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Can Notre Dame Still Make The NCAA Tournament?

By Joshua Vowles

Jan 23, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Chad Holtz (15) enters the game in the second half against the Boston College Eagles at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 76-49. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Chad Holtz (15) enters the game in the second half against the Boston College Eagles at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 76-49. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Can the Notre Dame basketball team continue its winning ways, and make a case for the NCAA Tournament?

It wasn’t too long ago (a week ago) when most observers of the Notre Dame basketball team thought it would be a stretch for the Irish to get into the NCAA Tournament in March. A few bad losses and some uninspired play put this team in a bit of a hole.

That all changed in Durham, North Carolina when Notre Dame beat Duke 95-91 for the first time ever at Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was the second win in this current four game winning streak. This last win against Boston College 76-49, wasn’t impressive because of the 27 point margin of victory, as they beat these same Eagles by 28 points a little over two weeks ago. No, it was that they stayed consistent without Demetrius Jackson.

Jan 23, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Steve Vasturia (32) goes up for a shot as Boston College Eagles guard Jerome Robinson (1) defends in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 76-49. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Steve Vasturia (32) goes up for a shot as Boston College Eagles guard Jerome Robinson (1) defends in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Notre Dame won 76-49. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

Jackson went down within the first few minutes due to what was described as a “muscle sprain” that looked a lot like a hamstring.

Notre Dame has a real chance now to carve a decent spot for themselves in the NCAA Tournament. Looking ahead, the Irish have to go on the road to face Syracuse and then head home to play Wake a Forest. After that they play #15 Miami and #2 North Carolina on the road and at home respectively. If the Irish can at least go 3-1 they could probably split their last 6 games and still be in great shape as they would enter the ACC Tournament 20-9.

There is still a long way to go for Notre Dame and the status of Demetrius Jackson moving forward is still unknown. Despite all of that, a team that we once all wondered what seed they would get in the NIT still has a good shot to go dancing in March in the NCAA Tournament.

I’m good with that- for now.