NOTRE DAME'S NCAA HOPES ON LIFE SUPPORT

March 3, 2009


Notre Dame has been working at digging out of the hole that a seven-game losing streak had caused. There seemed to be some progress of rebuilding the season from the ruins of a failed top 10 team, but the Irish NCAA Hopes takes Another Hit (Post-Tribune), and this one could be fatal, as it appears the Irish are Likely Headed to the NIT After Bad Loss to 'Nova (South Bend Tribune) on the Joyce Center court Monday night.

Villanova and ND played to a 32-all first half tie as a mountain of Irish turnovers prevented ND from taking a lead at the break.

The second-half was a different story as No. 11 Villanova Pounds Notre Dame (Chicago Tribune), outscoring the Irish 45-28 in the second half on the way for a 77-60 win.

'Nova junior Scottie Reynolds scored 23 points and senior Dante Cunningham added 18 for the Wildcats who shot 45% from the field and committed just five turnovers in the entire game.

Ryan Ayers connected on seven three's and scored 23 points to lead Notre Dame and Luke Harangody added 18, but Kyle McAlarney's lone three-pointer came on the Irish's first possession and his five points were the next highest total for an ND player behind Ayers and Harangody.

Notre Dame was not helped by their 15 turnovers, 39% shooting from the field and a 10-20 night from the foul line. The Irish close the regular season by hosting St. John's, but anything short of winning the 2009 Big East Tournament likely means the NIT for the Irish, a team that started the season ranked among the top 10 in the country.