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Notre Dame opens season looking to tie school record

Nov 16, 2008 - 7:05 AM USC Upstate (0-1) at No. 9 Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. EST

SOUTH BEND, Indiana (Ticker) -- Ninth-ranked Notre Dame looks to keep its home winning streak intact when it hosts USC Upstate in its season opener on Sunday.

The Fighting Irish have won 37 straight games at the Joyce Center and one more win would tie a school record. Notre Dame won 48 straight home games from December 11, 1943-February 9, 1948.

Notre Dame is highly ranked in regards to the national stage, but there are three teams above the Fighting Irish in the Big East Conference. Connecticut and Louisville are ranked second and third, respectively, while Pittsburgh is currently sixth.

The Fighting Irish return an experienced team after making the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.

The conference Player of the Year Luke Harangody is back after averaging 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds and Notre Dame has Kyle McAlarney and Tory Jackson returning to the backcourt.

USC Upstate, which is coming off a 7-23 campaign, should not pose much of a challenge for Notre Dame.

The Spartans from South Carolina lost their season opener on Friday, 72-48 setback at Georgia. Bobby Davis had 11 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.