NOTRE DAME HAS BRAND NEW GAME FOOTBALL TEAM NOT ONLY WINNER IN SOUTH BEND.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

One way to look at the West Regional is to view it like an SAT question - such as, which team doesn't belong in this group:

a) Arizona

b) Duke

c) Kansas

d) Notre Dame 

All of the above have national-championship trophies, the best coaches in the business and are a breeding ground for future pros. The difference is that for Notre Dame, it's all been in football.

While Arizona, Duke and Kansas have been to a total of 28 Final Fours - and have all visited in the past two years - the Fighting Irish haven't been to the Sweet 16 since 1987. Their last, and only, Final Four appearance was 25 years ago.

To do it again, No. 5-seeded Notre Dame (24-9) must get through top-seeded Arizona (27-3) at 4:30 p.m. today at the Pond, then on Saturday dispatch the survivor of No. 2 Kansas (27-7) vs. No. 3 Duke (26-6).

What are the Irish's chances?

``If we were playing them in football,'' Notre Dame guard Matt Carroll noted, ``we'd probably win that bet.''

If Notre Dame does indeed make it through, it will need Touchdown Jesus, the mosaic on the school's library, to become 3-Point Jesus.

The Irish - with Carroll, Dan Miller and Chris Thomas - are one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country. When they're on, as they were in hitting 13 3-pointers in a second-round upset of No. 4-seeded Illinois, they can beat anyone.

In fact, they've beaten four teams still left in the tournament - Texas, Marquette, Maryland and Pittsburgh.

``The three-ball is such a huge part of our offense,'' Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said. ``We want to shoot the ball and shoot it confidently, and I don't want anybody looking at the bench when they shoot. We need to play really well offensively to win.''

If the Irish do, they might even get some notice back in South Bend, Ind., where the football team is preparing to begin spring practice.

Irish eyes turn to basketball only ``the day after football season ends,'' sophomore forward Jordan Cornette said.

Brey, in his third season, has embraced the school's football heritage rather than run from it. He even dresses the part, preferring a mock turtleneck to the suit and ties that Hall of Famers Roy Williams, Lute Olson and Mike Krzyzewski will wear today.

It's the same outlook he had in five years at Delaware, a I-AA football power that he led to two NCAA Tournament appearances.

``I was at the I-AA Notre Dame,'' Brey said of Delaware. ``Building a basketball program in the midst of that, I always thought it was an advantage and it was at Delaware. No question the passion around our football program helps us. There's built-in juice that's really good and we've used it all three years.''

Brey, who was an assistant at Duke for eight seasons, also appreciates the differences at a school where basketball is not king.

``If you're getting your butt beat in December, nobody's watching cause they're watching your football team,'' Brey said. ``That's a good thing sometimes.

``We beat Maryland and Texas (in December) and it as BCS selection day and I don't think anybody knew what happened. I used to tell Tubby Raymond at Delaware, `can you keep 'em occupied until Nov. 20 until I figure this team out?' ''

Brey is having little trouble figuring out Notre Dame. This is its third consecutive 20-victory season and NCAA Tournament appearance under Brey, and, just as important, he is starting to attract elite players.

Thomas, the sophomore point guard, was Indiana's Mr. Basketball in high school, and freshman center Torin Francis, from suburban Boston, turned down Duke, North Carolina, Maryland and Florida among others. Both were McDonald's All-Americans.

``No question,'' Brey said of recruiting. ``The next wave of guys are much more open about us.''

Brey, like many of his players, seemed at ease Wednesday before taking the floor for a 45-minute workout. If they seem happy to be here, well, they are.

Despite climbing to as high as fifth in the polls after a 12-1 start, Notre Dame entered the NCAA Tournament having lost four of its last five. And but for a blown layup at the buzzer by Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Dylan Page, the Irish would have been bounced in the first round.

``Basically, this is a new season for us,'' Carroll said.

And, with a little more luck, some history of their own.

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey, left, and sophomore guard Chris Thomas are two victories from the school's second Final Four ever.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

Box:

IRISH vs. IRISH