The Notre Dame men’s basketball team had the weight of the world on it’s shoulders as the Irish took the court to face Butler with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.

But that was the last thing weighing on head coach Mike Brey’s mind. Hours before the Irish tipped off, Brey learned that his mother had died of a heart attack. Betty Brey was 84 years old.

“An unbelievable woman, a woman ahead of her time. I think she was definitely with us down the stretch,” Brey said after his Irish team held on to beat Butler 67-64 in overtime. “I don’t know if it’s really registered with me yet. It sure kept my mind off the game I’ll tell you that much. She was with me all the way tonight. It was kind of a tribute to her.”
Brey’s players rallied around him in support.

“I hope he knows this team is here for him,” senior Pat Connaughton said.  “Everyone criticizes him, but there’s not a better coach in the country.”

Notre Dame had been dismal in the NCAA tournament in recent years. The Irish had not advanced past the second game since 2003. But that drought ended early Sunday morning with the overtime win.

For 12 years, the questions and doubts mounted as to whether or not the Irish could get over that hump. But rather than succumb to that pressure, Brey’s team responded with a gritty, never-give-up performance. A reflection of how the team has played all season.

“We definitely feel it (pressure) a little bit. We played a little uptight, played not to lose. But it feels great now,” senior Jerian Grant said.
“We talk about winning games but doing it when we have to do it is special,” Connaughton said.

The Irish have come along way from last season’s 15-17 record. It has been a complete turn around. Notre Dame’s 31-5 mark represents the most wins for the school in the last 106 years. But the turn around is not just a matter of wins and loses, it is a complete change in the culture of the program.

When Grant returned from the academic suspension that kept him off campus, he could have transferred to another school. But, Grant chose to come back and claim ownership of the team. He stepped into a leadership role with fellow senior Connaughton at his side. The two held each other and their teammates accountable and they worked to put last season behind them.

“Pat and I wanted to make history, to leave a legacy at Notre Dame. This is not enough for us,” Grant said.
“We wanted to do things this program hasn’t done in a long time,” Connaughton added.

Next the Irish will face their toughest challenge of the tournament thus far as they take on the winner of the Witchita State and Kansas contest.

Notre Dame has not advanced past the regional semifinal since 1979, but the players say they aren’t worried about that.

“We are just so excited. This team is so special. We are really hungry and not even close to being satisfied,” sophomore Demetrius Jackson said.

“Why not do something special,” Grant added.

The Irish will have their chance to do something special Thursday in Cleveland.