Notre Dame may be more renowned for its football, but it will remain football independent despite joining the ACC. But in its other marquee sport, a familiar face will be returning to the conference.
Former Duke basketball assistant coach and current Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey attended Wednesday’s press conference introducing Notre Dame to the ACC, tentatively scheduled to be in the 2015-2016 season because of its current contract with the Big East.
Brey was an assistant under Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski from 1987-1995 before accepting a head coaching position at Delaware. The Blue Devils won their first two national championships with Brey as an assistant in 1991 and 1992. Brey said he has remained in touch with Krzyzewski, and the two coaches have played against each other numerous times while Brey has been at Delaware and Notre Dame.
Duke played Delaware in the 1995-1996 season, Brey’s first year as a head coach. Brey said the game was a favor to him from Krzyzewski in order to give his new program a boost as the game was televised on ESPN2. The Blue Devils won the game 79-73 at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
“It’ll be nice to get them at our place because the last time I checked we win a lot of games at home,” Brey said. “It’s really cold up there in the winter, and we don’t shovel the snow. So when you come on up, we’re going to make it uncomfortable for you.”
Although the Fighting Irish are leaving the Big East, Brey expressed excitement that the school will encounter a number of familiar faces in the ACC. Syracuse and Pittsburgh announced they were joining the ACC last year, and each paid a $7.5 million buyout so they can begin to play in the 2013-2014 season.
When all three new members officially can play, the ACC will be a 15-team basketball conference, meaning the top four teams in the ACC tournament will receive a bye, league Commissioner John Swofford said.
“The Big East was the league that was watched the last couple years, and we all know it made everybody jealous,” Brey said. “[The ACC] is the league that’s going to be watched over the next couple years because of what’s coming in.”
Geographically, Brey said he is happy the team stayed in a conference on the east coast, as opposed to one such as the Big 12, because of team’s recruiting base and the level of competition they will get to face.
And, joining the ACC will help reignite Notre Dame’s rivalry with Boston College, Brey said.
“I grew up an ACC guy. I grew up going to University of Maryland basketball camp and going to Maryland games and eight years living in Durham,” Brey said. “I’ve always followed the league closely and maybe I’ve come full circle here for the stretch run.”
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