Notre Dame Men’s Basketball: Fan Satisfaction Plummets As Tourney Hopes Fade

Fan sentiment toward the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s basketball team has plummeted as the team’s NCAA tournament chances grow dimmer.

Forty-one percent of self-identified Irish fans told SBNation’s FanPulse earlier this week that they are satisfied with the direction of the basketball program, down 23 percent from the prior week. The 41 percent represents the lowest satisfaction rate in five weeks.

Since the last poll was conducted, the Duke Blue Devils demolished the Irish (16-10, 7-8 ACC). Notre Dame also escaped with a home win against the North Carolina Tar Heels (10-16, 3-12 ACC).

The Irish host the Miami-Florida Hurricanes (14-12, 6-10 ACC) on Sunday evening, then travel to Chestnut Hill to play the Boston College Eagles (13-14, 7-9 ACC) Wednesday.

Here are the confidences of fans who support opponents’ programs:

• Maryland Terrapins: 88 percent
• Boston College Eagles: 0 percent (fewer than 10 respondents)
• UCLA Bruins: 95 percent
• Indiana Hoosiers: 0 percent (fewer than 10 respondents)
• Syracuse Orange: 53 percent
• NC State Wolfpack: 60 percent (fewer than 10 respondents)
• Louisville Cardinals: 52 percent
• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets: 50 percent
• Florida State Seminoles: 97 percent
• Wake Forest Demon Deacons: 0 percent (fewer than 10 respondents)
• Pittsburgh Panthers: 71 percent
• Clemson Tigers: 0 percent (fewer than 10 respondents)
• Virginia Cavaliers: 100 percent
• Duke Blue Devils: 100 percent
• North Carolina Tar Heels: 69 percent
• Miami-Florida Hurricanes: 50 percent (fewer than 10 respondents)
• Virginia Tech Hokies: 89 percent

Poll respondents were also asked to name their player of the year. The top three named players were Dayton Flyers’ Obi Toppin (25 percent), Iowa Hawkeyes’ Luka Garza (14 percent), Kansas Jayhawks’ Udoka Azubuike (11 percent).