Notre Dame basketball: It is time for the Irish to start getting some respect
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame basketball team is one of the hottest in the country right now, but despite that, they are getting very little love in the rankings.
This past weekend, the Notre Dame basketball team went into a hostile environment and came away with a decisive win. The Irish traveled to Louisville to take on the Cardinals in a heated ACC matchup, and while the game was close early on, Notre Dame pulled away late, proving to be a much better team in the process.
Despite the win, which was their eighth in the last nine games, the Irish still cannot get any love when it comes to the top-25 rankings. While this was a solid win and one that can bolster their NCAA Tournament resume, they did not even receive votes in the latest rankings, which is a bit of a joke considering the teams they have beaten already this season.
Notre Dame basketball has a top-25 win over Kentucky, and North Carolina, who they also beat, is currently receiving votes to get into the top-25. Maybe it is the fact that the Irish have not been in the tournament in years, or that they struggled early on, but after this run, it is time to start giving them some respect.
Notre Dame basketball led by elite true freshman Blake Wesley
Not only are the Irish stacking wins, and doing it against some tough opposition, but they are also led by a headline-grabbing true freshman in Blake Wesley. His star power should be enough to bolster their resume a bit come tournament time, but they are going to have to start getting a sniff at the top-25 if they want to get an at-large bid.
Overall, the Irish have proven to be a balanced team, deadly from beyond the arc, and a team that plays extremely hard on the defensive side of the ball. We have seen these kinds of teams make runs in the NCAA Tournament, and with a few more key wins, including one at No. 6 Duke next week, they have to be considered one of the top-25 in the land.