JotCast | ND men's hoops chat - December 2023

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Thomas Noie

9:05

The future is bright, but if given a choice, I'd say Micah Shrewsberry would add a proven post player and a another wing/big guard who can score. Defense has rarely been the issue. These guys guard. The issue has been that when Notre Dame needs a bucket, it doesn't have the luxury of throwing it into the post for someone to collapse the defense and/or get a bucket and get fouled. It doesn't have that one guy who just says, F this, and goes and drives the lane and finishes and is fouled and make a free throw. It really needed a veteran scorer on the perimeter with this group. I won't say they didn't try to get one - maybe admissions had other ideas. Dare I say it - this team needs a cocky/confident guy like Prentiss Hubb (ducks).

Guest

9:03

I can see the young talent I think the future is bright just need better post play and maybe another wing that can defend or big guard

Thomas Noie

9:02

That would be Malachi Moreno, a 6-foot-11, 210-pound consensus four-star/Top 100 prospect from Georgetown, Kentucky. The standard recruiting answer would be, yeah, they're good with him, but really, does anyone know about a prospect who has 23 schools (who all have offered) on his wish list? Short answer - no. Notre Dame did its work early with Moreno, but will that be enough for him to choose Notre Dame over Alabama, Baylor, Creighton, Indiana, Kentucky and Purdue among others? Micah Shrewsberry can sell immediate playing time, but that might not be enough. Notre Dame is in the mix with Moreno. That's all you can ask on Dec. 13.

Guest

9:00

How’s notre dame doing with Moreno the 25 big I think there missing a good post player who can defend block some shots

Thomas Noie

8:57

Dave: Disagree. This was going to be a really difficult season, for myriad reasons. Notre Dame lost to Western Carolina, but when you looked at Western Carolina and saw that it had three senior guards who were all preseason all-conference selections, your antennae should've rocketed up. The Irish were in trouble based on that fact alone. Notre Dame wasn't ready for Auburn, was a little more ready for South Carolina and had zero business playing Miami and Marquette at that point in the schedule. At 4-5, they're about right where they were expected to be. They're competing their #$%@ off, they're learning to play together. They just don't know how to win. That will come as we move deeper through this season. Maybe that translates to 6-14 or 7-13 in league play. Maybe it doesn't. As for biggest disappointment, it would be the lack of awareness of everything on offense. Shot-clock violations (four in the first 11 minutes against Marquette) are a result of guys just not knowing what to do and when to do it.

Dave Nation

8:53

The team seems to be underperforming even your tempered expectations. What aspect has disappointed you the most? Effort or execution?

Thomas Noie

8:53

Recruiting? This staff has been everywhere and looked at everyone it needs to look at it. That's the easy part. The hard part now is getting them to campus and getting them into the program. Remember, the class Notre Dame signed last month, each one of the prospects had previous relationships with either Shrewsberry or the staff. it was just a carry over from the groundwork he laid at Penn State. Now do it at Notre Dame. There's a lot to like about Micah Shrewsberry, but he'll be the first to admit there's a long way still to go. It's on the right track.

8:51

A few. The first of which is, let's not get THAT carried away with the changes. Brey decided in 2021-22 to coach the "fabric" of the program and let the heavy lifting to the assistants, but that also produced a 15-5 record in the Atlantic Coast Conference and a near-miss of another Sweet 16. It worked then, it just didn't work last year when he put it in the hands of the veterans who weren't able to handle the heavy lifting. Mike Brey had his faults, and plenty of them, but you don't win the way he won at Notre Dame with smoke and mirrors. Micah Shrewsberry is learning that the job at Notre Dame is HARD. On and off the floor, it's not going to be easy. That said, I love, love, love what I've seen from Shrewsberry. Sometimes, I find myself watching him more than the five guys on the floor. The energy, the emotions, it's exactly what this program needs. Now. We don't get 86-80 any more, but are you content with 65-53? You can hustle and defend and still score.

joe from the south side

8:46

Tom, Biggest changes from Mike to Micah? 1. Accountability. At times, Brey threw it over the fence and said let the old guys figure it out. Not now. It begins with MS. It goes thru MS. It ends with MS. Period. Maybe as they mature, that will change. For now, Micah's way or the highway. 2. Hustle. No more winning 86-80 with this team. So, you rebound, you move the ball, you move yourself and you play defense. Failure to do so means a seat on the pines. 3. Recruiting. This guy is leaving no stone unturned. If you fit ND and MS, he's coming for you. Your thoughts?

Thomas Noie

8:34

And....we're off and running with another college basketball season. The games came quickly and not very easily for the Notre Dame men's basketball program the first five weeks. A lot of games away from home, a lot of losses, a lot of lessons learned as the Irish are 4-5 while working through finals week. There has to be plenty to discuss - so let's discuss. Include your name and hometown with your question or comment. And with that, let's light this chat candle...

7:33

What has been the most surprising aspect of Notre Dame men's basketball to date?

Commitment to defense (38.9% | 14 votes)

Commitment to compete (2.8% | 1 vote)

Micah Shrewsberry's energy (13.9% | 5 votes)

Lack of scoring (44.4% | 16 votes)

Inexperience (0% | 0 votes)

Other (0% | 0 votes)

Total Votes: 36

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