Tag: grotto

Watch: ESPN interview with Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey

The Irish are lucky to have her.

[autotag]Niele Ivey[/autotag] is in her fourth season as Notre Dame’s women’s basketball coach, and she’s done pretty well. After going 10-10 in her first season, she led the Irish to back-to-back Sweet 16s. This year, she has the Irish off to a 9-2 start. All of this and more is covered in this new interview with the ESPN-owned Andscape:

This is about as complete an interview with Ivey as you’ll see anywhere. Touching on her playing days, coaching career, her key players and her son Jaden, she comes across as someone who means everything she says and doesn’t need to show off for the cameras. The fact that the interview ends with her at the Grotto speaks volumes about her.

While the interview doesn’t go overboard on the details, it leaves you feeling like you really know Ivey. You could have this conversation with her off the record and come away just as satisfied. One only can imagine what she’ll do as her coaching career goes on.

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John Calipari Takes in Notre Dame/Detroit Mercy

I see Calipari at Notre Dame and immediately have flashbacks to the close-call that was the 2015 Midwest Regional

There was an all-time college sports heel in attendance last night when Notre Dame’s basketball team got back in the win column after beating Detroit Mercy, 110-71.

Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari and his wife made the trip north from Lexington to take in the game, specifically to see their son Brad play and score 12 points for Mercy.

Calipari and Digger Phelps – I can only imagine those conversations.

I see Calipari at Notre Dame and immediately have flashbacks to the close-call that was the 2015 Midwest Regional final that the Irish lost in the closing seconds despite leading most the night and were that-close to ruining Kentucky’s perfect season.

Instead Wisconsin did so in the Final Four a round later.

Whatever the case at least Notre Dame handled business in a game against an inferior opponent. Hopefully last night breathes some air back into the lungs of a team that has looked largely dead the last week as a good showing against UCLA Saturday would be welcome.