[Lefty Noob]

Well, the Irish didn't make the NCAA Tournament this season, but they will be headed for the NIT.

Colin Burns of Scout.com writes the following.

There wasn't much suspense to Selection Sunday for the Notre Dame men's basketball team. The National Invitational Tournament was the only destination for the Irish after the team compiled a 15-13 record this season that concluded with a loss to Georgetown in the Big East Tournament. The only question to be answered would be if Notre Dame would host a game.

The answer: yes. The NIT pairings were announced Sunday night, hours after the brackets for the NCAA Tournament were revealed. The Irish will host the Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday night at the Joyce Center. This is the third straight year that Notre Dame and head coach Mike Brey's squad has participated in this tournament. The Irish are seeded fourth in the Michigan bracket. The Wolverines are seeded first in this section and are the likely second round foe for Notre Dame.

How does everyone like their chances in the 2006 NIT? Can the Irish win it?

[Lefty Noob]

First round win for the Irish, 79-69 over Vanderbilt. Notre Dame got 23 points and 11 rebounds from Torin Francis, and Chris Quinn and Colin Falls each added 15. This puts the Fighting Irish one step closer to an NIT title. Next up is Michigan.

[Who Dey]

and after Michigan... A short flight home to South Bend... And a long off season of "What went wrong?"