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Notre Dame basketball: 3 reasons the Irish will beat Rutgers in the First Four

By Brad Weiss

Jan 26, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Cormac Ryan (5) reacts after an offensive foul call against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 26, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Cormac Ryan (5) reacts after an offensive foul call against the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the second half at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Notre Dame basketball
Feb 26, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish guard Prentiss Hubb (3) and guard Blake Wesley (0) chat on the bench in the second half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

The Notre Dame basketball team will play Rutgers in a First Four matchup as we kick off the 2022 Men’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.

When it comes to the 2021-22 Notre Dame basketball team, many felt they would have to participate in the play-in game for a chance to make it to the Field of 64. That became reality on Selection Sunday, as the Irish punched their ticket to their first NCAA Tournament since the 2016-17 season, but will have to take on Rutgers Wednesday night for a chance to play Alabama in first-round play.

It has been an exciting season for this basketball team, as the seniors have stepped up all season long. Blake Wesley has emerged as a legitimate NBA first-round prospect in his first season in South Bend, and there have been long stretches of success throughout.

Now, they turn their focus to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, a team that had solid success in 2021-22 as well, including becoming the first unranked team to beat four ranked teams in four straight games. They have playmakers, including Ron Harper Jr., who has led the team in scoring the last two seasons.

This has a chance to be an exciting matchup on Wednesday night inside the UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. Here, we look at three reasons why the Irish will win.