F Zach Hillesland is a junior and probably wants to play as a starter but he's been proving for the last couple of years you don't have to start to contribute to a winning team. He's been solid on offense and rebounding, the 6-foot-9 Hillesbrand gives Coach Mike Brey an option. He's averaging five points and five rebounds a game, twice scoring in double figures and collecting five or more rebounds in 12 of 19 appearances.

PLAYER ROTATION
Usual Starters -- F Rob Kurz, F Ryan Ayers, C Luke Harangody, G Tory Jackson, G Kyle McAlarney. Key Subs -- F Zach Hillesland, F Luke Zeller.

GAME REVIEW

Notre Dame 91, Cincinnati 74

Georgetown 84, Notre Dame 65

Notre Dame 90, Villanova 80

GAME PREVIEW

Vs. Providence, Thursday, Jan. 31

Vs. DePaul, Saturday, Feb. 2

At Seton Hall, Wednesday, Feb. 6

Vs. Marquette, Saturday, Feb. 9

IN FOCUS
On Feb. 2, DePaul comes into the Joyce Center where the Fighting Irish have been unbeatable. If they defeat Providence on Jan. 31 they will have a 32-game streak going as they face the surprising Blue Demons. DePaul will have to find some inside and outside answers for G Kyle McAlarney and C Luke Harangody, who combined for 55 points at Villanova. They also offer a challenge to the Irish with the scoring of Draelon Burns, who is fifth in the conference while averaging 17.9 points a game, and freshman Dar Tucker, who comes off the bench and always brings an offensive spark with him. He is 20th in the Big East in scoring with 13.4 points a game.

ROSTER REPORT

--It isn't always all basketball for Notre Dame. Before losing to Georgetown in D.C., the team spent three emotional hours visiting Walter Reed Medical Center and visiting with wounded veterans. The idea came to coach Mike Brey after spending a week in May with the troops in Kuwait as part of Operation Hardwood IV.

"It's moving talking to these guys," G Kyle McAlarney told the South Bend Tribune. "It really humbles you. If I think I'm having a bad day, look at these guys. They can't even walk. They work every day to do things we take for granted."

--Coach Mike Brey considered making changes in his starting lineup against Villanova, but went with the same group that has started every game this year. The Irish have been mostly injury free, with only F Zach Hillesland (one game) and G Ty Profitt (four games) have missed any time at all.

--Included in Notre Dame's 31-game home winning streak is 12 consecutive conference wins, the longest they've had since joining the Big East 12 years ago.

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