Notre Dame has got to get shooting guard Kyle McAlarney unwound from 3-point range. McAlarney had hit only 17 of his last 53 3-point field-goal tries through the Pitt game, which is about 30 percent for a shooter who was up as high as 44 percent earlier in the season.
PLAYER ROTATION
Usual starters -- F Zach Hillesland, F Luke Harangody, G Kyle McAlarney, G Tory Jackson, G Ryan Ayers. Key subs -- F Luke Zeller, G Jonathan Peoples, F Tyrone Nash.
GAME REVIEW
Connecticut 69, Notre Dame 61
Marquette 71, Notre Dame 64
Pittsburgh 93, Notre Dame 80
Cincinnati 93, Notre Dame 83
GAME PREVIEW
at UCLA, Saturday, Feb. 7
vs. Louisville, Thursday, Feb. 12
vs. South Florida, Sunday, Feb. 15
IN FOCUS
Life in the Big East gets a little easier for Notre Dame in the upcoming future, although they probably don't need a trip to the West Coast for a nonconference, nationally televised game against UCLA before coming home to entertain Louisville in a crucial game for the Irish. Notre Dame's national prestige has fallen greatly during a five-game losing streak to nationally ranked teams and only finding a win or two against top-line teams will bring it back, along with a decent seed in the NCAA Tournament. To beat Louisville, the Irish must beat the Cards' pressure defense and put pressure inside on freshman C Samardo Samuels with Luke Harangody.
ROSTER REPORT
--F Luke Harangody had his 11th straight double-double as he finished with 28 points and 14 rebounds. He has also scored in double figures in 14 consecutive games.
--F Zach Hillesland returned to the starting lineup and finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Hillesland had come off the bench in the previous two games after starting the first 18 games this season. He has scored a combined 23 points in the last two games after scoring 19 in the previous six games.
--G Jonathan Peoples failed to score in 13 minutes as he returned to the bench after starting the previous two games.
--Coach Mike Brey shook up his starting lineup against Marquette and Pitt, starting F Luke Zeller and G Jonathan Peoples in place of F Zach Hillesland and G Ryan Ayers. Zeller responded big time, hitting three of five against Marquette for eight points and scoring 18 points against Pitt on 6-for-9 shooting, all from 3-point range. Peoples scored eight against Marquette but had only three in 12 minutes against Pitt. Neither Hillesland nor Ayers scored against Marquette but the two reached double figures against Pitt, Hillesland with 12 points and Ayers with 10.
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