Fighting Irish End Year Inside the Top 20

After the final buzzer was sounded last night in San Antonio, so too was the college basketball season for 2007-2008. Although things didn't end up where most Irish fans would have liked, Notre Dame finished the year inside the Top 20 at 19 in the final ESPN/USAToday Coaches Poll. Not too many, including myself, would have predicted the Irish to finish in the Top 20 at the end of the season or have an All-American in Luke Harangody. They did, and will have some big epectations to fill for the 2008-2009 season!

For the season, Notre Dame ended up near the top in most NCAA categories as a team and individually:

Scoring Offense - 20th (79.0)
Scoring Margin - 29th (9.4)
FG % Defense - 50th (41.1)
3pt. FG's per game - 35th (8.3)
3pt. FG % - 7th (40.5)
Free Throw % - 38th (73.8)
Rebound Margin - 23rd (5.7)
Assists per game - 1st (18.4)
Won/Loss % - 26th (75.8)
Personal Fouls per game - 8th (15.1)
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio - 4th (1.42)

Points per game - 30th Harangody (20.4)
3pt. FG per game - 23rd Kyle McAlarney (3.3)
3pt. FG % - 21st McAlarney (44.1)
Free Throw % - 39th Rob Kurz (85.3)
Rebounds per game - 12th Harangody (10.6)
Assists per game - 25th Tory Jackson (5.8)

1. Kansas 37-3
2. Memphis 38-2
3. North Carolina 36-3
4. UCLA 35-4
5. Texas 31-7
6. Louisville 27-9
7. Tennessee 31-5
8. Xavier 30-7
9. Davidson 29-7
10. Wisconsin 31-5
11. Stanford 28-8
12. Georgetown 28-6
13. Michigan State
14. Butler 30-4
15. Washington State 26-9
16. Duke 28-6
17. West Virginia 26-11
18. Pittsburgh 27-10
19. Notre Dame 25-8
20. Purdue 25-9
21. Marquette 25-10
22. Western Kentucky 29-7
23. Drake 28-5
24. Villanova 22-13
25. Vanderbilt 26-8

With four starters returning, including Big East Player of the Year Harangody, and fellow First Team All-Big East McAlarney, the Irish could be a possible preseason Top 10! Notre Dame will be tested early and often with some possible big time matchups at the EA Sports Maui Invitational in November and another tough Big East conference slate.

Next season could be the year for the Irish to make a serious tournament run. Brey's boys could bring some more Cheer, Cheer, for Old Notre Dame!