Notre Dame Basketball: The Newest Member of the Big East's Elite Class

The University of Notre Dame.

When the typical sports fan hears that title he usually thinks about the prestigious football team, Touchdown Jesus, etc. He certainly wouldn't think about the school's basketball team. He doesn't have an option now.

Generally, college basketball and sports fans may have no choice but to recognize the fact that Notre Dame basketball has made its way into the elite ranks of the heralded Big East Conference.

When head coach Mike Brey was hired in the summer of 2000, the program was devoid of an identity. The program hadn't achieved anything close to success since the end of the Digger Phelps era. Matt Doherty served a brief stint as head coach during the 1999-2000 season, but did not move the program in a positive direction.

That all changed with Brey.

In his inaugural season in 2001, he took his Fighting Irish squad to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1990. Since then, Brey has guided Notre Dame to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the Sweet 16 in 2003, his best season in South Bend to date. However, the current season may turn out to be the team's best since Brey's hire.

Making it to the NCAA Tournament is no longer an aspiration for this team—it's an expectation. Notre Dame fans should now be more concerned with winning a conference title and earning a low seed in the Big Dance.

Notre Dame is currently ranked eighth in USA Today/ESPN Poll and ninth in the Associated Press Poll.

This is the latest in a season that the Irish have been ranking in the top 10 of either poll. The team rocketed to eighth/ninth due to what is the one of the biggest wins in the program's history—a 56-51 triumph against No. 2 Pittsburgh at the Petersen Events Center. Pitt had won 51 of the last 52 overall games on its home floor. That game truly sent a message to the rest of the nation.

Notre Dame is for real.

If that one game isn't enough, then there's more to be said. Notre Dame is one of only two teams in the entire nation to have beaten three top 10 teams this season—69-55 versus No. 9 Georgetown, 73-70 versus No. 9 UConn and 56-51 at No. 2 Pitt—with the other being UConn.

Those victories speak for themselves.

Gone are the days of Notre Dame being in the middle of the pack in the Big East. Gone are the days when the team was intimidated by the likes of elite conference foes such as UConn, Syracuse and Georgetown.

Notre Dame should be recognized out of their conference as well. They are currently on the same level with teams such as Kansas, Texas, Pitt, UConn, etc. Notre Dame is now a member of that elite group.

All that's left now is a deep tournament run.