Mike Brey

SOUTH BEND -- Nervous energy necessitated that Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick remained on the move during men's basketball home games. Swarbrick would spend a slice of time seated in the lower arena before moving to pace in the tunnel that leads to the Irish locker room. He could be spotted in the second half high above the floor in the plush Club Naimoli, where he would watch from a safe and solitary distance. Regardless of the vantage point, Swarbrick likes what he's seen this season, even if a seemingly growing number of Irish fans don't share that sentiment.

There are many great coaches in college basketball, but I firmly believe, there's no better fit than Mike Brey at Notre Dame. He's inherited a team in the BIG EAST cellar in 2000, and turned them into a program to be reckoned with.  For that reason, he's been honored as the BIG EAST coach of the year THREE TIMES, and the 2011 NATIONAL coach of the year.  Brey is the third winningest active coach in the BIG EAST, trailing only two hall of famers (Jim Calhoun & Jim Boeheim)

SOUTH BEND - Notre Dame power forward Luke Harangody was ready to return to the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against No. 12 Pittsburgh. His right knee had other ideas on Monday. Harangody's first full day of practice since suffering a bone bruise on Feb. 11 didn't go as planned. With more persistent pain than expected, Harangody has been ruled out for the immediate future. Irish coach Mike Brey, speaking on his weekly radio show, said he didn't know when the All-American would return.

SOUTH BEND - Best-case scenario for Notre Dame senior captain Carleton Scott to return from a slight tear in his left hamstring was expected to be early February. That timetable may be accelerated, and Scott could return a lot sooner for the No. 16 Irish, in time for Wednesday's game against No. 25 Cincinnati. Scott, who has missed the last four games after being injured in the second half of the New Year's Day game against No. 3 Syracuse, was dressed in his home uniform and going through pre-game drills, the first time that's happened since his injury.

Notre Dame's best player is lost for the season. 5th year senior co-captain Tim Abromaitis suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during practice on Friday morning, November 25 and will miss the remainder of the 2011-12 campaign. Abromaitis had played in two games and was averaging 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds this season, after sitting out the first four games due to an NCAA violation. “Tim Abromaitis is one of the great stories in college athletics and represents everything that is good about college basketball,” Irish head coach Mike Brey says.  “We are all disappointed for Tim because of all that he has meant to our program.  He has been such a big part of our success over the past three seasons.  Tim is such a special young man and an unbelievable representative of Notre Dame both on and off the basketball court.” Abromaitis has 1137 career points, palcing him in the top 40 in school history in scoring, in just over three season.  His 160 three pointers entering the season are the 10th best career mark in Notre Dame hisotry.

MISHAWAKA - Demetrius Jackson of Marian High School joined the ranks of high school basketball's elite today with his selection to the 2013 McDonald's All American Boys Team. Jackson now joins an impressive list of players who have played in the McDonald's All American Games including: Magic Johnson , Michael Jordan , Alonzo Mourning , LeBron James and Derrick Rose .  “It's crazy.  It's really surreal", Jackson says about the honor. "All of the NBA greats, all the people you see now on TV in the NBA were most likely  Mcdonald's All-Americans.  To have my name on the same list as that?

SOUTH BEND - Here's something that will put a smile on the faces of Irish fans after the brutal loss to Alabama. The Notre Dame men's basketball team is auctioning off sports memorabilia to help people in New Jersey affected by Hurricane Sandy. Uniforms worn during the Kentucky game, an actual game ball, tickets for courtside seats to the Notre Dame-Georgetown game are on the block. "They're all priceless," said Assistant Athletics Director Josh Berlo. And they could be yours!

SOUTH BEND - Tyrone Nash is enjoying life as a starter in the Big East. "It's fun out there" Nash admits. "We're all having fun, smiling. It's just fun out there. " It's fun because the Irish are off to a great start. 3-1 in league play. And it's fun, because Nash is an integral part of his team's success. "I try to complement Luke (Harangody) and my teammates as best as I can. Those other guys on the court make my job easier. All I have to do in convert and finish. " Nash has started in all 17 Notre Dame games this season, and the progression is evident.

Two days away from the Notre Dame men’s basketball program to figure where and maybe even if he fit apparently were enough for junior forward Carleton Scott. Scott, who left the team Friday on an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons, practiced Monday afternoon. “I think we’re all ready to move forward,” Irish coach Mike Brey said on his weekly radio show Monday evening. “Sometimes you just need to step back from the fire a little bit.” Scott was not made available for comment.

His college career ended nine days ago in an NCAA tournament third-round loss to Florida State, but former Notre Dame guard Ben Hansbrough continues to reap the rewards of a storybook senior season. Hansbrough - who helped drive the Irish to a 27-7 mark, a school record 14 Big East wins and a Top 10 national ranking - was named Monday a second team All-American by the Associated Press. Hansbrough was joined on the second team by Kawhi Leonard (San Diego State), Marcus Morris (Kansas)