It's easy to say now, but Kyle McAlarney's suspension last season may have been the best thing that happened to Notre Dame coach Mike Brey and the Irish.

It allowed Tory Jackson to mature quickly.

Now McAlarney is back and he'll team with Jackson to form a potent guard tandem.

``I brought them in the first week of the summer and told them to we don't have a point guard," Brey said. "They laughed."

That's because Notre Dame has a pair of proven floor leaders. Jackson finished with 21 points and seven assists in a victory over Marquette late in the season and had 20 points, eight boards and five assists in a loss to Georgetown in the Big East tournament.

Brey said that it reminds him of when he had Chris Thomas and Chris Quinn.

``I think these two have a chance to be better," Brey admitted.

That's because both McAlarney and Jackson have a toughness that is tough to get to South Bend, Ind. McAlarney has always carried a chip on his shoulder since growing up in Staten Island, N.Y., and Jackson is an inner-city kid out of Michigan who is arguably the best perimeter defender the program has seen in decades.

Brey has rugged power forward Luke Harangody, coming off a terrific freshman year, and the team's lone senior - Rob Kurz (12.6 ppg, 8 rpg) on the frontline. The spot vacated by Russell Carter will likely go to junior wing Ryan Ayers (Randy Ayers' son).

``He'll get the first crack at it," Brey said. "He delivered for us at key times last year and I have every reason to believe he'll be able to handle it. He can make shots."

Throw juniors Zach Hillesland Luke Zeller and freshmen forward Tyrone Nash and Tim Abromaitis and you've got a versatile team.

``We have more depth that I've ever had before," Brey said.

RANDOM NOTES: Marquette coach Tom Crean and assistants Tim Buckley and Bennie Seltzer visited their top target, wing Iman Shumpert, just moments after midnight on Sunday - the first day that coaches are allowed to go into the homes. The trio spoke to Shumpert for about a half-hour ... Duquesne freshman Damian Saunders has been cleared by the NCAA to play this season for Ron Everhart, according to a source close to the Dukes. ... East Carolina athletic director Terry Holland has nothing but praise for Mack McCarthy - who replaced Ricky Stokes. ``He's won a pair of NCAA tournament games," Holland said. "He's been to more tournament games than most people we could get an audience with. His resume is better than anyone we would have been able to get." ... Villanova assistant coach Ed Pinckney left for an assistant job in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but look for him to be a head college coach soon. Wildcats coach Jay Wright will likely fill the opening with another former 'Nova player.