JotCast | Late February ND Hoops Chat

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Tim from Evanston

10:50

Tom - love your coverage of ND, love your chats and engaging with the fans. Know you have been covering ND for awhile, now. How did your journey take you here? And were you a baller in your school days?

Thomas Noie

10:44

Jake: The league will be fine. This thing goes in cycles. Duke still will be Duke. Not sure about North Carolina. Virginia has won at least 10 league games now for 10 straight seasons. Florida State is caught in that wash of injuries and other issues that Notre Dame found itself in. Will be interesting to see what direction Louisville goes with its head coach. The ACC's been around for a few years, so I think it will last a few more. Don't write it off just yet.

Jake from a small town in Washington state

10:43

What is the future like for the ACC? Will Duke take a step back with Coach K gone? Hubert Davis seems like a great guy, but can he get it done? UVA run over or just a down year?

Thomas Noie

10:40

Tim: Oh, yeah. Prentiss Hubb says all the right words when the cameras and microphones are on and pointed his direction, but he has a scorecard with guys like Joe Girard. He remembers. That stuff fuels him. He took Girard completely out of the game to the point where he was a non-factor. Look at Hubb's final stat line. Ridiculous - six points, seven rebounds, 10 assists. Like Mike Brey said afterward, just controlled the game. Everything

Tim from Evanston

10:38

Hi Tom, I thought Hubb completely shut down Joe Girard last night and made him a non factor. Am I right to say that there is a bit of a rivalry/history between those two? Each time these two teams match up I feel like the competitiveness between these two players is leveled up. Really thought Hubb was working hard on JG last night.

Thomas Noie

10:37

Charles: You need to get your seat neighbors and row neighbors and section neighbors to follow your lead. Place is waaaaaaay too subdued for a team that's 20-8, 13-4. As for officials, we've hit the dog days of February. They've all been on the road a lot. They're worn down. They see the finish line. No excuses, but man, some of those calls in the Syracuse game, brutal. And back to the Wake Forest game, those fouls on Paul Atkinson? Woof. It's been a grind for everyone, officials included. But they owe everyone to at least be on their A game. Same for the fans....lol

Charles from South Bend

10:35

I can assure you the guys in row 1 section 16 are yelling and continually riding the refs during the game! What have you thought of the officiating the last couple home games? Even though we fouled out 3 BC bigs, it still felt like that crew was missing things. First half yesterday, was a different crew that couldn't figure it out either. Second half felt much better, even though the Boeheims were allowed to clear out with that sneaky forearm extension. Teddy Valentine has been good to us this season!

Thomas Noie

10:35

Clint: A clarification - the subject has nothing to do with Robby Carmody himself. He seems like a good kid who's given me time when he's been available to be interviewed. It's more the people who believe that he's the magic answer who will suddenly step from the shadows and be this lock-down defensive guard with endless effort and energy. The knee injury/lingering knee issues will keep him from ever being even a serviceable player in the ACC. He wants to try and he believes he can play, but it's probably not going to happen here. That happens for some, where their careers never get off the ground.

Clint from Winnipeg

10:33

Hi, Tom. Thanks for the chat. Returning to one of your least favorite subjects, Robby Carmody. You consistently have said that he never plays for ND again. Is it simply that with the injuries he no longer plays to the same level, an ACC level? If he does transfer out, is it to a mid-major? How lucky are we that they took Dane Goodwin when they already had Carmody committed?

Thomas Noie

10:33

Jake: For the amount of flak that kid took earlier in the year, nobody deserves this more than Prentiss Hubb. Wish I could go back to my mentions when he was still trying to find himself. Fans can be pretty brutal because they make it so personal, and certainly did with Hubb. The guy was a bum, couldn't play, shouldn't be on scholarship. Then it all turned. And you know what, you get nothing but crickets from those complainers.

Jake from a small town in Washington state

10:31

I have so much respect for how Hubb has handled this year. He was the main guy for 3 years and to move to a role player mid year had to be hard. Did Brey have a conversation with him about the role change or is Hubb smart enough to see the writing on the wall and adjust himself? Hard to imagine he stays next year, especially with JJ coming in. But who knows.

Thomas Noie

10:31

Noah: No idea on the NCAA tournament until the bracket's released. Let's first get to Selection Sunday, then we'll worry about that path. Chris Quinn may feel his future's in the NBA more than at Notre Dame, so no easy rest for you, my man.

Noah

10:29

Tom love the work as always and have really enjoyed this season. Agree with you that the fun is in the ride not in the end result. If I am a one or two seed I do NOT want to see ND in the round of 32. Feel like a great chance at a big upset, but not a deep tourney run given the type of team that can beat us (long, rangey, athletic). Thoughts on how deep we can go? Also how about Mike Brey? Most certainly will return next year but after that...? Just tell me its Chris Quinn and I can rest easy.

Thomas Noie

10:29

Amen my man (or woman). NOBODY saw this coming when this team was 3-4 and had just been boat-raced by Boston College. But you hang on and see where the ride goes. This one's gone off in a direction that few could've predicted. It's been as fun a few months as there have been on the beat.

Guest

10:28

Tom always love the work and the dedication to the team. Been a blast of a year and I agree the ride is part of the fun not the end result.

Thomas Noie

10:28

Jake: Seeing him work out before practices and games and now recently, after games, you get the sense that he WANTS to play, but has to read the room. It's waaaaaaaayyyyyy too late in the season to change gears and try to work him into any rotation with the blue (reserve) team. It's not so much rehab as it is his left knee just isn't where it needs to be to be counted on in any capacity. There's a reason why he's still in sweats on the bench and not a uniform. Maybe he dresses for senior day next week, which would be cool, but there are bigger-picture goals this program is chasing than trying to get Carmody back on the court.

Jake from a small town in Washington state

10:26

You’ve mentioned in the past Carmondy may never play again at ND. Any news or updates on how his rehab is going? Cheering for the kid regardless of where he ends up.

Thomas Noie

10:25

You mean that's not 3-point Jesus on the south wall of the Hesburgh Library????

joe from the south side

10:24

Tom, Let me add one thing to the ACC being down discussion. The Univ. of Kentucky football team has been to 6 straight bowls. They have won the last 4 in a row. Stoops has two 10-win seasons in the last 4 years. IN THE SEC! Annnnnnnddddd.......nobody cares. Kentucky is a BBL school. Or so it is perceived. Same with ND and FB.

Thomas Noie

10:24

Mark: Not really concerned all that much about Dane Goodwin. he's become THE guy on the scout, just as Blake Wesley learned about that life of late. He's the guy other teams try to take away. Luckily for the Irish, this team has the options it didn't have in seasons past. It's the ebb and flow for every player in a season. You get caught a rut, work your way through it and are better off once you emerge on the other side.

Mark Kruz from Mishawaka

10:23

Tom after watching last nights game do you have any concerns about Dane Goodwin's play lately? To me it appears he has hit the wall which happens to kids this time of the season. Luv seeing the play from Cormac these past few games. Playing with so much more confidence now in his shooting and on the defensive end. I'm really concerned about Trey Wertz not giving them quality minutes lately. Thanks again for the chat and hopefully you're back to playing pick up hoops

Thomas Noie

10:22

Mike: Amen, and this times 10. Yeah, the league is down and not as good as it's been, but that speaks more to how good the ACC has been in seasons past than how down it might be this year. Notre Dame can only play the schedule in front of them. It still has to win games at home (7-1 in league play). It still has to win games on the road (6-3). It's done both. That has to matter.

Mike,New Jersey

10:21

Tom the ACC has been way better in past years but the national perception of the top of the league being horrible is getting out of hand....Its not Notre Dame's job to apologize for North Carolina not being a top 5 team

Thomas Noie

10:21

Joe: Good question, fair question, but probably one that we'll not have to worry about. Be a nice "problem" to have, but one that's not happening. Stay tuned.

joe from the south side

10:20

Tom, I am asking this from more of a legal perspective. What happens if everyone decides to return? Including Atkinson if the Ivy League guys get another year. If you are JJS or Lubin, or Campbell can you legally walk away from your LOI?

Thomas Noie

10:20

Claire: On Feb. 24, I'd go with Dane Goodwin, Trey Wertz and Cormac Ryan. The others, probably not happening. For myriad reasons.

Claire M., Pittsburgh

10:19

Tom, which all the “seniors” with eligibility remaining do you predict will be playing on next year’s ND team?

Thomas Noie

10:19

Chris: No, I've been down this road before - and often - during my years on the beat. I'll chalk this season up to still more pandemic-related side affects, because the crowd - both the general seating and the student section - was below average for Syracuse. Notre Dame fans have whined and moaned and moaned and whined for the last four years about wanting a winner. Now they have one, and they treat it with a shrug. Like, meh. Fickle bunch, this fan base. Don't know how good they have it until it's gone. Then when it returns, nobody seems to really care.

Chris. DC

10:17

Tom, it looks like close to a sell out on Saturday. But the crowd is too quiet. ND has a challenge to make any of their home courts/fields intimidating to include football. Very frustrating. Any ideas on how to make crowd cheer? Go Irish

Thomas Noie

10:17

Xavier: Yes and no. I can see their point. Mike Brey kind of laid it out for us when we pressed him on why there's been such little movement from the Ivy and the NCAA. Say you're a student-athlete at an Ivy League school. The NCAA rules that you get that pandemic season back. What happens next? You say, whoa, I get a pandemic year. So long Columbia or Harvard or Penn and hello A-10 or Big East or ACC school. The Ivy League is afraid it will open the gates for all their student-athletes to transfer in their sport. As for just allowing that Boeheim-Atkinson class to get that year back, even that is tricky. The more Brey has tried to investigate it - as best he can in the middle of a pretty important run - he's gotten the vibe that the Ivy League and NCAA aren't interested in finding a solution. Brey fully expects the next time he asks that he'll be told, it's not happen, so please stop asking.

Xavier from Upstate

10:14

in regards to an extra season of eligibility for Ivy League players there seems to be a unified belief the IVY league isn’t interested in granting them the extra year everyone else did. Is there are a reason they don’t care? You would think the Ivy League would benefit from it. Is it just a matter of it just not being a high priority for the Ivy League and just wants to tell everyone that cares to kick rocks and move on with their life?

Thomas Noie

10:09

Ryan: Guy was unbelievable. Played with the patience and poise of a graduate student. Syracuse had no answer for a Notre Dame big. How many times have we said that during Mike Brey's tenure? Not many.

Ryan mars pa

10:08

Tom what did you think about Atkinsons game last night was my first game back in south bend for a while last night go Irish

Thomas Noie

10:08

Jake: They just want everyone to sweat out another close conference game. Seriously, though, they may play with little regard for the score. There's so much of a confidence there that the numbers don't really matter. Like, they know they're going to find a way to eventually figure it out to be on the right side of the scoreboard after 40 minutes. To them, to Brey, to the staff, they couldn't care less if they won by one or 21. It's only the win that matters, and the wins that people remember. I know it leads to a lot of anxious moments, but even last night against Syracuse when Notre Dame had its lead sliced from 12 to two, you're like, well, how are they going to figure this one out? Then they do.

Jake from a small town in Washington state

10:06

Why can’t we hold on to a double digit lead?

Thomas Noie

10:06

Jake: Absolutely. Cormac Ryan is rolling as a starter right now. Mike Brey's not messing with that karma.

Jake from a small town in Washington state

10:05

Cormac has stepped up since entering the starting lineup. Think Brey will keep him in there and continue to bring Nate off the bench?

Thomas Noie

10:05

Mason: Not at all, because gauging whether Wesley will go or stay changes almost game to game. Kind of like Notre Dame's seed in the NCAA Tournament. It's pointless to micro-manage both. Like, oh, Wesley's doing well, he's gone. Or, wow, he's struggling, he's going to return. Just like with the NCAA tournament, nobody really knows. It's all a guess.

Mason

10:04

Are you feeling any differently about Blake Wesley potentially leaving ND? Im looking forward to watching him and Starling next year...

Thomas Noie

10:04

Bob: Looks like allowing current/former Ivy League student-athletes to get that COVID year back is going to be an extreme longshot for guys like Atkinson and Syracuse swingman Jimmy Boeheim. There's been very little movement toward granting them the extra year. As for Wesley, it's been well-documented here what he SHOULD do. Blake Wesley has the skills right now to GET to the NBA, but another year of college to figure some stuff out will give him the kind of game that allows him to STAY in the NBA. It's a slippery slope for him, and for everybody. Knowing how that league works, you have such a small window of opportunity. Once it closes, because you're not ready or you don't fit with the team that drafted you, it rarely reopens.

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