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Notre Dame basketball: Irish playing in the First Four of March Madness?

By Brad Weiss

Feb 23, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Blake Wesley (0) goes up for a shot over Syracuse Orange guard Joseph Girard III (11) in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Blake Wesley (0) goes up for a shot over Syracuse Orange guard Joseph Girard III (11) in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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In the latest bracketology over at CBS Sports, they have the Notre Dame basketball team having to play in the First Four to get into the Big Dance.

The Notre Dame basketball team played so well this past regular season that they were able to lock down the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament. Unfortunately, they would be one-and-done in the tournament, as Virginia Tech, who beat them during the regular season, were able to take care of business in the quarterfinal round.

Now, the Irish have to sit back and wait to see if they will get into the Big Dance, as Selection Sunday for the 2022 NCAA Tournament will be held tomorrow. Notre Dame basketball has a solid roster going into the postseason, but losing in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament could do some damage as to where they end up when all is said and done.

Most believe they will be a tournament team, but one publication currently has them playing for their lives in the tournament’s First Four.

CBS Sports has Notre Dame Basketball in the First Four

Over at CBS Sports, the media publication has the Irish playing as a No. 12 seed in the First Four, taking on BYU to get a chance to make the final 64-team bracket. That is a bit much considering how good this Irish team has been all season long, but they did not do themselves any favors by bowing out after one game in the ACC Tournament.

BYU has the same 22-10 record as the Irish going into the NCAA Tournament, so it would make for an exciting matchup. The issue is that this Notre Dame basketball team would be playing another game just to make it to the dance, making their road to a possible run in the tournament that much harder.

They have had their backs against the wall for much of the season, and have really outplayed most of the preseason expectations. Nobody expected them to earn the No. 2 seed in the ACC Tournament, and on Sunday, I believe they will exceed expectations once again, clinching a spot in the tournament without having to utilize a play-in game.