JotCast | Notre Dame hoops chat - June 2020

Notre Dame hoops chat - June 2020

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Thomas Noie

11:25

Brian: Not soon enough. Even the best of times, where there's no pandemic, the schedule likely is released around (r.e. after) Labor Day Weekend. It might be later this year given all the moving parts around the sports world in September and October and beyond. But every indication, and granted it's only June, is that the season is expected to start on time. That may change as we move deeper through the summer, so we'll see. As for an ACC/Big Ten Challenge opponent, still TBD. Lasts year's challenge matchups were announced June 6. That date's come and gone. Notre Dame expects to get a home game. Given the way of the world, I'd expect the Big 10 opponent would be within driving distance (teams will want to fly only if needed). Given that, you can eliminate Purdue, Indiana, Michigan State and Illinois. So say, maybe Michigan or Northwestern or Ohio State or Wisconsin? It's anyone's guess how it all might shake out.

Brian from Bloomington, IL

11:19

Hi Tom! Any insight into when the schedule might be released? Who the ACC/Big10 Challenge opponent might be? Thanks for the discussion today!

Thomas Noie

11:19

Dave: Good stuff. Prentiss Hubb is on track for an All-ACC type of season for sure, but I don't quite know what that season will look like. At 12.1 ppg., he's the team's leading returning scorer, but the Irish haven't had their point guard lead the team in scoring since Demetrius Jackson did it (15.8 ppg.) in 2015-16. Is Hubb cut from the same cloth? Does he need to be? Having a year older Dane Goodwin and adding Cormac Ryan will help in the handling department. But as far as Hubb as a distributor/scorer, think he's just going to be a really good basketball player. Like, let's see where that takes him. Might be pretty far.

Dave from Alpha, NJ

11:14

Hi Tom. Never a bad time to talk ND hoops. With basically no backup point guard currently on the roster, do you think that will make P Hubb more of a distributor or scorer? Plus his defense cannot be overlooked and will be much needed especially an ACC play. Thanks for these chats. They are always informative and keep up the good work!

Thomas Noie

11:14

Carl: Great question, and the most obvious is all of them, but on different levels. Let's start from the top - this was a key summer for the junior class of Prentiss Hubb, Dane Goodwin and Nate Laszewski. Like, it's their team now. No Rex. No T.J. No Mooney. It was the juniors' turn to run pickup games, be stronger voices/presence in the conditioning sessions. Kind of pull everyone into the group. Juwan Durham needed the summer to show his teammates that, yeah, you can trust me. Cormac Ryan needed it to get more comfortable playing with the main guys. He'll be one. Robby Carmody needed the summer to rebuild his confidence coming off the two injuries. The freshman needed it to see exactly what the level of competition/commitment it takes to be good. Trey Wertz needed it to ease into his Notre Dame career. Summer's big at Notre Dame. Not having it hurts. It was about more than just basketball.

Carl

11:10

Which player(s) gets hurt the most by there not being summer organized workouts?

Thomas Noie

11:10

That would be a massive jump for him, even more so than maybe playing 35 minutes. With Durham, it's mainly above the shoulders. He's got to believe that he's a main guy, that he can be a game-changer, that he can be a low-post threat. Mike Brey's spent the last two-plus seasons trying to get Durham to believe he can be good. Even really good. It gets to the point where it has to be up to the player to believe in himself, like, yeah, I'm good. I'm going to show everyone. That's the next step Durham has to take this season. He's out of time, so make the most of it.

11:08

Erik: Wait.....whoa......what??? Juwan Durham playing a combined 35 minutes over two games, right? Not 35 in one night. Durham played 17 minutes a game last season, and you expect him to double that? Those expectations are a big too inflated. Look at the recent run of main bigs in this system. John Mooney was a double double machine last season. He played 32.6. Same for Bonzie Colson...he played 32.4. I mentioned Martinas Geben as the team MVP his senior season in 2017-18....he played 24.8. Even Zach Auguste, who was as good of a pro prospect big man as the program's had in a decade logged only 29.6 and 24.4 his senior and junior seasons. So, no way does Durham play anywhere close to 35 this season. It's just not going to happen. The biggest item on his offseason agenda is to max out whatever minutes he's on the floor. He had a tendency to drift the last two seasons. He'd block a few shots or get a lob dunk and then disappear. Can he play 25? Can he get 12 points and eight rebounds and block a few shots?

Erik, Granger, IN

11:03

Any idea what Durham has been able to do this summer to take his game to the level needed by a #1 big is Brey’s system? We need him on the floor for 35 mins a game unless one of the freshman surprise, right? I love what he’s brought at times as a complimentary piece, but he hasn’t show any consistency yet. If you don’t know what he has been doing, what would you say he should have been doing to take that next step?

Thomas Noie

11:01

Andrew: Think this is where the Notre Dame FOOTBALL recruiting world collides with the Notre Dame BASKETBALL recruiting world. They're in different galaxies. Notre Dame football floods the recruiting class with offers. Notre Dame basketball simply can't do that from a fit/academic standpoint. They prefer a more measured approach. See what kids are like off the floor. How would they fit in the classroom? In the locker room? As for Blake Wesley, don't know if there's any indication whatsoever that he's leaning to any school. He's a kid that seems to like the attention he's getting as a high Division I recruit. And don't get caught up in the they "messed up" with Hunter Dickinson. Every indication is that he was coming. It was a done deal...and then it wasn't, for reasons beyond Notre Dame's doing. So there's that. And don't forget, they have Konieczny committed, but also get Trey Wertz eligible for two years in 2021-22 and will also have Cormac Ryan still trending as a college play.

Andrew from Plymouth, IN

10:55

According to 247 Sports, there are only 3 offers out there for next year's recruits; JR is committed, Blake Wesley seems to leaning toward IU at the moment, and Caleb Furst is committed to Purdue. Do you feel like the coaching staff is making a mistake putting all of their eggs in the Wesley basket and should have some more offers out there? They messed up with putting too much into Dickinson this cycle and had to send out late offers to fill out this incoming class. Compared to other schools, ND just hasn't offered many kids. We probably need to sign 3 kids in the next class, why haven't more offers been extended? Does Brey prefer the transfer portal to recruiting HS players?

Thomas Noie

10:55

Matt: The Notre Dame medical staff is anxious to get Carmody back to campus to monitor his rehab from the knee injury/surgery, but all indications are that he's on track, he's healthy, getting better and will be in the rotation mix this season. Next step once he heals physically will be the psychological hurdle. What type of player is he coming off two serious/season-ending injuries. Does he dial it back just a little? Stay aggressive? Can he just stay healthy long enough to play in January? That would be a big step for him. This is a big stretch for him and his career.

Matt from Granger

10:52

Any update on Rob Carmondy and when he will be back to play

Thomas Noie

10:52

Erik: No, no, no...thank YOU for being here....can't answer any questions if I don't have any questions. Yeah, going to have to go with Pat Connaughton, and it's probably not very close. He parlayed one of the greatest single seasons in recent memory (2-14-15) into an NBA combine invitation and a second-round draft selection, one that nobody saw coming. He's survived and at times thrived at the game's highest level. He signed a two-year deal with Milwaukee betting on himself and becomes a restricted free agent at season's end. He's going to draw interest. There have been others (Luke Harangody, Demetrius Jackson, Jerian Grant) who have been drafted but for one reason or another, just didn't work out. Connaughton was determined to stick and has. It's a great success story. As for Europe, gotta go with my guy Torin Francis, who's still getting it done at age 37. Never saw that coming when he had back surgery his sophomore year. They guy's unbelievable.

Erik ‘04

10:48

Thanks for being here! Which Mike Brey *recruit* (ie not Troy Murphy) has had the most successful NBA career? Pat C.?

Thomas Noie

10:44

Good to hear from you again Vic. You can scroll down to the previous question for more background info on Blake Wesley, who definitely will be on the short wish list moving forward. Been covering Notre Dame hoops since 1988 and this really is the first time that two local kids have had Notre Dame offers this early in the process. Remember, Austin Torres was committed to Central Michigan before being offered and accepting said offer from Mike Brey in basically the same night early in his senior year. There haven't been a pair of prospects like Wesley and Konieczny (both averaged better than 20 points per game as juniors) since I don't know when. Might have to defer to someone who's followed area high school hoops longer/closer. Think I know a guy! lol

Victor K.

10:41

Tom...always enjoy our opportunities to chat. Sonny, Justin, Xander and I love to come from Salem once in a while and check out a game. Obviously, the Irish already have a recruit from South Bend in this J.R. Konieczny lad. How hot and heavy are they on Blake Wesley? I know Jackson and Torres were area players who were Irish teammates before. Do you recall any other times where more than one South Bend area player have had scholarships at the same time?

Thomas Noie

10:39

Tyler: That would be South Bend Riley High School guard Blake Wesley, who will start his senior year in the fall. All indications are that Wesley remains a viable options for the 2021 class that also includes South Bend Saint Joseph small forward J.R. Konieczny. Wesley's garnered a lot of attention from other schools, but the feeling is Notre Dame will be in it until the end (a road the Irish have traveled with many a prospect in recent recruiting classes). Stay tuned.

Tyler

10:37

Tom- any local update on Blake Wesley?

Thomas Noie

10:37

Liam: Not at all. Most important in having 12 is the Irish finally get some wiggle room in terms of having enough guys to practice 5-on-5 without having to tape into the coaching staff (lace 'em up, Ryan Ayers) if a couple guys go down with injuries. Nik Djogo will be back as a graduate student to follow a similar academic path as Rex Pflueger in getting his master's. Mike Brey's always been a believer that he can do more with less. Maxing out the scholarships just to max them out is something he's never believed in. That's just more guys you have to try and keep happy, and less scholarship flexibility in the future. He's got 12 on the roster, but 12 guys aren't going to play. Even with Trey Wertz sitting out as a transfer and Elijah Morgan as a walk-on, Brey's not going to play all 10 guys. Who knows how the three freshmen (Elijah Taylor, Matt Zona, Tony Sanders) will fit. Maybe they will. Maybe they won't. Maybe one or two will. Maybe one goes on the five-year plan. Thin is OK, as long as they stay healthy.

Liam from London

10:33

Provided Nik Djogo decides to return for one more year, the Irish have 12 players on the roster (amen!). However, Elijah Morgan is a walk-on, Trey Wertz has to sit one year, and Zona, Taylor and Sanders are freshmen. Are the Irish too thin to be competitive?

Thomas Noie

10:30

Liam: Notre Dame's always going to be active in looking to add to its roster, but the later it goes, the more unlikely they can add a transfer (or in this case, a grad transfer) who can help for 2020-21. The low post now belongs to Juwan Durham. It's like the coaching staff is saying, hey, JD, this is your chance. Take it and run with it. No more playing second fiddle to John Mooney or worrying that you're not getting enough touches or minutes or chances. Time to step up and deliver, sort of like how Martinas Geben did his senior year when he went from bit player wanting to do more to arguably the team's most valuable player in 2017-18 (11.0 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 60.6 fg percentage). If Durham can give them 12 and eight, that will work. Don't yet know how Matt Zona will fit, but don't count out Nate Laszewski and his role as a second big. Yeah, he should be more of a floor spacer, but he was the team's second most consistent/productive rebounder last season behind John Mooney.

Liam from London

10:24

Tom: With Juwan Durham as the only true center on the roster with game experience, are the Irish looking to acquire another inside, post player? Zona and Laszewski have length, but will they mostly space the floor?

Thomas Noie

10:24

...And have heard zero movement on Comcast picking up the ACC Network. Wish they would. As the largest cable provider in the area, for Notre Dame fans not to be able to watch Notre Dame hoops (men and women) is ridiculous.

10:23

Ray: First off, glad you're healthy. Now stay that way so you can keep reading the Tribune! lol The most popular question for all of college basketball right now is....we don't know. A lot of what may or may not happen likely will be based on how the sports world responds to the NBA, the NHL and college football. Then the coronavirus numbers themselves. Will there be a spike? A second wave? Will schools want to play it safe. I've read a few stories where epidemiologists have been quoted as saying the last place they'd want to go until there's a vaccine is an indoor sporting event, or any sport event. The fact that it's indoors likely complicates matters. Even with the option of wearing masks and social distancing, think college basketball will start with no fans (and likely no media) in November and December and then reassess for conference play in January. But again, if a second wave arrives (as the experts believe), what happens then? So much unknown....

Ray From Mishawaka

10:18

Hi Tom Long time follower and thanks for having the chat and for your columns thru this pandemic. I'm a long time season ticket holder since 1974 and just wondering if you have any idea how fans will be able to see games. Since I'm close to 70 years old even though my health is fine, I'm in a risk group because of my age. I want to continue to support the program with my season ticket purchase. Do you think this season will include fans on some level? Also, any word on any movement for ACC Network being picked up by Comcast.

Thomas Noie

10:17

...As for part two of your question with Georgetown bowing out, don't get the feeling that Patrick Ewing was really in with both feet in getting something going. It all sounded well and good last offseason and even early last fall, then the Hoyas fell on rough times with losses, off-court issues, transfers and more losses. Think Ewing would rather have the guarantee 'W' game than rekindling the series. They pulled the plug on it in January, basically saying, yeah, we're not interested. Notre Dame filled that spot with Kentucky, will eventually restart the series with Marquette, still wants to do something with Villanova and wants to get back to the UCLA series sooner than later. So Georgetown goes to the back of the line, maybe for a long time.

10:15

Matt: While members of the Notre Dame football team have started to make their way back to campus and the Morris Inn and started the coronavirus quarantine process, there's been no movement whatsoever for the Irish men's and women's basketball team to return anytime soon. Mike Brey indicated last week that he still expects not to see his guys until the days (and maybe hours) leading up to the start of the fall semester on Aug. 10. The first practice would then be Aug. 11. That's the mandate for the university, which wants to take this whole reintegration process s...l....o...w. Brey has already counseled his guys that he doesn't want them worrying about this school (Louisville) or that school (Clemson) already being back on campus. They're not going to use that as a crutch or a concern. The timetable is what it is, so go with it. Stay in shape the best they can, bang out a couple summer school classes (which start next week) on-line and then be ready to hit the ground running....

Matt from DC

10:11

Hey Tom. (1) What are the chances that the hoops teams (men and women) will be able to get on campus early to begin making up for lost time? And when? It would seem to be logistically a lot simpler than for the football team. (2) Why did Georgetown bow out of the series with ND? Any insight? Thanks as always!

Thomas Noie

10:11

Collin: Said piece appeared in Tuesday's South Bend Tribune. Here's a link: https://tinyurl.com/yd73ahb3. Notre Dame currently has only one former player in the NBA in Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton, who's an unrestricted free agent. He'll get attention on the open market in the offseason, which is when, exactly, October?? Other than that, Notre Dame alums are fringe NBA guys (Matt Farrell, Demetrius Jackson) and overseas lifers (Tim Abromaitis, Torin Francis, Steve Vasturia). It's not the worst way in the world to make a living. And it beats a real job. A guy like Bonzie Colson, who played professionally in Turkey last season, may find his way onto an NBA roster given the right situation. Same goes for John Mooney. But no true summer league will be a big hurdle for both.

Collin from Elkhart

10:07

You recently did a piece on former players playing professionally. Which current players are most likely to stick in the NBA and which ones are destined for overseas?

Thomas Noie

10:07

Lee: Only if they win, and that's a big if. Don't get fooled into thinking that the women's team just became popular around South Bend because they happened to win more than the men. Remember the early years - and those years included building a Big East power - when tickets were routinely free, give-aways at local gas stations. The women's program needed to do that to build interest and did it by tapping into an older fan base. They kept ticket prices down, way, way down in relation to the men. In a city the size of South Bend, where discretionary income isn't at a surplus, fans had to choose - pay more $$$ for the men or less $$$ for the women. They chose door No. 2. Of course, getting the routine run of Final Fours and two national championships doesn't hurt as well.

Lee from Lancaster,SC

10:04

For most of the past 20 years, the women's team has garnered more local support and national media attention than the men's team. Now that Muffet has retired and the women's team is rebuilding, will the men be the most popular basketball team on campus for the remainder of Mike Brey's tenure?

Thomas Noie

10:04

Lee: Great question. Think the obvious answer right now is Nate Laszewski, who knocked down the game-tying 3 at the end of regulation against Toledo and the game-winning 3 against North Carolina. So he's been there and done that. But this may be a team that's ready to not rely on that one guy to make the big shot. I'd like to see an attacking Prentiss Hubb at the end of a clock or game situation with the ability to lob it to Juwan Durham for a dunk or kick it to any number of potential shooters like Laszewski. Or Dane Goodwin. Don't forget about Cormac Ryan, the Stanford transfer who will impress right from the jump. Focusing on one guy limits options and for this team to be better than last year, it has to have more options than just John Mooney going for another monster double double.

Lee from Lancaster,SC

10:01

Who will be the "go to" player that can get the Irish a bucket when they are down by 1 with twenty seconds to go in the game?

Thomas Noie

10:01

....Nobody really knows what's going to happen as far as an on-time start date for college basketball. A lot of that will have to do with what happens earlier in the fall. Does college football start on time? Are there underlying issues that nobody foresees? A second wave of coronavirus in September or October? Notre Dame will move forward as if everything will start on time and be business as usual with exhibition games in late October/early November, and then the regular season. December's loaded for this team this season, which includes a Dec. 12 trip to Rupp Arena to play Kentucky and two Atlantic Coast Conference games. Whether fans will be allowed in, whether media will be allowed in, will another hurdle cleared as we move forward through the college football season. What works? What doesn't? All remains to be seen at this point.

9:58

Alex: A two-for-one to start, so let's do it. Love the addition of former Santa Clara guard Trey Wertz, who gives the Irish something - and someone - that they haven't had in far too long. He's a guard who can make shots from the perimeter, but also get to the basket. He doesn't just settle for a spot-up 3. Not afraid to get into the lane and get to the basket and get fouled. He's long. He's athletic. He's unafraid. Exactly what you want from a two guard. As for part two....

Alex perry

9:56

What do you make out of Notre dames future with the addition of trey wertz for 2021 and will we see ND play on time ?

Thomas Noie

9:49

Welcome back to another offseason edition of the Notre Dame men's basketball chat. June feels a lot like May and April and part of March in the coronavirus pandemic world, where the hours and days and weeks all seem to run together. Let's forget about that for a few hours and talk some hoops. Be sure to include your name and hometown with your question or comment. And with that, you know what's next...let's light this chat candle! Off we go....

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