that they have not been very strong on the road, as they have lost at both Providence and Rutgers along with barely defeating dreadful DePaul. On a night where Notre Dame will honor seniors Ben Hansbrough, Tom Kopko and Tyrone Nash, the Irish will look to offset the Wildcat attack that is led by senior guards Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes. If Mike Brey’s team is able to jump out to an early lead and get strong contributions from Hansbrough and forward Tim Abromaitis, then it is likely that Notre Dame will finish their home season undefeated.
