Lovable Notre Dame coach Mike Brey has a March playoff beard

PHILADELPHIA — Three NCAA tournament games, three thrilling victories.

It's no wonder Notre Dame coach Mike Brey is getting a bit superstitious.

"I have gone in and out of this all year," Brey told Paste BN Sports after the sixth-seeded Irish beat No. 7 seed Wisconsin 61-56 Friday night to advance to the Elite Eight. "I've had the beard. When we lose, clean shave. Then I go back and forth. I figure we've got to ride the beard here in March."

Brey said he has not shaved since the start of the NCAA tournament.

"I went back to the scruff," he said.

Brey also had his right calf wrapped in ice during the postgame, an injury he sustained during the Wisconsin game.

He said he pulled his calf muscle jumping up with about 15 minutes left to play. Originally, he thought he tore his Achilles.

"The whole second half, I'm limping around," Brey said, laughing. "I played hurt. I played hurt. ...

"It's unbelievable. But I think I'm going to be ready Sunday."

Sunday also happens to be Easter Sunday; the Irish won their Sweet 16 game on Good Friday. That was a topic of conversation in the Irish's postgame locker room.

"I asked Father John (Jenkins), 'We don't lose on Good Friday on Easter, right? Can I get an amen?' " Brey said. "I think I got one.

Notre Dame will face the winner of North Carolina-Indiana on Sunday -- Easter Sunday.

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