Yahoo Movies With Kentucky basketball coming to town, Notre Dame is ‘working through some doubt’
In terms of scheduling and momentum, Kentucky and Notre Dame will go into Saturday’s game as polar opposites.
Of course, Kentucky is riding a seven-game winning streak with each game played in Rupp Arena against opponents that led stats savant Ken Pomeroy to rank UK’s schedule 355th toughest among 358 Division I teams as of Thursday morning.
By contrast, Notre Dame has lost its last three games and hasn’t played at home since beating Tubby Smith-coached High Point on Nov. 16. Twenty-five days between home games is the longest such span for Notre Dame since the 1993-94 season.
Pomeroy ranks Notre Dame’s schedule as the 45th toughest.
“Our schedule has been different than Kentucky’s, let me put it that way,” Notre Dame Coach Mike Brey said. “No disrespect.
“In a perfect world, you’d love to have a little more control to get a team confident, as Kentucky’s doing successfully.”
After beating High Point 70-61, Notre Dame played in the Maui Invitational, which was moved to Las Vegas this season, then lost at Illinois in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, then opened Atlantic Coast Conference play by losing at Boston College last Friday.
“When we got back Friday night, it felt like we’d been on the road for a month,” Brey said. “And we kind of had almost.
“Maybe not the most strategic schedule. But here’s what we got, and let’s go.”
With Notre Dame’s record at 3-4, Brey spoke of his players needing a confidence boost.
“You’re trying to work through some doubt and looking over your shoulder . . . ,” he said. “I just feel we’ve not been able to find a rhythm for 40 minutes offensively.”
After Kentucky beat Southern on Tuesday, John Calipari spoke of the “gauntlet” ahead, meaning upcoming games against Notre Dame, Ohio State (Dec. 18) and Louisville (Dec. 22).
The UK coach spoke of a challenging atmosphere at Notre Dame in his team’s first game on an opponent’s home court.
“I just heard Notre Dame’s recruiting football weekend, the big one, it’s going to be a party and a celebration,” Calipari said. “And here comes Kentucky to town. That will just amp it up about 20 times.
“And I’ll tell you, let’s go because it’s going to be a physical, energetic, engaged game, hopefully by both teams. I know Notre Dame will play like that.”
Brey said only a couple hundred tickets remained available for the game in Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion (capacity 9,149).
Notre Dame plans to introduce new football coach Marcus Freeman at some point during the game. And at halftime, former Irish standout LaPhonso Ellis’ name will be added to the Purcell Pavilion’s Ring of Honor.
About 100 football recruits are expected to be on campus this coming weekend.
“So, there’s a lot of reasons for a buzz . . . ,” Brey said. “It’ll be a really good atmosphere, and I”m banking on that helping our guys. We could use that. We’ve been on the road, and I’ll tell you, it’s been shocking.”
That was a reference to crowds attending games again after coronavirus restrictions limiting attendance last season. That included Notre Dame’s 64-63 victory at Kentucky.
“The weirdest game ever,” Brey said. “To play in Rupp Arena and steal a win and be able to hear a pin drop. That was the weirdest damn thing I’ve ever seen.”
Saturday will find Notre Dame trying to bounce back from a demoralizing loss at Boston College.
“We’re certainly searching,” Brey said. “It’s great to play (Kentucky). . . . There will be some nice energy in the building on Saturday. But we could use some early success to kind of feel good about ourselves.”
Saturday
No. 10 Kentucky at Notre Dame
When: 5:15 p.m.
TV: ESPN
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Kentucky 7-1, Notre Dame 3-4
Series: Kentucky leads 43-20
Last meeting: Notre Dame won 64-63 on Dec. 12, 2020, in Lexington.
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Here’s what John Calipari had to say after Kentucky’s sluggish victory over Southern
