--Even a 6 a.m. practice couldn't wake Notre Dame up.

Coach Mike Brey had his team on the practice floor at 6 a.m. and changed his starting lineup but life in the Big East continued to remain miserable for the Fighting Irish, who have now lost six in a row.

Brey understands that things probably will get better for this senior-laden team that once was ranked as high as No. 7 in the nation.

"I still think we have a run left in us," he said before losing to Pitt.

The schedule gets easier -- it has to. But the pressure doesn't let up any.

Previously, Notre Dame was pushing for a high ranking and high seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now it is just pushing for a place in the NCAA Tournament.

After losing to Marquette and before losing a halftime lead in a loss to Pitt, guard Kyle McAlarney expressed the feelings of the team.

"Yeah, I mean, worried, angry, disappointed," McAlarney told the South Bend Tribune. "When you look at the rankings and see the standings, you definitely get worried, because we don't have anything right now, we don't have the next NCAA bid, but we're fighting for that right now. When you see the standings and you see our record, you know, you definitely feel a sense of worry."

Worrying never helped anything, however. Notre Dame has to get its swagger back and that will only come once McAlarney gets to scoring regularly again, his 3-pointers opening up things inside for Luke Harangody, who has remained the one bright spot through the losing streak.

--Notre Dame seemed to be coming out of its 3-point shooting slump when it went 11-for-22 in the first half against Pitt, but the Irish managed only one of five 3-point shots in the second half and was outscored badly, 54-35.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"It's not Cub Scouts. We signed up for the Big East, it's tough. I'm not holding any hands. Either grow up and deliver or don't play." -- Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, after losing to Marquette, then the fourth straight conference loss.

Copyright (C) 2009 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.