The Last Stop

So this is it. No matter where Notre Dame finds itself playing during the 2013-14 campaign, today marks the final day of regular season play in the BIG EAST as we’ve known it.

Maybe it’s appropriate that Pink played a concert at the KFC Yum! Center last night – raising a glass to send off one of the premier conferences in college basketball history.

Fittingly, this Saturday’s games include a pair of marquee rivalries – Syracuse travels to Georgetown, and the #24 Irish (23-7, 11-6) battle #8 Louisville (25-5, 13-4).

The Cardinals only joined the BIG EAST in 2005, but since then, the matchup has produced some absolute classics, with five of the past six games being decided in overtime – most notably the 5-OT epic, one month ago today at Purcell Pavilion.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino has called it arguably the biggest home game in his 12-year tenure at the school, and there’s a red-out planned in the 22,000-seat arena.

Position in next week’s BIG EAST tournament is on the line for Notre Dame, as a win and a Syracuse loss would clinch a double-bye for the third straight season.

It all tips off at 4 pm ET – and if the past is any indication, CBS should plan on extending its coverage past the typical two-hour time frame.

Remember 01/07/12 in this building? http://t.co/mMTJdqMsTZ—
Notre Dame MBB (@NDmbb) March 09, 2013

It's gameday in Louisville #GoIrish http://t.co/y3m82tWPwN—
FIDM (@NDfidm) March 09, 2013

Irish shoot around at Yum Center. ND Basketball Radio Network hits the air with the pregame show at 3:40 pm Eastern. http://t.co/w77TQChxcg—
Jack Nolan (@NDJackNolan) March 09, 2013