May 04--Two trips to the Elite Eight in the last two seasons has set the men's basketball bar higher in South Bend, Ind.
The Irish's run included two victories in 2014-15 against Duke, which went on to win the NCAA title that season, led by 2014 Mr. Basketball of Illinois Jahlil Okafor, a Young graduate.
In 2016-17, Notre Dame will face the 2015-16 champion, Villanova, at 11 a.m. Chicago time on Dec. 10 in the inaugural "Never Forget Tribute Classic," part of a doubleheader at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
"Taking on the defending national champion and a program of Villanova's caliber will be a great thrill and challenge for us early in the season," Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said.
The Irish will face 2015 Mr. Basketball of Illinois Jalen Brunson, a Stevenson graduate, and the Wildcats without Demetrius Jackson, who decided to forgo his senior season and enter the NBA draft.
Notre Dame's schedule won't be finalized until later this summer or early in the fall.
The doubleheader, which also features in-state rivals Pittsburgh and Penn State, will benefit the Families of Freedom Scholarship fund, which helps dependents of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
