Rising Irish will be big challenge for Demons

• Reprints

DePaul sophomore guard Brandon Young, who’s averaging 15 points, has been held to single digits in three of his last five games. | Getty Images

Updated: March 12, 2012 8:08AM

Notre Dame might be the hottest basketball team in the country — and that’s only one of DePaul’s problems.

As the storied rivalry enters its 104th installment, the host Irish (16-8, 8-3 Big East) are surging with five consecutive victories. They’re not only the Big East’s surprise team, but one of the amazing stories in the nation.

The Blue Demons (11-12, 2-9), meanwhile, have struggled with consistency, with the psyche of sophomore leader Brandon Young and with injuries.

Sophomore Moses Morgan, who had an ugly fall Monday in a loss against Marquette, won’t play for DePaul because of a concussion. The 6-6 swingman watched practice Thursday in street clothes wearing a neck brace, but he’s improving.

‘‘He wanted to come back and play [Monday],’’ coach Oliver Purnell said. ‘‘We’ll miss him a lot. He plays four positions for us and gives us that outside shot.’’

That’s one element the underdog Demons could use against their archrivals, who have stunned opponents with their shooting ability, tenacious defense and growing confidence — all after losing senior captain Tim Abromaitis in November to a season-ending knee injury.

‘‘They’ve been playing awfully well and will be as good a team as any we’ve played,’’ Purnell said. ‘‘They’re playing well, and we’re playing well — at times.’’

The Irish are knocking on the door of the Top 25 with victories over five ranked teams, including a win that ended the unbeaten streak of then-No. 1 Syracuse. They have upset then-No. 15 Marquette, then-No. 11 Louisville, then-No. 22 Pittsburgh and then-No. 24 Connecticut.

They held West Virginia to 51 points Wednesday in their 55-51 victory in Morgantown with a starting five made up of one freshman (Pat Connaughton), two sophomores (Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant), one junior (Jack Cooley) and one senior (Scott Martin).

‘‘We have made some fearless threes this year, and we’re really good at the end of a [shot] clock and at the end of a game,’’ coach Mike Brey said. ‘‘We’re a mentally tough and poised group.’’

In contrast, the Demons have struggled with the mental side of the game, especially Young.

He’s still the team’s second-leading scorer, averaging 15 points, but has been held to single digits in three of his last five games, including only two points against Marquette.

‘‘That was a bad game for Brandon, but he picked it up in practice [Thursday],’’ scoring leader Cleveland Melvin said.

Young at times is his own harshest critic, something Purnell said can be more detrimental than helpful.

‘‘We’ve talked about that,’’ he said. ‘‘We have to get him going. He’s not playing well, but he has to push through that when the game isn’t going the way you want. Cleve and Brandon have to be at their best for us, not just offensively but defensively. We need their ‘A’ games.’’

Purnell said his team will need patience as well as execution against the Irish.

‘‘It wears on the patience of the opposition, and it makes you play 35 seconds of defense,’’ Purnell said of the Irish style. ‘‘At the same time, our shot selection becomes important because they limit your opportunities. You can’t get frazzled by their holding the ball.’’