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Blue Hens welcome former coach and top 10 opponent to Newark

The University of Delaware men’s hoop team hosts a top 10 opponent – and a familiar face this weekend.

The Blue Hens welcome 9th ranked Notre Dame and former UD coach Mike Brey to the Carpenter Center Saturday.

The Irish are the highest ranked team ever to visit the Bob and only the 4th top 10 squad ever to come to Newark.  The last was 10th ranked St. Joe’s in December 2003. 3rd ranked Virginia came to the Delaware Field House in 1981 and 6th ranked Temple called on the Carpenter Sports Building in 1956.

And Notre Dame’s visit brings Brey back to his old Newark stomping grounds.  He coach UD from 1995 to 2000, and led the Hens to NCAA tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999.

Brey will face his protégé, current Hen coach Martin Inglesby.  Inglesby played for Brey in Brey’s first year in South Bend and then spent 13 seasons on his coaching staff, helping the Irish make two Elite Eight appearances.

Saturday’s 7 p.m. tip off is sold out,  the UD men’s first sell-out since that 2003 contest with Saint Joe’s.  Delaware is 4-5 and trying to end a 3 game losing streak.  Notre Dame is 7-2 and coming off an upset loss at home to Ball State.

Tom Byrne has been a fixture covering news in Delaware for three decades. He joined Delaware Public Media in 2010 as our first news director and has guided the news team ever since. When he's not covering the news, he can be found reading history or pursuing his love of all things athletic.