DePaul-ND Post-Game Notes

When Ryan Ayers was shuttled to the bench from his starting role earlier this season, it would have been tempting to think he'd go into a funk as he acclimated to his new role.
Instead, the junior from Blue Bell, Pa., continues to play with consistency -- and as more of a scoring presence. While he barely missed reaching his third consecutive double-digit game during Notre Dame's 98-91 win over DePaul on Sunday, he continued to show his shooting touch and admits he's finally becoming more settled in his new role. He scored nine points against the Blue Demons -- including a perfect 3 of 3 on three-pointers -- following a 17-point game against Louisville and 10 points in a win over Syracuse.
"As a shooter, you can feel it when it's comin'," Ayers said. "My teammates were able to find me the ball today and I've been in a good rhythm and keep working hard to find my shot and keep being aggressive.
"As a player, you never want to be comfortable on the bench but I want to do my role at its best. I feel that lately I've been doing that, coming in, making my shots and making key plays."

On Byes And Wins
Sunday ended up being an important day for Notre Dame in terms of the Big East tournament and its program history.
Thanks to Marquette's loss to Georgetown on Saturday, the Irish's win clinched a Big East tournament bye for the second straight season.
"Huge," junior forward Zach Hillesland said. "This league is so big and talented, to get a bye two years in a row is a great accomplishment and we're certainly proud of it. It's a big thing for the Big East tournament to not have to play the first day when everyone gets there.
"So certainly we're going to use that to our advantage and we're happy to secure that this early."
Plus, Sunday marked the first time in Notre Dame history the Irish have reached 12 Big East wins. Twice before, Notre Dame has had 11 wins -- Notre Dame coach Mike Brey's first season in 2000-01 and last year.
Considering the Irish moved from a 16-game to 18-game schedule, even Brey wasn't positive if he team could reach 12 wins. Yet it managed 12 wins in 16 games this year.
"I didn't know if we could," Brey said. "I'm really happy and we did it in a 16-game schedule. We didn't need the extra games to get to it. That's a record for us.
"Before the season, no. Feb. 1, yes, because we were showing signs that we could be special and have some special qualities about us. We started talking about playing for a bye Feb. 1 because you felt that was a realistic thing to talk about."
Now, a month and a day later, it has become a reality.

Sit Then Stand Out
Senior forward Rob Kurz was in a bit of disbelief. It was a few minutes into the game and he had airballed a shot. From three feet.
"I don't think I've ever done that in my life," Kurz said. "It was like 'OK, I'll flush it. It's done. There's 35 minutes of game left.' "
Brey pulled him quickly and it refocused Kurz, who finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
It was a much better ending for Kurz this season in AllState Arena after he missed a potential game-winning shot last season in Rosemont, Ill.

This and that
Notre Dame sophomore forward Luke Harangody sat the final 3:37 of the game because the Irish switched to their three-point defense, which often entails chasing shooters around the floor. Brey said he felt Kurz and Hillesland were better equipped to handle that. ... Spotted in the stands a few rows up behind the Notre Dame bench was a rare sight -- love for a walk-on. A girl in a light blue shirt was wearing an "I Heart Kopko" shirt, with the heart being an actual heart. Kopko is Irish freshman walk-on Tom Kopko, who is from Chicago.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Doc Wagner]

Mike, I haven't seen an explanation as to why ND has clinched a bye over Marquette in the Big East, even though both could finish with the same record and split during the season.

Thanks, I enjoy your coverage of ND sports.

[goirish]

also, does anyone know what the tiebreaker with Uconn will be? if both teams finish 14-4, who gets the 3rd seed, since the teams split the regular season meetings

[Brian]

Here's a great link that will explain the tie breaker rules for the Big East Tournament seeding.

http://www.bigeast.org/fls/19400/pdfs/mensbball/tiebreaker07.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=19400&KEY=&SPID=11228&SPSID=94715

[Michael Rothstein]

Doc, Go:
We got an explanation from John Paquette, which we posted as its own post since we figured others would have this question, too.
Hope it helps.