Notre Dame No. 23 In Associated Press Hoops Poll

Notre Dame is No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the first time this season the Irish have been ranked.

The Irish are 8-0 entering Tuesday’s game against Fort Wayne (9 p.m., ESPNU), matching the best start in head coach Mike Brey’s 17 seasons.

Notre Dame is one of five Atlantic Coast Conference schools to be ranked in the poll: Duke (5), North Carolina (7), Louisville (11) and Virginia (14) are all ranked ahead of the Irish, the only unbeaten team among that group.

“We’ve tried to focus on just what we’re doing here,” senior guard Steve Vasturia said after Sunday’s 107-53 win over North Carolina A&T. “We’re not too concerned about (rankings). We’ve got a long way to go. It’s only December and we’re excited to continue to get better and continue to win.”

After playing Fort Wayne, the Irish get new No. 1-ranked Villanova on Saturday in Newark, N.J. The Wildcats (8-0) are the defending national champions.

Then on Dec. 17, Notre Dame plays No. 18 Purdue in Indianapolis in the Crossroads Classic.

ACC play begins Dec. 31 on the road against unranked Pittsburgh. Notre Dame’s ACC home opener is Jan. 4 against No. 11 Louisville.

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