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Notre Dame hoops chat - February 2022
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AvatarThomas Noie
12:32
Joe: Call the Notre Dame men's basketball offices. Tell them I told you to...they've listen. Maybe.
Russell
12:32
Who comes back next year? Wesley 50/50 at best. Assume Cormac Ryan comes back, but who else (of the core rotation guys now)?
AvatarThomas Noie
12:32
Russell: Asked an answered. Scroll through to find the info. You won't regret it.
Xavier
12:32
What do you think about Solomon being the coach in waiting assuming Brey continues to keep things on track?
AvatarThomas Noie
12:37
Xavier: Don't see it. Anthony Solomon is a good man who is of tremendous value, but it's a tough sell to say that he's the head coach in waiting at Notre Dame when he's a career 24-88 as a head coach. Some guys are better off as assistants and I think Slo more than fits that bill. I do know that one reason he left after the 2015-16 season was that he believed that he should've been given more of a look as a head coach elsewhere. But it was hard for Mike Brey to convince schools A, B and C to give Slo a serious look when he's 24-88. At this stage of his coaching career, Slo's more of a sage than a sergeant, That's OK. He's exactly what this program needed this season. E-X-A-C-T-L-Y. It's no coincidence that the Irish are where they are with Slo back on the staff.
Mike - Newark, DE
12:37
Hey Tom - walk me back from thinking about this team (if Wesley returns) as a top 10-15 team... Wesley and Starling plus an assortment of fifth year guys that clearly can go out and win a ton of ACC games... only real weakness to me would be in the middle if Atkinson has to move on (as well as Nate being a question mark for 22-23). Feels like they'd have real staying power in the national discussion next year in this scenario
AvatarThomas Noie
12:38
Mike: This, times 10. The bulk of the core comes back, one of the other freshmen (Ven-Allen Lubin) hits big early and the transfer portal works its magic, and you've got the makings of something sustainable in South Bend.
Adam
12:38
Love ND in all sports, great season so far far.  My son and I don’t miss a game, I’m just shocked at the lack of fan support at home games?  What is the issue?  That place looked empty last night?
AvatarThomas Noie
12:39
Adam: It was bad. I get the pandemic and get that classwork may have been a conflict, but if you can fill it for Duke, you can fill it for any other game. And should fill it. Fans (and you know who you are) whined incessantly the last three years about the state of the program. Now the program's on firm footing, and it's a collective shrug. Facts.
Tyler
12:39
Tom, I’m curious what your relationship (if any) is like with Coach Brey outside of basketball season? Occasional text, yearly July dinner, anything? If so, would you say he's about as authentic as he appears to be nationally to those who don't know him as well as you guys that do?
AvatarThomas Noie
12:40
Tyler: You'll have to wait for the book to learn about that. grinning
Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.
12:40
Tom, thanks so much for your great work covering ND hoops. Despite their notable efforts so far, I sense that the Irish aren't getting much respect on a national level and are being somewhat dismissed by the supposed experts whose job it is to project the Big Dance field. I hate to think of it, but in your opinion, is there any way that ND could finish in top three of the ACC regular-season standings and yet still get aced out of earning a NCAA postseason berth? I don't why but I've got a funny feeling about this possibility.
AvatarThomas Noie
12:42
Jim: None, zero, zlich, nada, and any other word you might want to use. Notre Dame is 10-3 in the league. It has four home games left. Win those four and get to 14 wins, steal one more road win. Finish 15-5 and it's over. Mike Brey is Atlantic Coast Conference coach of the year and the Irish are back in the tournament.
Robert from Mishawaka
12:42
Thank you for having these chats, and Go Irish!
AvatarThomas Noie
12:42
Another one.....say it louder for those in the back my man!
joe from the south side
12:42
Tom,  Lunardi has OKLA has one of the last teams in.  They have THREE league wins.  ALL three were against teams under .500 in the league.  I believe they are 1-7 in their last 8.  OKLA is hanging its hat on two wins two months ago.  Ignore Lunardi.  There are much better options.
AvatarThomas Noie
12:43
Joe: I would counsel any college basketball fan to ignore EVERYBODY when it turns to NCAA talk. Only 68 teams will get in, but between now and Selection Sunday, there will be at least 200 that people say are in or deserve to be in. It's dizzying, and even downright dopey. Just keep winning, and Selection Sunday takes care of itself.
Tyler
12:46
Tom, you might of already covered (I always read the full transcript after the chat), but in the eyes of those within the program and those that cover this program closely, what specifically makes this season a great one and not a bust? I’m a little more realistic than most ND hoops fans with expectations and I’d argue we are getting to that territory of this season already being a success (pending an NCAA bid). Given how short the majority of this team has fell with expectations, just to finish in the top 4 of the ACC in year 4 and to finally earn a bid to be given a chance at the whole thing is a successful season in my eyes- even if an early round exit (sigh, I know). What say you?
AvatarThomas Noie
12:49
Tyler: The greatness bar was forever raised by the 2014-15 team. The Irish went 32-6. They went 14-4 in the league. They were a top four seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament. They won said tournament by beating Duke and North Carolina on consecutive nights in the city where the league was formed. It nearly got to a Final Four. It maxed everything out. That's greatness. Anything less than that and the season's really good. Though I have a different view of greatness. Great seasons are when you can just kind of hang on and enjoy the ride. That certainly was 2015. That also was 2011 with what that team did (NCAA stagger aside). This one has a chance to be great in a sense if the Irish continue doing what they're doing. Getting to the NCAA usually would be enough, but there's something different about this group. We might soon see it.
joe from the south side
12:49
Tom,  You know you raised an interesting point.  Brey can probably recruit 10-15 kids out of the Top 100.  The rest are just never getting into ND.  If you go the portal route, not only do you "stay old", but you at least get a known commodity academically.  You think ND should/will place more of an emphasis on transfers going forward?  If they do, it kind of goes against how the school has positioned itself, reputation-wise.
AvatarThomas Noie
12:51
Joe: Yes, yes, yes, but only for absolutely the right fits. Notre Dame never is going to get guys just to get guys (as evidence by never maxing out the allotted scholarships, which is also by design). But that's where college basketball is headed. Either play the game or you won't be in the game. And 10-15 of the Top 100 is way too generous. It's more like 5-10 with a "realistic" shot at MAYBE one or two kids a year. But hey. you still better win in the ACC.
joe from the south side
12:51
Tom,  Wouldn't be a chat without the mention of Djogo.  BTW, both he and Chris D. are doing quite well with ND's AAA team.   Djogo is the 2nd leading scorer and Dougherty basically averages a double-double.  All that for a team with ONE conference win.  Who is next in the conversation?  DJ Harvey? LOL
AvatarThomas Noie
12:52
Joe: Both (really all three) doing stuff at their respective schools (D.J. Harvey is at Detroit-Mercy) at a level where their games really belong. Doesn't make them bad guys. Just not ACC-caliber guys.
Tom, Gary, Indiana
1:03
I have really enjoyed watching Blake Wesley play, and I believe, pump some life into the program. How do you think his performance helped Brey get J.J. Starling? Future recruits?
AvatarThomas Noie
1:06
Tom: Honestly, it didn't. J.J. Starling signed with Notre Dame three days before Blake Wesley ever played a game in an Irish uniform. Now, the thought of pairing with Wesley was intriguing for Starling, but one thing you learn when you're around this program for 24 years, Notre Dame guys are different. In so many ways. Basketball is important but not end-all-be-all important. J.J. Starling looked hard at Notre Dame because he wanted to be different. Wanted to blaze his own trail. Same for future recruits. They want to play high level hoops and compete in the ACC and all that, but they want more - want the all-encompassing of what a Notre Dame education can provide.
Tyler
1:07
Tom, let’s “pretend” (because we can do that) this entire group returns next year after getting a taste (using Brey lingo) of the tournament but getting bounced after game 1. Where would see his "Mahomes" fitting into the rotation next year? I couldn’t imagine a 5th year guy with as many miles on his tires (and having a great 21-22 ACC season) would be accepting of a rotating bench role with JJ Starling getting 28+ minutes. Would Hubb be understanding to pass the torch? Sure. But accepting? No way. Nor would Brey do that to him or put him in that position. Nor should he. So I guess my question is 1) if they ALL (except Paul) return, where do you see Hubb fitting in that rotation? And 2) fair to say out of ALL of this core, Hubb would/should be least likely to return because of Starling, and well.. it’s just time? Agree?
AvatarThomas Noie
1:10
Tyler: Conventional wisdom would agree, but then again, since we are pretending...The more I've seen J.J. Starling play, the more I can see that it's not out of the realm of possibility that Prentiss Hubb might - stress might - return. In his current role at La Lumiere, J.J. Starling is not the true "point guard." he often plays off the ball and allows Jeremy Fears (Michigan State signee) and/or Aden Holloway to handle point guard duties. Then there are times where when Starling needs to be Starling, he can be Starling. Hubb has been the ultimate team guy this season, which has gone unnoticed. What would he want out of next year? A main role? Yeah, probably not. A team role? Hmmmmm.
joe from the south side
1:12
Tom,  I'll give you the book on the 3 recruits.  Starling starts from Day 1.  More advanced than Wesley was at the same time in their careers.  JJS has NBA written all over him.  If Wesley and Dane stay, you might average 50 points a game from those 3 spots.  No kidding.  Ven-Allen will likely be the best athlete on the team.  Explosive.  A motor that just does not quit.  In some ways reminds one of Ryan H. when he transferred.  The first time I saw RH play at ND, I thought, "My Lord, we don't get those kinds of basketball athletes here."  Ven-Allen is in that category, though a little undersized.  That said, he is rough around the edges.  He definitely needs polish.  If he works with Hump for a few years, he is going to be hard to handle.  Finally, my favorite is Dom C.  Love this guy's skill set.  Would need to see what his body looks like before making an assessment, but easy to play with.  Dirty work kind of teammate.  Trivia question----He reminds me of the "Malverne Mountain".  Who am I referring to?
AvatarThomas Noie
1:13
Joe: Good stuff, and agree. Have seen/talked with J.J. Starling plenty to see that he's next. Never heard of your Mountain guy and too swamped with questions to cheat with Google.
Matt
1:13
If Hubb and Goodwin both come back next year (along with Wertz and Ryan), where does JJ Starling fit in the rotation? He has to play given his talent, but how much? Who sacrifices minutes? Love the idea of Hubb tutoring both Wesley and Starling for another year, but guard is getting crowded (no to mention JR).
AvatarThomas Noie
1:14
Matt; Regardless of who's back or who's not, J.J. Starling is a starter/main guy from the minute he steps on campus until his career ends. It's as sure of a thing as sure things are.
Tyler
1:14
Tom, wouldn’t be a party without a crowd question. I’m not saying I’m interested in the Big 10 (but really I am) or suggesting even holding to that to be a future possibility for ND (won't happen). My question is, do you think the crowds would be better if ND was in the Big 10? Just overall attendance. I mean, give me Northwestern + Penn State + Minnesota over GT + NCST + BC any day of the week. It will never happen but you get what I’m saying. Agree? Heck, you would get the same Duke crowd that you would for Michigan. Same North Carolina (non xmas break) crowd that you would for Indiana. Same (non covid) crowd for a good Syracuse and good Louisville that you would for Purdue or Michigan State. My only concern would be the 60/40 split or even losing the building to Indiana or Purdue LOL.
AvatarThomas Noie
1:15
Tyler: Agree. The Midwest crowd just isn't as invested in teams from the southeast, and that even includes Louisville. Scale of one to 10, last night was a 6.5 Maybe.
Tim from Evanston
1:15
You tweeted a pic of the empty arena last night and Tory Jackson commented as well.  Why do you think there is lack of support for this team in the form of crowd size?  Also, do you think Brey really enjoys going to the dining halls and lecture halls handing out tickets and throwing t shirts to students.  Coach K, Boeheim would never do that stuff and they are his closest peers in the ACC.
AvatarThomas Noie
1:18
Tim: Full disclosure, that picture was snapped about one minute before tip. So many fans/students/lackeys were so fed up the previous three seasons that they can't possibly stoop to the level of crawling back to root for them now. That would be admitting that they were wrong. And that the program again is good and worth watching. Sometimes I wonder if "fan" is short for "dope." And now, Brey can't like having to scour the dining and lecture halls to drum up interest, but hey, he got this program into it. Time for him to get it out, right?
Tyler
1:20
Tom, who’s the one guy on this team that if they don’t “elevate” their game over the course of this season or next (if they return), and they just remain the same would you be most disappointed in as far as like gosh, I thought we could of gotten more out of him? Mine is Cormac Ryan. IF he remains the same as he has this year and remains the same next year. I wasn’t expecting an all-league offensive guy but gosh, I was expecting more than only just 1 or 2 all-league type nights in a few seasons. Even Nate or Hubb can inconsistently give you those. Cormac can consistently defend though so he does check that box.
AvatarThomas Noie
1:24
Tyler: Good call. You know what direction I'm going to go? How about Blake Wesley. Say he is one-and-done guy. Say he believes he's ready to go to the NBA. Let's see him do what another ACC guy did when he was a freshman who was really good during the bulk of the season, but took it to another level while on his NBA drive late. I'm referring to Jayson Tatum. I remember watching him earlier in the 2016-17 season, then seeing him again in the ACC tournament in Brooklyn. Specifically, the ACC title game against Notre Dame, a game Notre Dame should've won. I watched Tatum that night and thought, wow, best player in the draft. Franchise-like guy. Just couldn't be defended. Why not watch Wesley do that the last six weeks of the season? Just go on a run that says, yeah, I'm a pro and here's why...
Joe
1:24
Not to beat the rotation topic into the ground, but what did Brey see in Tony Sanders that had him play minutes at Michigan St. last year in the opener, but hardly gets on the court this year? Would love to see him used like Austin Torres for a few minutes of burst and hustle plays
AvatarThomas Noie
1:25
Joe: Nothing any of those guys did last year held any water/carryover to this season. They didn't have a summer to figure it out. They barely knew where all the buildings were on campus. Zona and Sanders and to an extent Taylor really are only freshmen this year and they're playing roles like freshmen play. He's not an answer now. Not even close. Next year? We'll see.
Todd in Charlotte
1:25
Tom: When you mentioned Djogo, I remembered he transferred out to Northeastern. Forgot that he's teammates with Chris Doherty. Both of them are having solid seasons! Sometimes players find greener pastures. Good for them.
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