JotCast | Noter Dame men's basketball January chat

Noter Dame men's basketball January chat

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Tim from Chicago

12:39

Tom, not a question that needs answering, but just want to thank you for covering the team and sharing your insights with the fans on twitter, in the SBT, in these chats, etc. We are all here because we love the team and your unbiased coverage brings us together, despite how frustrating the play and coaching and recruiting may be at times. Keep up the great work, you are the best.

Thomas Noie

12:39

P: Nothing's really happened to indicate otherwise, has it? Juwan played well against Boston College. Now do it again and again and again and then we'll talk. Late developer? He's 15 games away from finishing his fifth year in college. Can't get any later for him, can it?

P. Rose

12:37

You said a month ago that Durham has no innate feel for the game. Do you still believe that? DIdn't he miss a year of high school play and a year of college play due to injuries? Could he just be a late developer?

Thomas Noie

12:30

Morgan: Because it's easier to scream and yell and shout about what Notre Dame MIGHT be than what it really is. Makes everyone feel like someone else is doing something wrong instead of looking at it big picture, like, really big picture, and saying, yeah, Mike Brey has his faults as a coach, but take a moment and drink in what he's done here over the long haul. In the Big East. In the ACC. Would anyone - would everyone - have taken that in 1999 when it was time for John MacLeod to leave? In 2000 when Matt Doherty left for Carolina? There's a reason he left for Carolina. It was North Carolina. That was, and still is, Notre Dame.

Morgan

12:27

Tom - thanks for the two answers. If ND can only get BC or Wake talent why would anyone seriously criticize Brey when his program had been far superior to either and stable for 20 years? And what if Brey got UNC talent - wouldn’t he win 25+ games a year? Finally, yes I’m a big Mike Brey fan...

Thomas Noie

12:27

Joe: Let's see where DePaul is in a few years. And it might be a little easier to get kids into school there for a school that has only hoops than at Notre Dame. Brey may have said last year he was recruiting only Indiana with the two local kids. Don't think that was a blanket statement for future classes. Thus, the Paul Atkinson commitment. Everyone figured a Miami kid was going to go to Miami. He then picks Notre Dame.

joe from the south side

12:26

Tom: So I will play devil's advocate. Wesley is a 4 star prospect. He CLEARLY thinks he is NBA material, as in one and done. His words, not mine. And yet, he's coming. How in God's name can Dave Leitao get a top 25 class and Brey can't? What is DePaul offering? National exposure? A pipeline to the NBA? Facilities? What told me all I need to know about Brey is a while ago he said he was only recruiting Indiana and staying close to the campus. Something like that. That's where the lack of desire comes in. It starts at the top.

Thomas Noie

12:25

Dennis: Won't disagree with that Brigham Young loss. Notre Dame had it. Like, HAD it. I call Digger Phelps every year on the anniversary of the win over UCLA. Wouldn't think of calling him on the date of the BYU game....lol

Dennis, Southern California

12:24

Tom. What's the worst and most heartbreaking defeat that ND hoops has ever had? IMO it happened on March 19, 1981 when BYU knocked Notre Dame out of the tournament. Notre Dame had a double digit lead with less than 15 minutes left and Digger decided to kill the clock which resulted in Notre Dame turning the ball over ample times. There was no shot clock back then and you would think that Digger would have learned his lesson about killing clock since he did the same thing in the Sweet 16 game against North Carolina in 1977. The worst part about the BYU defeat is we were never the same program again. From 1973-1981 Notre Dame was consistently in the top 10 and had a realistic chance of making the Final Four most of the time. Today our goal is to be one of 68 teams that make the tournament. Next 5 most heartbreaking defeats (all tournament games) 74-Michigan, 78- Duke, 2015-Kentucky, 77-North Carolina, 76-Michigan.

Thomas Noie

12:24

Tom: Nate Laszewski SHOULD be most improved player in the ACC, but we've been around that league long enough to know that if someone from a team in the Triangle or an original member school, that guy's probably going to get it. All goes back to 2015 when Jahlil Okafor was player of the year when Jerian Grant really was. But I digress. And pull up a couch and lie down for some hoops therapy here anytime. It's all good

Tom from Gary

12:22

I think this is more a therapy session for me than a chat (just joking}.The team this season reminds me more of life, Something is always breaking down. Late-game meltdowns, lack of timely rebounding, players scoring double digits one game then barely making the stat sheet the next. But you see glimpses of hope. Nate is lauded on most broadcasts as ACC Most Improved Player candidate. JD for his blocked shots.

Thomas Noie

12:21

Dwight: Understood, but I think they'd be disappointed that you're disappointed. They kneeled for something they believe in. Last time I checked, we can do that in this country. Thankfully. Not saying you're wrong and they're right or they're wrong and you're right. We as a people can differ in our beliefs. It's OK.

Dwight from Arkansas

12:20

This is more venting than question. I can't speak to the men's program but I was disappointed in the ND ladies kneeling for the national anthem. I don't think I'm alone in that. I saw even a local high school team, the whole squad kneeling. O.K. Vent over, thanks.

Thomas Noie

12:15

Mark: I don't have a clue how the NCAA selection committee will go about picking the tournament field. Do Power Five teams that played fewer games than a "mid-major" deserve more consideration? Do mid-majors? How do you quantify fair and balanced? How do you ding a mind-major for not playing a Power Five school when the pandemic necessitated otherwise? Ugh. As for NIC MVP, it's gotta be a co-MVP doesn't it? Take J.R. Konieczny and Blake Wesley off their respective teams, and neither is all THAT good. Both are needed every single night.

Mark Kruz from Mishawaka

12:12

Tom IF ND just had a half way decent season they could have possibly been in the mix for a tourney bid with the ACC being so down this season as a whole. Do you see more At Large bids going to Power 5 teams since most mid majors only played teams within their conference? BTW its gonna be quite race to see who wins NIC MVP between JR and Blake Wesley. Stay safe

Thomas Noie

12:05

Tom: Preach! The only consistency about this group is its inconsistency. Maybe the Boston College win was a different step. Maybe it's going to be different. Maybe.....

Tom from Garu

12:04

My bigest frustration this season is consistency, except for Nate. Goodwin, Durham, Hubb, Wentz. They might score 20 points one game, hen the either the big donut or aing

Thomas Noie

12:04

Sean: Vent anytime. And I'll be sure to take you up on the BBQ if it's ever again safe to travel. Some brisket, some beans, maybe sausage. I'm in. And now I'm hungry too. But back to your question, it's a hard sell to want to watch this team. It's stuck in the proverbial basketball Twilight Zone. That's why a win Sunday would be a big deal. Something we haven't seen out of these guys.

Sean, Greensboro, NC

12:03

Tom, thanks for the heads up on the chats. If there was an award for covering a basketball team during a pandemic, you would win it hands down.When you get down this way again, BBQ is on me. I gather from your insights that we are stuck with Brey as long as he wants to stay. I have been in sales and marketing my whole life-you cannot sell a program that has stunk the last four years, without making changes. I am as loyal as anyone, but why would I buy a ticket to see this team next year. or as long as Brey is coach? Seems to me he needs to shake things up like Kelly did with football. Thanks for letting me vent. Stay safe.

Thomas Noie

12:02

Dennis: If it meant getting some of that SoCal weather, he'd be there in a heartbeat. So would I. But no, Mike Brey has given no indication that he'd leave after this season. He stuck it out the previous two. Why choose to leave after a pandemic-influenced season?

Guest

12:01

Dennis from Southern CaliforniaHi Tom. Is there a chance that Brey will retire after this season? IMO if he stays another year it will hurt our program.

Thomas Noie

12:01

Tim: Ha! No idea. OK, maybe some idea, but I'll go with nobody with any direct ties from Notre Dame is being hired as the new coach by the new athletic director. Maybe an up-and-coming young assistant coach. And maybe one Sweet 16.

Tim from Chicago

12:00

Tom, you've just returned from 2025 in your time machine, please share who is the ND men's basketball coach? And has ND made it back to the sweet 16 yet?

Thomas Noie

12:00

Walter: Whooooaaaaaaa....let's wait and see where Jaden Ivey goes from here. He's a good kid who's struggled with his shot, who then hit a big one in a big moment. But Isaiah Stewart was a first-round NBA draft pick. Hunter Dickinson looks like a first-round NBA draft pick. Luka Garza chose Iowa over Notre Dame. Brey, as the story goes, wanted Ivey but opined that it might be best if Ivey went elsewhere for his own good. Get out of the Saint Joseph County bubble. I can see that. Watch a Purdue game. How often is Niele Ivey mentioned? Every single time Ivey does anything. Now ramp up that interest five-fold if he went to Notre Dame. Oh, and Matt Painter was the first to offer a scholarship to Ivey as a freshman. That mattered as well.

Walter from Indy

11:56

will Jaden Ivey be the biggest miss of Brey's nd career? Was Ivey set on leaving south bend, as Niele (at the time) was gone in Memphis? Can you remind me what happened there

Thomas Noie

11:56

Joe: There's nothing wrong with a Sweet 16 run every four years. To have that, though, you've got to have everything break in your favor. yeah, you've got to win games, but you've got to get lucky along the way. Your guys have to grow up and get better. Oh, and you've got to stay healthy along the way. Any of those ingredients don't occur, neither will a Sweet 16.

joe from the south side

11:55

Tom: Most folks who Brey answers to in Indiana. It's only fools and junkies like us who feel a Sweet 16 run every four years or so is minimally acceptable.

Thomas Noie

11:55

Morgan: I'm a big Prentiss Hubb guy, in that he at least TRIES to give this team some sort of swagger. At least, he did his first two years. This season, he's just been kind of out there. I'm starting to think that the whole, Prentiss Hubb is our Patrick Mahomes deal that Brey tossed out last year was his way of trying to get Hubb to believe that he could be that kind of guy for this team. He just may not have it.

Morgan

11:53

Forgot to include my hometown - Washington DC. 2nd Question. I think Hubb is a big problem. Bad shooter, erratic, turnovers, bad defense and not a typical Brey PG. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t transfer. From your inside view is any of that correct or is he a great fit for ND?

Thomas Noie

11:53

Tim: Good to hear from you. You should try it from my end. I've sat down waaaaay too many times the last few years and started to write a gamer or a column and stopped and asked myself, haven't I written this before? Multiple times? There's just not enough fresh, new story angles that keep people interested. When's the last time you watched a Notre Dame game - and a win - and walked away thinking, man, haven't seen THAT before. Maybe Saturday is something this team can carry forward. It's been way too much of one step forward, then two back. Eventually, that has to swing the other direction, right?

Tim from Chicago

11:51

Hi Tom, thanks for keeping us up to date on the season. My challenge is that I just don't find this team fun to watch. With past teams I would go out of my way to watch their games live, or at least dvr them and watch them later. Watching this team's games feels more like a chore. I'm sure it is a combination of their record, of the disappointing junior class, covid cancellations, etc. What can Irish fans look forward to in the second half of the season? I know we aren't making the tournament, but any good storylines to keep an eye on?

Thomas Noie

11:51

JT: It's personnel, it's players, it's the confidence to go and do it. It's everything. The pass around the perimeter stuff isn't taking this team anywhere. It makes them too hard to guard unless they're hitting shots. And they've too often not been able to hit shots. I'd love to see practice (we don't) to see if they drive it more than in games.

JT Abilene, TX

11:49

What has happened to the drive and kick part of this offense that worked so well in 2015? Is there someone on the roster that can do that? I thought it may be Wertz but everyone seems content to just pass around the 3 point line until taking a contested shot.

Thomas Noie

11:49

Morgan: One and dones aren't going to Notre Dame. Like, ever. Brey doesn't want to waste the time recruiting against the elite of the elite to try and get them (that trial balloon popped a couple years ago) and the university doesn't want it. As I mentioned, it takes a different kind of kid to want both the academic and athletic experience that Notre Dame offers. From that standpoint, the pool from which Notre Dame can choose from is closer to Boston College and Wake Forest than Duke and Carolina. I've asked the following question when it comes to recruiting for years, and never, ever, ever receive an answer - if you're a four star prospect with a pick of schools and believe (as they all do) that you're going to the NBA....why would you choose Notre Dame? The answer: you wouldn't.

Morgan

11:47

Hello Tom. My question is about recruiting. Does Brey get subpar recruits compared to other ACC teams and how much does NDs admissions standards have to do with that? It does seem that ND has less athletic talent and size compared to others (and if the top 100 rankings are valid)? He’s often over performed preseason projections for 20 years. There hasn’t been one potential one and done recruit and seems even in great years he’s playing vs superior talent especially vs Duke, UNC and others. Brey gets a lot of heat from fans despite having an incredible career.

Thomas Noie

11:46

Walter: Good stuff. Not only do they have to lock themselves in Rolfs Hall to watch that 2015 team and how they shared it - everyone gets a touch as the ball goes around the perimeter before the Vasturia corner 3 against North Carolina - but they also need to lock themselves in Rolfs and just run dummy offense for five hours. Not having that time to do that in spring and the summer and the early fall really matters. It might not make a huge difference, but it would make enough of a difference that those close ACC games go the Irish way.

Walter from Indy

11:44

Re: lack of offensive efficiency and playing beautiful brey ball of yesteryear....I've said it before and I'll say it again...this junior class was thrown in as freshmen and didn't have the benefit of learning brey ball by SEEING it with their own eyes. For the most part, all of brey's teams have been old, players have grown with familiarity and understanding. This team, dominated by the juniors, never had that luxury and it has crippled the offense. They drive head down and almost never kick out. They rarely play inside out or make the intuitive cut. Lock them in a room and force them to watch the 2015 team on repeat for hours upon hours.

Thomas Noie

11:44

Joey: You know this is a basketball chat, right? But I'll go down that football road. You're referring to Brian kelly's salty remarks about the local press following the "Rose Bowl" right? Brian Kelly may be a lot of things as the head football coach at Notre Dame, but media consultant isn't one of them. I was waaaaaaay more disappointed than hurt by Kelly's comments. It's not our job - it's not the job of ANY media member to congratulate coaches on doing their jobs. Or for having successful seasons. That's a really slippery slope to get into. Yeah, the South Bend media benefits from Notre Dame being successful. More people want to read about Notre Dame in the South Bend Tribune and Notre Dame Insider. But we can't be openly rooting for the Irish to win, or be publicly praising them when they do. In essence , Brian Kelly wants us to thank him for doing his job. Not happening.

Joey Goodspeed

11:40

how badly did Brian Kelly hurt your feelings as local press?

Thomas Noie

11:40

Steve: Too early to tell. I would if I saw someone who could step in right away and be a difference maker. Step in and be, I hate to say it, but Hunter Dickinson. J.R. Konieczny and Blake Wesley MIGHT eventually become really good college players but both are going to need time. It's great that Notre Dame got Paul Atkinson, but making the jump from the Ivy League to the ACC is an adjustment. How long does that transition take?

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