JotCast | Notre Dame basketball chat - January 2025

Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page

Tom Noie

11:02

Come on, man, you're smarter than that. Swept under the rug? Seriously? You're Micah Shrewsberry and you just watched Notre Dame throw away a 17-point lead and a road win. One of the officials who made a suspect foul call is the same guy who made the foul call at the end of the North Carolina game that cost your team a win and gave the Tar Heels a four-point play. Add it all up and it all adds up.

Andrew, Plymouth

11:01

Did anyone ever ask Micah what the reason was for his issue with the official in the Syracuse game? I feel like it's been swept under the rug a bit but that wasn't just a normal argument with an official.

Tom Noie

11:01

Mark: Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Sometimes, it's just best to let your players play. Trust your guys. Don't know how much trust you give them when you call every single set. Stand back and let it flow.

Mark from Rochester, NY

10:59

I already touched on late game situations, but just in general do you think Shrewsberry over coaches? I love the energy and passion, but sometimes it feels like he needs to let the guys just go play.

Tom Noie

10:59

Woof: My first though is ... what program are you watching? There's no question/denying that Notre Dame has been competitive. The Irish have been in position to win every league game to date but two - the no-show at Georgia Tech when it was down 19 at half and the overmatched game at Duke, when Notre Dame made a late run because the Blue Devils got bored. Compete hasn't been an issue. Closing has been. That's what we needed to see - close out the Carolina game and give the fan base reason to care. Win at North Carolina State and at Syracuse, games that were begging for Notre Dame to win. That's the corner that must be turned for this program.

Woof Cookies

10:56

Tom: I was hoping that year 2 for Shrewsberry would be a little more competitive in the ACC. Is that just wishful fanbase thinking? It seems like next year (hopefully) will be the year they turn a corner. What are your thoughts?

Tom Noie

10:56

Joe: You're either going to build a program at Notre Dame of three- and four-year guys or you're going to stock the roster with transfers from Lehigh and Monmouth and Princeton (whoops, no longer an option). Shrewsberry already had the chance to go the portal route and was told in no uncertain terms to find another avenue. So we're going down the get old, stay old route and see where that takes Notre Dame. More difficult? Absolutely, but didn't a certain Notre Dame head coach say to Choose Hard?

joe from the south side

10:54

Tom, Let me comment on this Davis and Burton declaring for the draft. Seems Shrews likes the "get old and stay old" approach. But is that realistic in this day and age? What with one time transfers and grad transfers, what are the odds anyone stays at the same school for four years? While I understand he and ND want to build a "program", I'm not sure you can in today's world. I think success today may be that you "throw a team together" each year and hope it works. Certainly, Shrew's approach gets more difficult by the year. Thoughts?

Tom Noie

10:45

Taylor: From your mouth to Micah Shrewsberry's ears, or something like that. He said it this week - we're a pretty good 3-point shooting team (third in the ACC at .379), so we have to take more of them. So why aren't they? Maybe they're being overcoached to an extent where everything is too robotic and needs to be more free flowing. How's that sound?

Taylor

10:44

I know Roper only shot 33% last year from 3, but it’s not terrible. Why isn’t he taking open shots? Confidence must be down. We need him and Sir (even Allocco) to shoot the ball. The other night, the only ones wanting to shoot is Burton and Shrews.

Tom Noie

10:42

Jake: Absolutely, and it would be only that - a guess. PG: Markus Burton; SG: Braeden Shrewsberry; WG: Jalen Haralson; SF: Tae Davis; PF: Kebba Njie. Key reserves: Sir Mohammed, Garrett Sundra, Brady Koehler, Tommy Ahneman. Asterisk: Save a spot for Nate Ament

Jake

10:40

Tom - any guess at the rotation for next year?

Tom Noie

10:39

Taylor: Where's he going? Not being snide, but the NBA may be too much of a reach at this point. Or any point. There's nothing wrong with being a really good college player for the next two years (Oh, and making a nice chunk of NIL change). Don't hold your breath on the portal. You'll probably pass out first, and we don't want that.

Taylor

10:38

what are the odds Burton returns next season? Can Shrwes persuade him to stay another year with Haralson coming in next year and hopefully one or two key transfer portal additions (hopefully a big)?

Tom Noie

10:37

Joe: All true, but as far as No. 3, think he's just now discovering what he can do with who he is.

joe from the south side

10:37

Tom, Davis will get a sniff at the NBA level because of his athleticism. What will keep him out of the NBA: 1. Needs bigger shoulders and strength up top. 2. No perimeter game. 3. For his length and athleticism, rebounds and blocks stats should be much better.

Tom Noie

10:36

Mark: Next year is the first year to expect an NCAA Tournament bid. It will be time. No more excuses.

Mark from Rochester, NY

10:36

I know this year an at large was too much (based on your articles and chats) but is it time to start winning next year? Year 3 seems to be a big year

Tom Noie

10:35

Mark: Seriously? A two-year starter? I'm going to (not) go out on a limb here and say, no. If everybody is back, and in the portal era, that's always a big IF, the starting five would look like this - Markus Burton (PG), Braeden Shrewsberry (SG), Jalen Haralson (WG), Tae Davis (SF) and Kebba Njie (PF).

Mark from Rochester, NY

10:34

With Harrelson coming in, does this kick Shrewsberry out of the lineup next year?

Tom Noie

10:33

Mark: If this were Year Five for Micah Shrewsberry, there would be cause for concern as to why Notre Dame cannot seem to consistently close out close games. If last year was all about the Irish learning how to play together, and it was, then this year is all about the Irish learning how to WIN together. It's not easy, something they've all discovered. Wouldn't mind seeing someone else having a chance to create. Those two Markus Burton 3s the other night against Georgia Tech? Both off kickouts (Tae Davis, Matt Allocco). I'll settle for that instead of Burton trying to get to the rim and not getting a call (again). There has to be more originality to all of this, right? When will we see it?

Mark from Rochester, NY

10:30

Tom, what do you make of the late game let downs? I was a fan of Brey rarely calling TO’s in end of game scenarios but it seems like when Shrews does, it’s just a clear out for Burton and the d knows it’s coming as they are able to get set. Is this a function of not having other guys capable of getting their own shot?

Tom Noie

10:30

Ray: Thanks for the note. Yeah, the Shrewsberry ejection, late-game meltdown fell into the abyss of Notre Dame playing Ohio State for the College Football Playoff national championship game. It was a combination of everything for Shrewsberry that day in CNY. His team blowing a 17-point lead, the late foul call and the official who ran him (Brian O'Connell) was the same official who tagged Matt Allocco with the foul on Elliott Cadeau's 3 that lost the Carolina game. It was a perfect storm for Shrewsberry to lose his mind. He lost it.

Ray Winey. Mishawaka

10:28

Hi Tom, At the end of the Syracuse game Coach Schrewberry was assessed a double technical foul and ejected. It was never really explained what the issue was that caused this. Was it the moving screen call on Tae Davis? That was as upset as I’ve seen coach. I know he is frustrated with some of late game finishes. Thanks for doing the chat! Ray

Tom Noie

10:28

Alex: Two chances on Mark Zackery ever playing basketball at Notre Dame - none and less than none. Seriously. That two-sport stuff just doesn't work, especially when that other sport is football. And at Notre Dame. Too much of a time commitment and once that season is over, the basketball train is too far down the tracks. What kind of message does it send your basketball team, your guards, that, hey, we're going to try this guy who just walked in the door when the rest of you have been busting your butts since spring? Nah, not a fit. And when Notre Dame has tried that football/basketball thing during my time on the beat (with John Carlson and Javin Hunter), it was often painfully obviously that they were football players masquerading as basketball players. Stick to football. Notre Dame should be in position roster-wise next year and the years after where it has its adequate share of players.

Alex

10:24

Second one from me Tom…Mark Zackery…hell of a football player…hell of a basketball player as well…any chance Shrews has kicked the tires here? I know the seasons overlap but would be another nice addition to the squad. Any insight here?

Tom Noie

10:23

Combination of everything - quick turnaround against a semi-similar opponent who runs really good/complex defensive schemes that Notre Dame just doesn't have the ability/experience to shred at this point. Every game against Georgia Tech is usually a rock fight/hide-your-eyes affair. Tuesday's certainly was. That Notre Dame found a way out and won was something.

J Lampe

10:22

Congrats on shining up your ACC record as of late. Last season I was so captivated how your team guarded individually and especially as a unit. After watching Tuesday’s game, all I could think was what happened? GT shot the ball well, but it seemed like we allowed them to get any shot they wanted. Did we graduate too much defense, are we still a WIP, or did we just have a bad night?

Tom Noie

10:21

Frank: All good stuff, but for anything to matter from a fan attendance/experience for Notre Dame basketball, someone somewhere in the athletic department whos' far above our pay grades would have to actually care. Look at the entire production. Has it changed at all in the last two, three, four years to become more fan friendly? Nope. It's more of let's just keep doing what we're doing instead of doing something that might actually benefit the fans. That February 8 game against Virginia Tech SHOULD be well attended. It's Notre Dame's first Saturday home game in a month with a 1 p.m. tip. No excuses, though I'm sure plenty will find some, right?

Frank from Michiana

10:19

Good morning Tom and thanks for having these chats. This question is related to the lack of fan support for the men's team. Just my opinion on the situation but the ticket office and its bosses need to price the tickets to be more family friendly like the women's program. I understand that 9pm games like Tuesday night won't have many families with their kids there on a school night. I also don't understand why the game on veterans day didn't have some sort of special incentive for veterans to attend. I believe the attendance was less than 4,000. The Feb 8th game is being tabbed as 574 day and comes at a family friendly price of $15.74 with hat. I wouldn't be surprised to see this game as being to as close as a sellout as they get.

Tom Noie

10:15

Might be the post of the year. Really, a doozy.

FRED SLAMIN

10:15

Team looked terrible. No offense at all. Center #7 spent most of game walking on the sidelines. Looked intimidated.

Tom Noie

10:14

Jake: No, but that's totally OK, because how many "elite bigs" does Notre Dame really face in the Atlantic Coast Conference? One? I'd say it's Maxime Renaud of Stanford. That's really it. Kebba Njie isn't an elite big, but wasn't expected to be. He's on the floor as the anchor of their defense. He defends. He rebounds. He talks. He helps. He's limited on offense, sure, but I think the original vision of this team was to have enough offensive pieces so that anything they got from Njie was a bonus.

Jake Miller

10:11

Down the stretch, can Njie compete 1-1 with elite bigs?

Tom Noie

10:11

Not saying you're right or wrong, but what does J.R. Konieczny offer on a consistent basis that makes you say, hey, he's got to play more? I'm not sure I know.

Nyonalake1

10:11

Just my opinion but I think we need more JR. Just like last nights game he came in first half when we had nothing and had five points, two rebounds and two assist. Instant energy. Then saw nothing more of him except more then a minute or two in the second half. And yes he can play defense.

Tom Noie

10:10

Aaron: He has not. I was not at the Syracuse game (the little matter of the College Football Playoff national championship game had me in ATL that weekend). I did ask Micah Shrewsberry two days later on the Atlantic Coast Conference coaches Zoom call that since he had time to reflect on the ejection, did he feel justified for it or feel like, yeah, I have to be better. He responded by just smiling/smirking back into the camera. No words. No nothing. So it's like, OK, there's my answer. I can say that the official who ran him (Brian O'Connell) is the same official who called the Matt Allocco foul on the Elliott Cadeau 3 and led to the decisive four-point play, so there's history there.

Aaron

10:07

Has Coach commented on the reason he lost it at the end of the Syracuse game? Personally, I was happy to see it!

Tom Noie

10:07

Andrew: What you see from the rotation is what you're going to get. Micah Shrewsberry shared a story one day during media access about keeping the bench players ready and said that Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla had gone to some of the guys toward the back end of the rotation before a game and said something to the effect of, hey, I don't know if I can get to you tonight. The media session ended and I asked Shrewsberry if he ever does something similar before a given game. He responded by saying that he doesn't have a set idea of what the rotation might look like for a given game. It's all read and react and see if this guy or that guy might be the difference, which allows you to understand why the rotation looks the way it does most nights.

Andrew, Plymouth

10:04

Consistency has been a problem for everyone outside of Burton and Allocco. At this point in the season, a consistent bench rotation should be established but we don't know what to expect from game-to-game right now. Any idea if he's closer to establishing that or if we'll continue to see the same thing for the rest of the season? It's difficult for those players, as well, not knowing what their role is from game-to-game.

Connecting…