One Last Prep

The best way to preview Notre Dame’s game at South Florida tonight is to try to breakdown exactly what the game means to the Irish.

The first-round bye in the Big East Tournament is already secured for next week and a spot in the NCAA Tournament is a lock, but there is still plenty to play for.

Ask the Irish players, and tonight is about winning the regular-season finale and keeping momentum high before they open the league tournament play next Thursday. Ask some of the Notre Dame fans, and today is about revenge. South Florida may have hurt Notre Dame’s NCAA Tournament seeding last season when the Bulls knocked off the Irish for one of only three conference wins USF enjoyed.

But maybe more important than momentum or revenge is seeding, for both the Big East and NCAA Tournaments.

Here’s what we do know.

If Notre Dame wins or Connecticut loses to Cincinnati tonight, the Irish will secure the No. 3 seed in the Big East Tournament and open play at 9 p.m. Thursday.

The Irish will play the winner of the No. 11 seed vs. the No. 6 seed game Wednesday at 9 p.m.

Exactly which two teams will be in that 6-11 feeder game remains fluid but should become clearer after Big East games tonight. If Marquette beats Syracuse today, West Virginia would be the No. 6 seed. If Syracuse wins, Marquette would slip to the No. 6 slot.

Either West Virginia or Marquette will play Wednesday night against the No. 11 seed, which currently is Seton Hall. The Pirates host Rutgers Sunday with a chance to secure at least a No. 11 seed.

All that sounds great but if Notre Dame loses and Connecticut wins tonight, Notre Dame slips to the No. 4 seed and will open play at 2 p.m. on Thursday, against the winner of the No. 5 vs. No. 12 seed game.

Confused yet? Things should be much clearer at about 9 p.m. tonight and will be settled after the final two games Sunday.

As far as the NCAA Tournament, Notre Dame seems to have a pretty firm hold on a No. 4 seed. Of course, a loss tonight coupled with a quick exit in the conference tournament could drop the Irish to a No. 5 seed. Win tonight and win a couple of league tourney games, and maybe a No. 3 seed becomes a possibility.