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Notre Dame Basketball to Host 2018 Gotham Classic

By Jack Leniart

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 13: head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shouts instructions to his team against Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 13: head coach Mike Brey of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shouts instructions to his team against Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 13, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame basketball will play host to the 2018 Gotham Classic.

It was announced today that Notre Dame basketball will host the 2018 Gotham Classic, a five-team college basketball tournament played early in the regular season.

It’s not the tournament Purcell Pavilion deserves. It’s just the one it needs right now.

The Gotham Classic started back in 2012 and has been played every year since. Notre Dame played in the tournament in 2013. The Irish had a decent showing that year and split their four games – including a three-point loss to then No. 2 Ohio State.

Usually, the Gotham Classic is held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Ever heard of it?

Prior to today’s announcement, only one other venue has hosted this tournament during its six-year span. That venue was the Mullins Center in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Who Will Play in the Tournament?

The other teams that will be competing in the 2018 Gotham Classic are: University of Illinois Chicago, Radford, William & Mary, and Duquesne. The schedule of Notre Dame’s games was released with the announcement on the Notre Dame Athletics site.

The other teams in the tournament aren’t names that will blow you away, but they aren’t pushovers either.

Radford won twenty three games last season and earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament after winning its conference tournament. UIC won twenty games last season for the first time in over a decade and they’re close enough in proximity to possibly get some second-hand magic from Loyola-Chicago.

William & Mary won nineteen games last season. Duquesne was a meek 16-16 last season, but they boast a 5-2 record against Notre Dame all-time.

This sets up well for the Irish to get some early season wins at home. After losing leaders like Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell, this upcoming season will be a bit of a rebuild. Mike Brey is not one to shy away from a challenge like that. Also, an impressive incoming recruiting class has the staff and fans hopeful for the future.

I’m very much looking forward to watching these games in November. Bonus points if the people in charge of gameday experience use lighting, sound, and/or the jumbo-tron to make Batman references.

Next: Top 10 Former Notre Dame Players in the NFL

Here’s an idea. Dim all the lights. Shine a spotlight on Mike Brey at center court wearing a Bane mask. Have him say, “You think darkness is your ally? You merely adopted it. I was born in it – molded by it.” Then turn on all the lights and start the game like nothing happened.