Tag: Barclays Center

Notre Dame will face Auburn in first round of Legends Classic

Make your travel plans to New York.

When we wrote about Notre Dame releasing its 2023-24 nonconference schedule, we briefly mentioned the Legends Classic. We knew that the Irish would take part in this annual event, which they won in 2016, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. However, we didn’t know when the matchups for the event would be announced. It turns out we had to wait all of 24 hours.

The Irish have drawn Auburn as their first-round opponent in the Legends Classic. The other game will feature Oklahoma State and St. Bonaventure. However the first round plays out will determine who plays who in either the third-place game or the championship game.

The Tigers are a first-time opponent for the Irish and so would the Cowboys if they have the opportunity to play them. The Irish have won five of eight meetings with the Bonnies but lost to them last year in the Gotham Classic, which was held not far away in Long Island.

The Irish surely will be underdogs in at least the first game. In fact, they’ll be underdogs in almost every game this season. Hopefully, they take that as an opportunity to prove everyone wrong. It’s all they can do.

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Notre Dame to participate in 2023 Legends Classic

Pack your bags for Brooklyn.

If you still are stinging over Notre Dame’s loss to St. Bonaventure this season, a shot at revenge could come next season. The Irish and Bonnies are two of four teams that have been selected to take part in the 2023 Legends Classic at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Those two programs will be familiar with each other, but the Irish never have faced Auburn or Oklahoma State, the other participants in this tournament.

The Irish are no strangers to the Legends Classic. Their only previous appearance came when they won the whole thing in 2016 with [autotag]Matt Farrell[/autotag] earning tournament MVP honors. They originally were scheduled to take part in the COVID-revamped 2020 event, which became a showcase instead of a tournament, but they pulled out and were replaced by BYU.

With so many familiar names figuring to be gone a year from now, the Irish in the 2023 tournament will have a vastly different look from now. Whether that’s a good thing remains to be seen.

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Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

 

Blake Wesley shows off his fashion sense at NBA draft

We don’t usually comment about fashion on this site, but Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley was invited to the green room at the NBA draft.

We don’t usually comment about fashion on this site, but Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley was invited to the green room at the NBA draft, so we’ll make an exception. Therefore, we have no choice but to make an exception. While suits on draft night don’t quite draw the same interest as Oscar fashions, we’ve had quite a few memorable ones over the years (Joakim Noah anyone?). The good news for these players is sports reporters aren’t going to ask that famous question: “What are you wearing?”

Anyway, Wesley opted for a simple black tuxedo and walked into the Barclays Center wearing some nifty shades. Most importantly, he had a Notre Dame lapel on his jacket. Once the San Antonio Spurs drafted him, the whole world got to see what previously was highlighted only on the red carpet. One only can imagine what Adam Silver was thinking when he shook his hand.

Here’s Wesley’s night at the draft:

Blake Wesley invited to green room for NBA draft

Blake is in the big time now.

Fifty-eight names will be called during this year’s NBA draft, but only 22 of them will be at the Barclays Center to hear their name called. These young men represent what many feel will be the best in this year’s draft class. While results obviously aren’t guaranteed, the promise is there. Among those who will get to walk across the stage and put on his new team’s cap once his name is announced is Notre Dame’s [autotag]Blake Wesley[/autotag]:

It’s generally accepted that Wesley will be selected in the first round, but there are varying predictions as to when that will come. NBADraft.net currently has him as a late lottery pick, and Tankathon is projecting him to go later in the round. Whatever the case may be, Wesley will be in Brooklyn with his family for his big moment. While it would be nice for him to celebrate it in South Bend, who in their right mind would refuse the opportunity to go up on that stage?

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Tsai also forced out John Abbamondi, …

Tsai also forced out John Abbamondi, the CEO of Brooklyn Sports Entertainment (BSE), the parent company of the Nets and Barclays Center, who announced in February that he would leave at the end of the season. Tsai is now searching for his third top business executive in under three years. Though the Nets set records for attendance, ticket revenue and sponsorships under Abbamondi, Tsai’s huge investment led him to believe a good showing should have been great. The Taiwan-born billionaire felt Abbamondi was not innovative or data-driven enough, sources close to the situation told The Post.

Aaron Judge’s Saturday got more …

Aaron Judge’s Saturday got more eventful after a chaotic end to the Yankees’ afternoon win. Judge and his wife Samantha Bracksieck sat courtside at Barclays Center Saturday night for the Nets’ Game 3 loss to the Celtics, which put Boston up 3-0 in the first-round NBA playoff series. The couple, who got married in Hawaii in December, were seated next to “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah. Their night out in Brooklyn came hours after a walk-off hit by Gleyber Torres — who also attended the Nets game — which was overshadowed by a wild postgame scene in which fans seated beyond the outfield threw beers and trash at Guardians players. Judge was among the players who went out and tried to calm the fans down.

Ben Simmons to play in Game 4 vs. Celtics?

Game 4 on Monday may be Nets’ last of the season. It could also be Ben Simmons’ first. Nets coach Steve Nash was non-committal about Simmons being able to suit up Monday against the Celtics, but the young All-Star went through a third high-intensity contact workout on Saturday and seems on course for Game 4. That game will be do-or-die after the Nets lost Game 3 to the Celtics 109-103 at Barclays Center. “I think it’s possible [for Simmons to play]. But I’m not sure,” Nash said. “It’s not a normal return to play being out nine months and being injured as long as he has been. At the back end of this, it’s been about two months or more.

“It’s not just he got through three …

“It’s not just he got through three workouts and he’s ready to play. There’s a bigger picture, bigger context to how he’s feeling, and how he’d be able to adapt to the environment. There are a few factors that play here to evaluate when he’s ready to play.” Blake Griffin made his first appearance since April 2. He had eight points, one rebound and hit 2-for-3 from deep. “We all just need to take a look in the mirror and watch the tape and be real with ourselves and ask ourselves what we can do to be better, because it’s top to bottom,” Griffin said.