SPOKANE -- To look at its resume alone, Notre Dame's accomplishments this season could be seen as business as usual for the historically dominant program.
After a fifth consecutive ACC regular-season title, the Irish (32-3) earned a top seed in the NCAA Tournament for a seventh consecutive season. They have played in the tournament each of the past 23 years.
Of course, this year has been anything but normal.
Four Irish players are sitting out after suffering injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament in their knees, all in the past calendar year. Three of those injuries - Mychal Johnson, Mikyala Vaughn and Lili Thompson - have occurred since the fall, leaving Notre Dame with seven healthy players on scholarship entering Monday's Elite Eight matchup with No.