Wichtig » when Essexs James Foster plinked down the groun

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- An early part of a college basketball season that had the making of something special for No. 25 Notre Dame has slipped sideways.Nine days ago, Notre Dame was undefeated and rolling. Two games later, the Irish have lost consecutive games in December for the first time since 2003.How will Notre Dame (9-2) respond from Saturdays 86-81 loss to No. 15 Purdue in the sixth-annual Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis? Seemingly rolling toward its 10th win, Notre Dame let a 17-point lead slip away with as sluggish a second half as the first was solid.This after an 11-point lead evaporated the previous Saturday in an eight-point loss to top-ranked Villanova. Both second halves exposed the Irish interior defense. The other ranked teams simply were tougher, stronger and quicker to loose balls, to missed shots.The Irish were outhustled and failed to grab a win when a win was there to grab.There wasnt much fight to the Irish. A veteran team should be beyond the funks that saw two seniors -- two captains -- in V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia -- go scoreless in the second half Saturday.The first nine games were rather stress-free and fun. That likely was not the case Sunday when the Irish worked their way through snow and wind outside for what promised to be an interesting afternoon inside heading into Mondays game against Colgate (2-9).Notre Dame was not in a happy place following the Villanova loss. After Saturday, that mad meter moved further in the wrong direction.Were definitely even more (ticked) than we were after Villanova, said junior power forward Martinas Geben, who had one of his best games as a collegiate Saturday after going for a season-high nine points with six rebounds and a career-best three assists in a season-best 22 minutes. Weve shown that we can win tough games. Now we just need to execute down the stretch against other teams.Time to look in the mirror. Maybe point a finger or two. Its bound to be a bit unpleasant the next two weeks as Notre Dame works toward the start of Atlantic Coast Conference play, closing quickly on New Years Eve at Pittsburgh.Who are we going to be as a team? wondered junior captain Bonzie Colson. Im tired of saying its a learning experience, but we just gotta toughen up and battle a little bit more and see who were going to be right now.Right now, nobody really knows. The Irish dont. Coach Mike Brey doesnt. He wondered late Saturday afternoon back in Indianapolis what button might be the next to push.How can a team that looked so good, so fluid, so together in the first halves of its two biggest games look so uncertain, so lost in the second half?We got comfortable at halftime, just like the Villanova game, said junior guard Matt Farrell, coming off career highs for points (22) and assists (10) for his first career double-double. We cant get comfortable, man. You just gotta want it more.Weve got to take peoples hearts.Notre Dame is 0-2 against ranked teams. Breys fine with that -- for now.Were not in the league of the two high-level teams weve played, Brey admitted. Weve got a nice team. I love our team.But ... were not in their league right now.Cheap Nike Sb Online .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. Discount Nike Sb Shoes . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.cheapnikesb.us/ . Kuznetsov, who was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, has been playing for his hometown team Chelyabinsk Traktor of the KHL. Cheap Nike Sb China . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. Cheap Nike Sb Sale . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate.Rikki Clarke took a blinding catch for Capricorn Commanders in the Masters Champions T20 - during an over filled with action.The former England all-rounder made tremendous ground before diving one-handed to his right to dismiss Virgo Super Kings batsman Neil McKenzie off the bowling of Ben Laughlin. Have you seen better? Clarke was unable to mirror that a few balls later, though, when Essexs James Foster plinked down the ground in an over where a wicket looked likely from every delivery!Watch the video above to see the best bits, including Clarkes catch and how Laughlin bowled Azhar Mahmood.Ryan ten Doeschate also starred in the Masters Champions T20 on Sunday, smashing a six OUT OF THE GROUND while batting for Libra Legends against Leo Lions - watch his monstrous hit in the video below. Watch this massive six from Ryan ten Doeschate that cleared the stadium and went into the road.dddddddddddd The Masters Champions T20 is being streamed live on Sky Sports digital platforms. Click here for more details.Also See:Masters T20 on SkyWATCH: Santokies four in fourWATCH: Sehwag hits tonGet Sky Sports ' ' '