Ryan Ayers 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.

Ryan Ayers, son of former Ohio State and NBA coach Randy Ayers, grew up around the game.

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

Fear flooded the thoughts of Notre Dame senior point guard Tory Jackson in the second half of Sundaya s game against Central Florida.

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.

Fort Wayne Mad Ants and former Notre Dame players Ryan Ayers, left, and Rob Kurz battle for a rebound during a Mad Ants' practice last month.

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.

In recent years Notre Dame has had their share of sharp-shooters from behind the arc.

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.

Jumping into the abyss of college basketballa TMs regular season this week can be a daunting, and for some, haunting proposition.

The Jam were allocated a former lottery pick in the form of Bakersfield native Robert Swift, who was taken 12th overall by the Sonics in 2004 out of Bakersfield High School.

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.

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.

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.

Workers wearing hardhats and weary looks of another long day done still come and go from the place.

Head Coach : Mike Brey Previous Season : 21-16; lost to Penn St. in NIT semifinals Departures : G Kyle McAlarney, F Luke Zeller, G/F Zach Hillesland, G Ryan Ayers Coming of a disappointing year in which the Irish began the season ranked in the top 10, Mike Brey and Luke Harangody look to bring their program back to the tournament with some new ...

When I look ahead to a college basketball season, I am always intrigued by the impact of newcomers.