When No. 1 Villanova and No. 23 Notre Dame clash Saturday in New Jersey, it will be more than two undefeated teams facing off against each other. It will be a chance to remember college basketball as it should be.
Both teams are 9-0 and made up of veteran leaders who returned to play their junior and senior seasons. Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey wants everyone to celebrate this game like they would, say Duke.
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"I think Saturday's kind of neat where maybe the discussion can be around two teams with veterans back that have won, instead of a lottery pick freshman who maybe is hurt and may be back before Christmas. Or a lottery pick freshman who is going to get his butt beat," Brey told reporters. "We've got two teams that have won a lot the last two years and they are older-driven. I thin it's a refreshing story and I hope CBS runs with it."
Clearly, Brey is upset with all the chatter surrounding Duke freshman Harry Giles, who has yet to play a college basketball game. The highly rated freshman suffered torn ACLs in both his knees in high school but is set to play next weekend.
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Brey has a point. Villanova dominated the NCAA Tournament last season with a host of upperclassmen, and a majority of that team is still intact, which is why it is ranked No. 1.
Yet, ask a casual fan, and they may not be able to name one player on Villanova's roster. Those same fans might know Duke or Kentucky's entire team and have a pretty good idea where they will get drafted next summer.
Villanova-Notre Dame is quite possibly the biggest game so far this season, and it should be treated that way.