Ben Hansbrough

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - A two-year tour through the Southeastern Conference readied Notre Dame senior guard Ben Hansbrough for road life in the Big East. Handling the circus of Connecticut’s XL Center was doable after playing Kentucky in crazy Rupp Arena. South Florida’s Sun Dome was similar in size and scene to Florida’s O’Connell Center. There was no reason to fear Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati after listening to “Rocky Top” at Tennessee and Villanova’s cavernous Wachovia Center would seem a bandbox after the SEC tournament in the Georgia Dome.

Game ball tucked under his left arm and game face still on, Notre Dame senior captain Ben Hansbrough stalked up a Purcell Pavilion runway, made a quick left and disappeared into the locker room. Even after a magical Senior Night that no one in a gold uniform or in the sold-out crowd could have predicted, Hansbrough was all business after taking care of it Monday against No. 19 Villanova. Playing in front of the home fans for the last time, Hansbrough saved his best for last.

Each half of each Notre Dame men’s basketball game often starts with a similar and simple scenario — get senior captain Ty Nash a low-post touch, which helps loosen the defense and gets everyone into an offensive flow. But when handed a gift too tempting to resist, the Irish have to accept, even if it means they stray from that interior strategy. Such was the case Monday, when No. 19 Villanova continuously dared No. 8 Notre Dame to fire from the 3-point arc. The Irish, who don’t lean on the 3 as heavily as other conference colleagues, were happy to oblige.

Struggles in two specific areas that have been staples of success — scoring and ball security — have abandoned a squad on the verge of something special. Now that same team has slid into uncertain territory. Annually one of the most efficient men’s basketball teams in the Big East, Notre Dame has found points at a painful premium a third of the way through league play. Heading into Wednesday’s game against No. 25 Cincinnati, No. 16 Notre Dame (14-4 overall, 3-3 Big East)

SOUTH BEND __ When rhythm, confidence and accuracy bail, what's left? Hustle. Ben Hansbrough calls them "heart plays. " That's all Notre Dame's men's basketball team had going for it Saturday night. It was barely enough. Seton Hall did its best to give the game away. Air-balls here. Unforced turnovers there. Shooting 30 percent from the field. For the longest time, the ninth-ranked Irish were reluctant to assert themselves. Finally, it was Notre Dame's hustle and "heart plays" that allowed for a 60-48 escape from a Pirate ambush.

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Five senior starters each with a different college basketball story to tell have helped steer the No. 9 Notre Dame men’s team through a special regular season. But only one, who wears jersey No. 1, took the most direct career path. A large leg of that journey ends Monday against No. 15 Villanova (21-8 overall; 9-7 Big East) when captain Ty Nash plays his final home game. Unlike Senior Nights of seasons past, there is no guessing game as to whether more home games might remain.

NEW ORLEANS - There may be as many games and moments and memories of his college career filed away for reflection one day as there were career points (2,476) for Notre Dame All-American Luke Harangody. But three trips to the NCAA tournament, at least from a personal production standpoint, likely won’t be among the best of his reflective times. Bothered by early foul trouble and never able to find a flow within the Irish offense, Harangody scored four points with seven rebounds as No. 6 seed Notre Dame saw its season end Thursday with a 51-50 loss to No. 11 Old Dominion during first-round play in the South Regional at New Orleans Arena.