SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Notre Dame was up by seven with 21 seconds to play against Marquette in the Big East tournament when Eric Atkins shot an air ball from the free-throw line. Coach Mike Brey laughed hard as Atkins got ready for the second shot, and then began shouting, "Bank it. Bank it."

A smiling Atkins hit nothing but net on the next try. Brey has a way of making his players feel at ease, a manner that has helped the Fighting Irish post seven straight seasons of at least 20 wins for the first time in Notre Dame history. But it hasn't led to a lot of success in recent years in the NCAA tournament, where the Irish have just two wins in their last five trips.

Brey blames himself, particularly for last season, when the Irish squandered a 10-point lead in the second half against Xavier.