Can Notre Dame Beat Kentucky?

Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle: Sports
Fri, 03/27/2015 - 5:07pm

The pristine season, the presumed NCAA championship, the aura of invincibility and every other plaudit being thrown at the so-good-they’re-scary Wildcats are all at great risk. The Fighting Irish, with a long history of slaying basketball behemoths, stand in Kentucky’s path to the Final Four and perhaps the first undefeated season in the college game since Bobby Knight’s Indiana squad ran the table 39 years ago. On Saturday night, Notre Dame gets another chance at bringing down this team of teams, one some think is invincible — you know, like the 1974 UCLA Bruins, who had their 88-game winning streak stopped by ND. Kentucky has a half-dozen future NBA first-round draft picks, and the top-seeded Wildcats (37-0) are coming off a 39-point win over West Virginia in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament’s Midwest Regional. Kentucky showcased all of its splendor — size, depth, defense — in running the Mountaineers out of Quicken Loans Arena. [...] beyond having one of the most efficient offenses in the country, three-point shooters and underrated toughness, the Fighting Irish believe. Something that I and this team have preached on the whole year is that we’ve kind of been writing our own history, doing things the Notre Dame basketball program hasn’t done in a long time — or ever. Kentucky doesn’t beat itself, but head coach John Calipari disagrees that someone will have to play a nearly perfect game to upend the Wildcats. Kentucky’s Andrew Harrison said his dislocated left ringer finger was sore, but the Wildcats’ leading scorer doesn’t expect it to slow him Saturday. Harrsion got hurt while trying to make a steal in the second half against West Virginia, and his finger was bent so grotesquely that a Kentucky trainer ran on the floor and threw a towel over it. Harrison headed toward the locker room, but quickly returned after the medical staff popped his finger back into place. When he returned to the bench, Calipari wanted to know if it would affect his shooting touch. Notre Dame went 14-4 in the ACC, quite a turnaround for a team that won six conference games last season. Not only did the Irish acquit themselves during the regular season, but they then went to Tobacco Road and beat Duke and North Carolina in Greensboro on consecutive days to win the ACC tournament.

NEXT
BING NEWS:
  • Linebacker Cincere Johnson Is Ready To Check Out Notre Dame
    Back on March 20th, 2026 Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville standout linebacker Cincere Johnson got his first look at Notre Dame since being offered during the Pot of Gold offer event earlier this offseason.
    04/19/2024 - 5:00 am | View Link
  • Breaking down Notre Dame’s 2024 football schedule
    The Midshipmen’s 2024 roster will look very similar to the one Notre Dame throttled last year in Aviva Stadium, 42-3, and only went on to win five games. The starting quarterback battle between ...
    04/18/2024 - 8:56 pm | View Link
  • Notre Dame Is In The Mix With Talented 2027 Quarterback Trae Taylor
    While the attention is on the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes right now, Notre Dame is also already busy hosting several big-time 2027 recruits for campus visits. That includes Lake in The Hills (Ill ...
    04/18/2024 - 4:16 pm | View Link
  • Syracuse's season ends with loss to Notre Dame in 2nd round of ACC Tournament
    After losing seven out of eight matches to finish the regular season, Syracuse fell 4-1 in its second round ACC tournament matchup with Notre Dame.
    04/18/2024 - 4:07 pm | View Link
  • The Big Catch: Tomlinson’s game-saving grab gives Robbinsville softball huge win over Notre Dame
    The ball rocketed toward the centerfield fence off the bat of Gracyn Antosiewicz and Ariana Tomlinson had just one thought. “Catch it,” she said. That is exactly what the centerfielder ...
    04/18/2024 - 4:00 pm | View Link
  • More

 

NEXT
Welcome to Wopular!

Welcome to Wopular

Wopular is an online newspaper rack, giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.

Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular, MWB, RottenTomatoes

Subscribe to Wopular's RSS Fan Wopular on Facebook Follow Wopular on Twitter Follow Wopular on Google Plus

MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site

Movies With Butter More Movie News

More Sports News

  • Lakers’ LeBron James on Nikola Jokic: “He’s one of the best players to ever play this game.”
    Denver Post, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 08:22 PM

    From Tim Duncan to Kevin Garnett and Steph Curry, LeBron James’ 21-year NBA career has featured postseason matchups against some of the best to ever do it. For the Lakers forward, Nikola Jokic is right there among them. “He’s one of the best players to ever play this game. It’s that simple,” James said after practice on Friday at Ball Arena. James said he feels healthier than last year when Los Angeles got swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Analysis: Why star Nathan MacKinnon is going to win MVP honors
    Denver Post, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 07:49 PM

    Nathan MacKinnon did not become one of five players to ever record 100 assists in an NHL season. He did not score the most goals in the league in nearly 30 years. He is still going to win the Hart Trophy or the Ted Lindsay Award (or both) as the NHL’s most valuable player for the first time in his career, and will do so despite going up against one of the greatest fields of candidates the league has ever seen. There are four candidates — MacKinnon, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov — who had extraordinary seasons, and all would be worthy winners.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Rockies series opener against Mariners postponed, to be made up on Sunday as part of split doubleheader
    Denver Post, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 05:21 PM

    The Rockies series opener against the Mariners on Friday at Coors Field was postponed due to inclement weather. Related Articles Colorado Rockies | Rockies place Kyle Freeland on 15-day injured list with left elbow strain Colorado Rockies | Rockies’ rally falls short in 7-6 loss to Phillies, who finish three-game sweep Colorado Rockies | Rockies’ Kris Bryant, injured again, goes on IL with back strain Colorado Rockies | Rockies Mailbag: Is Kris Bryant’s contract one of the worst in Colorado sports history? Colorado Rockies | Reeling Rockies dominated by Phillies’ Ranger Suarez, who throws shutout Friday’s game will be made up on Sunday as a split doubleheader.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Broncos mock draft: What happens if Denver leans toward adding offensive playmakers?
    Denver Post, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 05:00 PM

    With the draft merely days away, there’s still no clear idea of what the Broncos will do at No. 12 overall in the first round. Denver is open to doing anything, whether it’s trading up, down, or standing pat with its eight draft picks. Since doing this mock draft exercise, we’ve explored each scenario and how Denver could capitalize from them. In the final Broncos’ seven-round mock draft, we look at what happens if the team invests in adding playmakers on offense. (Previous mock drafts: Aggressively pursuing a QB | Trading back in first round | Post-combine mock draft | Strengthening the DL) First Round (No.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Rockies place Kyle Freeland on 15-day injured list with left elbow strain
    Denver Post, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 03:55 PM

    After a rash of pitching injuries contributed to last year’s 103-loss season, the Rockies have their first significant health issue on the mound in 2024. Colorado placed Kyle Freeland on the 15-day injured list on Friday with a left elbow strain, a move retroactive to April 16. “Relatively speaking, with the results of his scan and the doctor’s report, he’s going to be OK,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share
  • Sign of the times: NCAA approves coach-to-player helmet communication for 2024 football season
    Denver Post, Friday - 04/19/2024 - 02:26 PM

    8212; College football is ready to put the signs away. Following a sign-stealing scandal that rocked the sport and hung over Michigan’s championship run in 2023, the NCAA’s football oversight committee approved Friday the use of coach-to-player helmet communications in games for the 2024 season. The football rules committee last month made a recommendation to allow — but not require — teams at the highest tier of Division I to use radio technology similar to what NFL teams use. Only one player for each team will be permitted to be in communication with coaches while on the field.

    More | Talk | Read It Later | Share