JotCast | Late February ND Hoops Chat

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Thomas Noie

12:25

Jim: Isn't it like that for ANY team when it has it going, they better be fun to watch. Notre Dame is ranked 50th in KenPom adjusted offensive efficiency, so there are teams that have been better on offense. What's best about watching this year's group is that it reminds you of what this program long has been, when you can see a possession and know that it's going to end with a good shot. A made shot. We couldn't say that about this program the last few years, which is why it was so frustrating. A program that had long made it look so easy made it look so hard. It's a game of free flowing and movement. When both are happening, it's a clinic.

Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.

12:23

The Irish may not be ranked in the polls but when it comes fluidity on the offensive end, they are clearly top ten caliber. Few teams screen, cut, move the rock, make the extra pass and find the open man better than ND. When Brey's guys are operating at a high level, they are truly something special. Honestly Tom, have you seen a team this season that is as fun to watch as the Irish when they've got it going on offense?

Thomas Noie

12:23

Joe: Or none of them. Counting up the years a coach may be at this or that job is like counting up potential league wins. Just when you think you have it figured out, you don't.

joe from the south side

12:22

Tom, I find it interesting that ND's last 4 are SYR (Boeheim is close to retiring), GTECH (Pastner saved his job with last year's run. He is about one year away from getting the boot), FSU (Hamilton is in his 70s. He is clearly at the tail end). And Capel will probably get fired. Brey might outlast all of them.

Thomas Noie

12:21

Joe: Understand the interest, but that's like asking what the Saturday lottery numbers will be. Nobody really knows (or do they?) The transfer portal will play itself out in the spring and summer.

Joe

12:21

Any elite transfers we could hopefully get this off-season? Or are there limited available scholarships due to returning seniors and incoming great freshmen.

Thomas Noie

12:08

The WCC may as well be played in Japan. Nobody on the East Coast notices. Or cares. Sorry, Gonzaga.

joe from the south side

12:07

Tom, ESPN wouldn't touch the WCC ACC challenge. The west coast teams have no following in the east, and half the games would start at 11PM or later. Advertising revenue drives matchups, not fan curiosity.

Thomas Noie

12:03

Brendan: Looks favorable, especially if they get the double bye, let alone a No. 1 or 2 seed. Just being back in the big city is enough for me. Love the energy of New York. May slide up to the Garden and relive my Big East days. Just being there, and knowing that something's coming on Selection Sunday, is enough for me. Best part of the season. Just glad the Irish will be part of it. Finally. Again.

Brendan, TN

12:02

Tom, are you going to Brooklyn for the ACCT? If so, what are you looking forward to most, both Irish hoops and non-Irish hoops related?

Thomas Noie

12:01

Jim: Never happen. Nowhere near enough quality WCC teams to even pique interest of ACC. They'll all want to play Gonzaga or Brigham Young, but who do you stick Pacific with? Duke?

Jim in Charlottesville

12:00

How to setle this? How about an "WCC--ACC Challenge" Series: each WCC team plays a designated ACC team in the same week during a regular season. I think this Series' shelf life might be 4 seasons max. Thoughts?

Thomas Noie

11:54

Jim: Gonzaga always a hard sell for me given that they really don't play anybody in their league, and rarely, out of it. Gonzaga is 13-0 in Quad 4 games (mostly WCC). But look at its non-conference strength of schedule. Notre Dame has a non-conference SOS of 31. Gonzaga? 108. That usually catches up to you in the postseason. See, Baylor...

Jim in Charlottesville

11:52

National basketball pundits gaga for Gonzaga. Me too! Yet they annually discount the Zag's annual cakewalk through the WCC, and this year Notre Dame's run through the "declined ACC" as well. Conflicting takes on strength of schedule!

Thomas Noie

11:39

Justin: Every senior and graduate student Paul Atkinson, Jr., will be recognized prior to the Pittsburgh game. Might be the longest senior day in program history....

Justin, Ft Wayne

11:38

Will all the seniors get recognized on senior day even if they what to return next year? Will be a cool senior day this year.

Thomas Noie

11:37

Joe: Totally wishful thinking. Hunter Dickinson leaves for Michigan, he's leaving for the NBA.

joe from the south side

11:37

Tom, If MICH implodes (hopefully) and Hunter D. decides to go, would he be welcome at ND or did he burn that bridge? Lubin is a bit too short and still needs some polish to his game. I don't see him as a FR starter in the way that I see JJS. Lubin is truly a 3-4 year guy.

Thomas Noie

11:37

Let's try this - who do you think should have played more when they were freshmen/sophomores? Not based on what they did as juniors or seniors but how they were as freshmen and sophomores. Maybe J.R. Konieczny could help for a segment here or Matt Zona for a segment there, but not to the point where they deserve more minutes. No, the way the bench works has zero influence on recruiting and everything else. I'd say less than zero. It's a fun topic for fans to harp on. Inside the program, totally different.

Guest

11:35

A twofer. Many thanks.
1. Mike Brey has always played a tight rotation - usually no more than 7, maybe 8 players, with a focus on experience over youth (Wesley kind of blew that out of the water) and this season is no exception. Any thoughts on whether that has had an impact on recruiting? Are players looking at the Irish and passing because they think that they will automatically get slotted to end of the bench?

Thomas Noie

11:25

Justin: Prentiss shot that ridiculous air ball in the first half and I turned to the fellow media dopes in the press box and said, OK, now it's an official game. He gets it out of the way early and then locks in late. And that A/T ratio (4.56) is downright ridiculous. He has 73 assists to 16 turnovers in league play.

Justin, Ft Wayne

11:24

Would it really be a Notre Dame game if apprentices Hubb didn’t airball a three in the first half then nail a big shot in the final couple minutes? Lol. He’s been fun to watch down the stretch of games this season. and that A/TO ratio. Woah

Thomas Noie

11:16

Joe: To be determined. Maybe Ven-Allen Lubin is ready. Maybe Matt Zona. Maybe the transfer portal. Lot of maybes. No definites, at least, not yet.

Joe, cape may

11:15

With Atkinson leaving, what does ND’s post presence look like next year?

Thomas Noie

11:14

Jim: Yes, because everything Brey had tried to do in the past to make it work - every button he pushed, every roster he tried to put together - nothing worked. There was a feeling that he might be out of moves. Like, the message isn't getting through after 21 seasons. Dane Goodwin deserves to be an MVP of this team. Same for Paul Atkinson, Jr.. And Prentiss Hubb. Blake Wesley. Not an easy/clear answer.

Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.

11:13

Hi Tom, great work as always. In your opinion, has this season be one of the top two or three coaching jobs turned in by Brey since he's been at ND? Also, if you were handing out an Irish MVP award, who would win it? I think there are three legitimate candidates. Thanks.

Thomas Noie

11:13

I've known Fran McCaffery for over 25 years. I'd have no problem sending my son to play for Fran. Same with Tom Izzo. Demanding? Absolutely. But they'd also make him better. The late Charlie Coles was a prince of a man. I loved listening/talking with him. He was someone who could teach kids lessons of life, regardless of what their W-L record was on the court.

Tim from Evanston

11:11

Tom, if you had a son who had D1 basketball talent, are there any one or two specific coaches that you have covered over the years (excluding Mike Brey) that you would send him off to and know he would be in good hands with?

Thomas Noie

11:09

Mark: That was interesting early on, but man, there's only so much North Carolina or Duke or North Carolina State I can take. The back half of Episode 6 was basically the same as the 30-for-30 on Survive and Advance. I get it, but it's a LOT of Tobacco Road on there.

Mark Kruz from Mishawaka

11:06

Tom have you had the chance to watch on ACCN the documentary series The Tournament? So far I have really enjoyed it and it is interesting how Indiana high school basketball has played a part in the creation of the ACC tournament

Thomas Noie

11:06

If you're not playing a team that goes 2/3 101 percent of the time, it would be to drive it, get into the lane and either get to the basket or dish to a shooter. That's the first time that Wesley has played against that zone, so there's a learning curve of understanding what he can do and what he can't. Prentiss Hubb was basically like, yeah, I've got this. Carved up that zone like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Mickey, New York

11:05

It was great to see Atkinson’s play last night. If ND wants to run a “4 around 1” making sure you punish teams with the “1” frees up shooters. But when Blake isn’t hitting from outside (consistency isn’t there from distance…yet) what can Brey do to get him in a grove (and I know the SYR zone had something to do with last night)? Is it running the offense (but not putting through Hubb is a risk)? Is it having him as a cutter for midrange (potentially jamming the middle on Atkinson)?

Thomas Noie

11:00

Who dat?

Will from Pitman

11:00

Tom, Mike Brey really is Ted Lasso, isn't he?.

Thomas Noie

11:00

SK: Can't do that as a head coach. Like, ever. Gotta just turn and walk away and stew over it later. Or, in Howard's case, grow up.

Saint Knute in SBN

11:00

Perhaps you can clarify for me how Juan Howard still has a job. The incident in Wisconsin was a second offense (last year threatening to kill the Maryland coach) so whatever was prescribed to try and work out his anger issues is not working. Lost all respect for U or M (never had much to begin with).

Thomas Noie

10:59

Joe: Ryan Humphrey should be the next head coach. Not saying he is, but saying if there was a move to be made in the next year or two or three, Hump should be the guy. He's a head coach in waiting. Don't think he necessarily has to go elsewhere to get head coaching experience. Niele Ivey didn't. Marcus Freeman didn't. Hire Hump.

joe from the south side

10:58

Tom, Internally, is it perceived that Coach Humphrey can pull a Marcus Freeman and slip into Brey's slot, or is it more likely that Brey coaches 3-4-5 years and Hump is being told you need to leave the nest and be a HC somewhere first? I am not saying this will happen, I am asking how does Swarbrick et al. perceive him.

Thomas Noie

10:57

...Moved into David's role as ISR managing editor when he became the SBT sports columnist. Covered Notre Dame hockey and football from 1993 until 1998. Eric Hansen was the beat writer for Notre Dame hoops and wanted to cover football, so we basically flipped jobs. He went to ISR to oversee football and I took over hoops in 1998. Covered three head coaches in my first three seasons on the beat. Mike Brey promised he'd stick around for 20. He's gone two past that. Have covered hoops for the last 24 seasons - the first 15 in the Big East. Best league ever. Still nothing like a Friday night in Madison Square Garden for BET semifinals. If you know, you know. Counted it up one day waiting on another connecting flight - have covered over 800 men's hoops games in 85 different arenas from Anchorage to Maui, to Miami to the Virgin Islands. It's been a ride like none other, and one you never want to end. Hope I can stick around another 30.

10:54

Tim: Good question. Settle in. This might take some time. Wish I can say I honed my games and my writing skills on the mean streets of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, but not much need for a scrawny 5-11 kid who didn't know much about the game during my high school days. But basketball always did it for me - going to old Chicago Stadium on cold winter nights with the city as a backdrop. There was something about the arena, the fans, the energy that I just had to be a part of when I grew up. Graduated University of Dayton in 1990, spent two years as sports editor of a small town paper in Wilmington, Ohio, then moved with my then-girlfriend, now wife, back to her hometown of South Bend in 1992. Had no job, no leads, no bank account, no nothing. Just decided to make a move, and started with the Tribune in the fall 1992 answering phones on Friday nights. Spring of 1993, I joined the Tribune's Irish Sports Report on a two-man team that also included David Haugh....

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