Irish want one last win
By JOE LINDSLEY
Sports Writer
A taxing regular reason is finally nearing completion for the Irish as they seek out one last chance to boost team morale before heading into an all-important Big East Championship an event that will likely determine whether or not No. 60 Notre Dame reaches the NCAA Tournament.
Today, playing at their outdoor homecourts for the first time all season, the Irish will host No. 69 Indiana State.
Notre Dame is coming off a 5-2 loss Sunday to a very strong and youthful Kentucky team, ranked 12th in the nation.
Although today's match is the last of the regular season, in a sense, the Irish want to view it as an embarking point.
"[Today] is a good start," junior tri-captain Luis Haddock said. "We still have the playoffs ahead of us. If we get a win tomorrow, it will be a good start [heading into] the playoffs."
Throughout the season, Notre Dame has struggled with close matches close matches that have, more often than not, resulted in a loss.
"We've been so close to really doing well but we haven't been able to cross that line," Haddock said. "We've done a little better at the end of the season, but we had such a bad start and that affected us."
Since spring break, the Irish have had some bright moments such as a 6-1 home victory over Big East foe Virginia Tech. They have also had grim days such as a 6-1 road loss to another conference rival, Miami. The loss to the Hurricanes came only a week after the triumph over the Hokies.
The win against Virginia Tech showed that the team has talent. What seems to have hurt the Irish, according to Haddock, was their 0-4 start the worst in program history.
"We've tried to put [the season's start] behind us, but it kind of set a tone," Haddock said. "When you start kind of scared [about] what's going to happen, and things do not go as well, it kind of sets a tone. We've been trying to overcome that, but it's been a little harder to make that happen."
According to Haddock, the team's struggles have involved issues of attitude rather than a lack of talent or stamina in this young Irish squad.
"We have been in the position [to win] many times, but we haven't been able to finish," he said. "We got into the position to play so we have the ability to be there. Since it happened so many times it kind of built up, and we lost a little confidence. I think that's what affected us."
Nevertheless, the Irish, in their close losses as well as their season highlights and individual achievements, have garnered many important lessons.
The continual desire to use lessons learned from past matches suggests that Notre Dame has not given into despair.
"I think we've grown a lot and I hope we can put it together with what's left in the season," Haddock said.
Additionally, Haddock believes this season can be critical for the young team come next season.
Like past year's, the Irish still have talent although it is less developed, particularly compared with last year's squad.
"Every match we've had has been so close, but we haven't been able to capitalize," Haddock said. "That's been the difference between this year and year's before."
Today will likely be a close match for Indiana State and Notre Dame. Haddock believes it is a crucial opportunity to gain "that little extra confidence we need" as they prepare for the Big East Championship in Coral Gables, Fla. April 25. That weekend, the Irish will once again face the Hurricanes and Hokies.
Because of their lower ranking, a win at the conference tournament is required for the team to enter into the NCAA Tournament.
And Notre Dame has not given up hopes of that yet, which is why their main goal in these next few weeks is clear: to win the Big East.
"If we use what we've learned throughout the season, then we will be in really good."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, April 15, 2003
