The Notre Dame mascot performs during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Miami in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

 Bob Leverone

NOTRE DAME is a pineapple turnover 

Full of hot air and early to rise but ultimately too flaky. The Fighting Irish have some of the best offensive statistics in the country: 12th in scoring at 78.8 points per game, second with a 51.0 shooting percentage. What, then, explains Notre Dame’s power outages against Duke, Syracuse and Virginia? With close wins over Northeastern and Butler, the Irish are battle-tested, but are they tough enough to continue?

  • The baker: Mike Brey, 15th season at Notre Dame
  • The skinny: 31-5, No. 3 Midwest, beat No. 6 Butler and No. 14 Northeastern. Will face No. 7 Wichita State on Thursday.
  • Carb-loaded: Offense – Jerian Grant (16.8 points per game) and Pat Connaughton form a potent duo. 

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