Irish Insights

Lose To Louisville...Don't Lose A Seed

At least that seems to be what's happened with Notre Dame and it means two things: 1) That the Irish are gaining national respect as a program and 2) bracketologists believe in this team.
ESPN's latest projection has the Irish as a No. 4 seed in the South in Washington, D.C. in what could be an intriguing game against Virginia Tech. The Hokies -- and nice-guy coach Seth Greenberg -- could have a bunch of fans as Blacksburg, Va., is only a few hours from D.C. And then, a second-round matchup would loom against No. 5 Purdue or No. 12 VCU.
The Bracket Project still has Notre Dame as a No. 4 seed -- but many brackets haven't been updated since the Irish's 90-85 loss to Louisville.
Insights friend Dave Curtis of the Orlando Sentinel also placed ND as a No. 4 -- this time in Denver and the Midwest regional. The Irish would play Oral Roberts in the first round and a potential second-round matchup with home court win streak leader BYU in round 2.
A little more than two weeks until Selection Sunday. It's gonna get interesting.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Yeatman Pleads Guilty

Notre Dame sophomore tight end Will Yeatman pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts as part of a deferred sentencing agreement at St. Joseph County Superior Court on Feb. 25.
Yeatman pleaded guilty to a Class C Misdemeanor of Operating While Intoxicated. He had a blood alcohol level of at least .08 grams but less than .15 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. He also pleaded guilty to reckless driving, a Class B misdemeanor.
The third count, a Class A misdemeanor of criminal recklessness, was dismissed.
Yeatman was arrested on Jan. 28 for Operating While Intoxicated and for reckless driving when he drove his car on a sidewalk on the Notre Dame campus.
A message left on Yeatman's cell phone was not immediately returned. Notre Dame football sports information director Brian Hardin said Irish coach Charlie Weis was traveling and not available for comment. He did refer to Weis' statement earlier in the month where he hoped to have Yeatman back this season. Notre Dame lacrosse coach Kevin Corrigan declined to comment on anything relating to Yeatman or the case.
As part of the deferred sentencing agreement, Yeatman must not commit any crimes during the term of the agreement and shall pay any incurred costs, including $60 to the After The Crime program. Yeatman, a San Diego native, must complete counseling or treatment if recommended by the courts at his own expense.
Yeatman will also have to pay to install an ignition interlock system -- an in-car Breathalyzer -- for at least 180 days. He is not allowed to drive any cars without the system and will be in violation of the agreement if he has a reading over. 02 or tries to start or drive the car with a higher reading than .04. Yeatman will also cooperate with Pretrial Services and the After the Crime Program to give any information needed from the ignition interlock system.
He will also be required to give between one and three urine tests.
Yeatman must also attend a victim's impact session called "Bryan's Legacy," where he'll hear stories of victims and survivors of drunk driving accidents.
If Yeatman violates any of these terms, the Prosecutor's office can have both counts set for sentencing.
Yeatman will have to appear in court on Feb. 25, 2009, for a status hearing. At the hearing, if he has complied with the deferred sentencing agreement, the OWI charge will be dismissed and the court will rule on the reckless driving charge.
Yeatman remains indefinitely suspended from the Notre Dame lacrosse and football teams, but enrolled in the university and taking classes according to Hardin. He caught six passes for 37 yards in 2007 in football and had expected to challenge for a starting spot vacated by John Carlson this spring.
In lacrosse, Yeatman was a starter and leader of Notre Dame's attack after a freshman year where he scored 21 goals, had 25 assists and 46 points.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

It Feels Like David Padgett Has Been Around Forever...And our ND-Louisville Pick

Louisville senior center David Padgett is one of those guys. You know, the ones who seem to have never-ending college eligibility to the point where you consistently question "That guy is still around?"
Injuries and a transfer from Kansas to Louisville has helped with Padgett's prolonged stay in the college game, something not lost on Notre Dame's players.
"He's just a veteran guy and (gone) through a lot of injuries," Irish junior forward Zach Hillesland said. "He's a steadying force, a veteran player who knows how to play.
"...I remember when he was at Kansas. It seems like forever ago. It seems like he's been in the college ranks for like eight years."
Of course, it could have to do with another basketball-playing Padgett, former Kentucky forward Scott Padgett. The two Padgett's aren't related -- even if they shared a college coach as Scott played for Pitino when he coached the Wildcats.

Anyway, David Padgett is a key to Thursday's Notre Dame-Louisville game as he's the leader of the Cardinals and could be a difficult matchup for Irish sophomore forward Luke Harangody.
"Padgett gives them a Rob Kurz as far as setting the tone," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. "I'm sure what he says in locker rooms and at meals is gospel. I've had a lot of respect for him. He's leading a real good team."

We also think Padgett is the key to this game. If he is able to frustrate Kurz and Harangody on the boards like Syracuse did with its size and length, look for Louisville to win, possibly handily. If Notre Dame can rebound well with the Cardinals, the Irish have a chance.
We think it'll be the latter, but playing at home -- and with a seven-game win streak -- has us giving Louisville the slight edge.
Our pick: Louisville 90, Notre Dame 85.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Some Words From Rick Pitino

As noted in a prior post, we were able to fight through the on-again, off-again snow to reach Louisville just before Rick Pitino's day-before-the-game chat with the media.
Here are some of the highlights:
How does Pitino plan on guarding Notre Dame junior guard Kyle McAlarney?
"Pick him up once he gets off the bus," Pitino said. "There's not much you can do because he drives very well, too. He's not just a spot-up shooter. He's slotted at the two-guard spot but then they move him to the point and he's someone who can beat you off the dribble."
Pitino also thinks Notre Dame will run as fast, if not faster, than Louisville. He also said with the way the Irish play -- smart with a mostly-motion offense and quick in transition -- makes it difficult to settle into a certain defense. And he also noticed how McAlarney tore apart the Syracuse 2-3 zone on Sunday.
"It's fun because I like fast break basketball," Pitino said. "You don't because you still like to know how you'll coordinate your defense. You can't do it. You have to be spontaneous and react because this team runs 80 percent motion and they've been destroying zones.
"You watch (the Syracuse) game and you're turned off to zone. I hate zone after watching that game. But we've been so good at it. Put it this way. I'll try a little bit of everything and see how it works."
Pitino also had a unique take on how Notre Dame plays on offense.
"It's like Georgetown at twice the speed," Pitino said. "It's very difficult to play against."
Louisville guard Andre McGee agreed that defending the Irish is, well, not easy and very unpredictable.
"It is because they aren't a real structured team where they are going to do A to B to C, you know," McGee said. "Like you said, just react to what (they) are going to do. You have to get your hands up and be ready."
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Spring Football Dates Are Out

As snow falls outside the Louisville Starbucks we are currently holed up in, a curious -- and for some, exciting -- e-mail came into our inbox: Spring Football Dates.
So, here ya go.
Wed. March 26; Fri. March 28; Sat. March 29; Mon. March 31; Wed. April 2; Fri. April 4; Sat. April 5; Mon. April 7; Wed. April 9; Fri. April 11; Sat. April 12; Mon. April 14; Wed. April 16; Fri. April 18.
The Spring Game is Saturday, April 19.
April 4-5 is the Notre Dame coaches' clinic, which recently added Division III Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres (who could easily be a major Division I-A coach after leading the dynasty of the Purple Raiders, with nine D-III titles in 15 years) and Division II Grand Valley State coach Chuck Martin, who had undefeated national championship seasons in 2005 and 06.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Track Vaults Itself With A Signing

A quick track and field note.
Notre Dame picked up a pole vaulter Wednesday when Kevin Schipper chose to attend the South Bend school.
Schipper holds the school's pole vaulting record at 16 feet, 9 inches -- set last year in a second-place finish at the state meet.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

D.J. Fitzpatrick Gets A Job

Former Notre Dame kicker/punter D.J. Fitzpatrick has signed on as a punter with the Buffalo Bills.
He previously bounced around with the New York Jets and Berlin in NFL Europe. As an Irish side note, who would have thought when Fitzpatrick graduated he would have been the best kicker they've had in a bit. Not us.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Your Daily Bracket

With a few weeks left until Selection Sunday, we decided it's time to do bracket updates daily from around the bracketologosphere.
The Bracket Project moved the Irish to a composite No. 4 seed along with Connecticut, Indiana and Purdue (big line for the state).
Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline has Notre Dame as a No. 3 seed in the South with Purdue, Georgetown and Stanford. A potential Sweet 16 game with Mike Brey's former home, Duke, looms.
Dan The Man, also on CBS Sportsline, has the Irish as a No. 4 seed with Wisconsin, Drake and Vanderbilt.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Rivals Rankings Bumping Up Irish Players (And Brey)

Rivals.com does weekly (maybe bi-weekly) rankings of the Top 25 players at each position and head coach.
Not surprisingly, Notre Dame has players listed.
Head Coach: 1. Roy Williams, North Carolina; No. 13 Mike Brey, Notre Dame (and they have a funky green arrow meaning he's moving up).
Power Forward: 1. Michael Beasley, Kansas State; No. 5 Luke Harangody, Notre Dame.
Shooting Guard: 1. Eric Gordon, Indiana; No. 24 Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame (his first appearance on the Top 25)
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Zibby Does Well On The Bench

Former Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski tied for second among safeties in bench press reps (24) along with Army's Caleb Campbell at the NFL Combine.
No one should be surprised that an Army guy would be up there considering the rigid training regimen all military schools have.

Rotoworld.com is reporting Zibby ran 4.52 and 4.56 on his two 40-yard dash attempts. The fastest safety (and only safety) listed on NFL.com is Arizona State's Josh Barrett, who ran a 4.35 40.

We're hoping to find more results later today.
-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette