Kyle McAlarney News

The Big East schedule maker certainly could have found a more palatable beginning to conference play than the one facing the Providence Friars Wednesday night.

Joey Meyer, who coached DePaul from 1984 to '97, now coaches the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the N.B.A. Development League.

Seven days are all that remain in this century's final year that ends with 0-something, but with the start of Big East play and Notre Dame's first true road trip coming quickly, little time is left next week for reflection.

Former Notre Dame basketball standouts Kyle McAlarney and Ruth Riley will host a hoops camp on Tuesday, December 22nd at the ICE Athletic Center in Mishawaka from 5 to 8pm.

Last Sunday, ESPNa s a oeOutside the Linesa aired a segment about the rapid decline of white American players in the NBA.

With the Big East closing fast in the rear-view mirror - league play for Notre Dame commences in 25 days - coach Mike Brey sneaks an occasional peek at his conference colleagues.

Wonder how much sympathy will be whipped up by ESPN's report this weekend on the dearth of white Americans in the NBA.

The traditional Mike Brey-coached Irish teams usually consist of the following, year in and year out: a high-scoring offense that lives or dies on the three-pointer, mediocre rebounding, minimal-to-average athleticism, and a glaring weakness on the defensive side of the basketball.

No one in the NBA D-League passed the basketball last year like Mad Ants point guard Walker Russell Jr.

Mad Ants 3.0 hits the shelves on Black Friday. Will it be a new-and-improved operating system or another up-and-down unit with a propensity for crashing at the worst times? Optimism reigns, as it always does when teams sport a clean slate.

Kyle McAlarney scored nine points and handed out three assists in his preseason debut with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

Mad Ants forward Rob Kurz passes the ball over teammate Dewitt Scott during practice Wednesday.

A summer weight room encounter between Notre Dame men's basketball coach Mike Brey and junior forward Tyrone Nash gave a glimpse into the building process the Irish are undergoing.

In the first two years of the Mad Ants' life, choosing players in the annual NBA Development League draft was pivotal to the team's success.

Mad Ants coach Joey Meyer reflected on his first draft with the team by suggesting it was time for the NBA D-League to innovate.

Former Notre Dame men's basketball players Ryan Ayers and Kyle McAlarney will reunite this month as members of the NBA's Development League's Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

At 6-foot-3, Ben Hansbrough doesn't have the same size or talent as his more famous 6-foot-9 older brother, Tyler, now a rookie with the Indiana Pacers.

When the D-League has its draft Thursday, don't be surprised if a player with Notre Dame ties ends up with the Mad Ants.

What does Notre Dame power forward Luke Harangody have in common with former college All-American, U.S. Olympian and NBA legend Patrick Ewing? Prior to Wednesday morning, not a whole heck of a lot would have been that answer.

Being interviewed? Not Luke Harangody's idea of a good time. Notre Dame's shaggy-headed superstar answers questions with all the enthusiasm of someone gearing up for a root canal.