JotCast | Notre Dame Hoops Season Wrap Chat

Notre Dame Hoops Season Wrap Chat

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Bobby Washington, DC

11:45

Along the vein of no NCAA tournament or NIT appearance this year, do you think that stunts the growth of the rising junior class? If it does, does a tranfer with some post-season experience become more desireable? (I believe the 2020-21 roster as presently constructed carries a combined 0 games of postseason experience)

Thomas Noie

11:45

Joey: Yes, and maybe add another guy like him, unless we suddenly see something from Nate Laszewski or Dane Goodwin that we didn't see the first two years. But that's a big area of concern. Notre Dame passed it well and took care of it well but it didn't have that one guy, especially in close game situations, who could just go get a bucket when a bucket was needed. Almost every ACC team has a guy like that. Notre Dame needs that.

Joey

11:43

This year at times it seemed like guys who can score off the dribble were hard to come by, do you think Cormac Ryan will be the best guy on the team at creating his own shot?

Thomas Noie

11:43

Ryan: Thanks for the note, and the chuckle....you didn't watch much of the season????? Where you been? Listening to Mick Jagger music and bad-mouthing your country? (Sorry, that's a movie line, let's see if anyone gets it). You still need depth even if you play only six or seven guys. It's about having the option of changing out those six or seven guys. The fifth man or sixth man or whatever man isn't doing what's required? Change up the rotation. There weren't many options to change this year. They played seven because a lot of times, they only had seven. No reason not to have 11 guys fighting for those seven spots. Create a little competition.

Ryan

11:40

I heard you say needs to add depth, but Mike Brey historically doesn’t go more than 6-7 deep it seems. Granted I didn’t watch much this season.

Thomas Noie

11:40

Nick: All indications are that Robby Carmody is on schedule in his return from the ACL tear suffered in the closing seconds of the Maryland game. He resumed traveling with the team late in the year and should be close to full strength when fall practice commences.

Nick South Bend

11:38

How is Carmody’s recovery going? Will he be ready by seasons start?

Thomas Noie

11:38

Eric: Absolutely. They went from 3-15 to 10-10. Now do better than the break-even mark. How? With whom? That's up to the guys way above my pay grade to figure it out. They'll have a lot of time to find a way.

Eric

11:37

Sorry to see this happen to your Dayton Flyers. They had as good a chance as anyone this year. With what the Irish are losing this year, is there any way they don't finish in the bottom quarter of the ACC next year?

Thomas Noie

11:37

Mike: Man, that's a tough spot, isn't it? I can't see that happening.

Mike from Rochester

11:37

Tom- is there any chance that Brey would consider retooling his staff, even if it means firing a former player?

Thomas Noie

11:37

Dave: No idea. Sure there's a plan in place to follow in terms of conditioning from strength coach Tony Rolinski and group texts between staff and players and players and players. Sure they're talking with potential transfers, but will take them only so far. How do they fit in on campus? In the program? That's going to be the big question. One that in the way the world's operating today, nobody has an answer.

Dave, DC

11:35

I know the Irish athletic staffs are in a difficult position during this public health event. Do you know if Brey and his staff (Balanis, Humphrey, Ayers) are still communicating with the players and, importantly, recruits/transfer candidates?

Thomas Noie

11:35

Noah: I'll keep this to the three sophomores who are healthy. The easiest answer would be Robby Carmody, but coming off two season-ending injuries the last two years, next year is easy for him - just make it through healthy. You can't pencil him for anything else right now for the fact that the next Atlantic Coast Conference game he plays in will be his first. That's staggering. So of the three - Prentiss Hubb, Nate Laszewski and Dane Goodwin - we'll go with Laszewski. He took some steps this season, but with John Mooney leaving, Laszewski's got to be more consistent in his scoring and shooting and rebounding. Those 7.4 ppg., have to jump to double figures. Those 4.6 rpg should go to six or seven. Those 21.0 minutes? Maybe closer to 27. Boost the field goal percentage from 41 percent to 44-46....the 3-point field goal percentage from 31 to closer to 40 (he's that talented a shooter) and the free throw percentage from 73.1 closer to 80. Hubb's going to run the show and Goodwin's going to continue to trend up

Noah; Chicago

11:30

Of the 4 Sophomores who makes the biggest jump next year? A better question who NEEDS to make the biggest jump next year.

Thomas Noie

11:28

Jack: Not a question that needs to be answered based on what I've gathered. Ask again when there's an opening

Jack

11:28

If Brey stepped down today, who do you think are the coaches Notre Dame would go after? Also, do you think Beilein or Kevin Willard (or someone of their ilk) would even consider the job?

Thomas Noie

11:28

Kyle: Slim and none. At some point, you're ready to move on....players from the program and program from the players. College was a great four years of my life, but doing it for a fifth year? Wouldn't feel right....I was ready to start the next chapter of my life. Same should go for this year's seniors.

Kyle, Charlotte NC

11:26

Although it seems unlikely currently, if the NCAA was to grant an extra year of eligibility to winter sport athletes, what are the odds that Mooney, Gibbs, and/or Pflueger would return?

Thomas Noie

11:26

Bobby: Yeah, those were two good ones. Other than YouTube, keep an eye out on CBS Sports Network, which I believe is running some of the top games of NCAA tournaments past. Still can't believe they won that Wisconsin game. Remember getting up from my seat on press row at Wells Fargo Center and asking Brian Morrison, the former communications director for hoops in the ACC, wait, what just happened? And how did that happen? That was the game where Mike Brey thought he blew out his Achilles late in the game...just a calf muscle. He played through it that weekend in South Philly.

Bobby Washington, DC

11:24

Tom - thanks so much for your coverage this year and every year. I've been vigorously scoping the web for replays of past Irish NCAA tournmanent games, but I can only find a select few on YouTube. Do you have any idea of where I might be able to find more of them? (Most interested in the 2015 Butler Rd of 32 game and 2016 Wisconsin Sweet 16 game).

Thomas Noie

11:24

Nick: Strike two....lol....see previous comments in chat. You'll find your answer there.

Nick South Bend

11:23

has there been any more whisperings in regards to Brey’s future ?

Thomas Noie

11:23

Too popular...first question out of the gate, my man...see above, or below, however these chat questions line up....lol

Nick South Bend

11:23

Probably a popular question today, what’s up with ND’s transfer prospects?

Thomas Noie

11:23

Ray: Asked and answered. Don't see it and don't think it should. Yeah, way season ended isn't fair, but welcome to the real world, too.

Ray From Mishawaka

11:22

I heard rumblings of possibly giving seniors another year of eligibility. While a nice gesture I don't think that its a good idea. At this time of the year from an academic standpoint, most students are ready to move to the next phase of their lives. Do you think this will happen?

Thomas Noie

11:22

Taylor: Asked and answered. Have a hard time seeing that happening. See above for reasoning.

Taylor - South Bend

11:21

Any chance Mooney or Gibbs come back for a 5th year to get their Masters?

Thomas Noie

11:21

Steve: Asked and answered.

Steve Kerr New Hope,MN

11:21

Will Mike Brey make any changes to his staff?

Thomas Noie

11:21

Tim: That's a hard sell. He's got four Notre Dame graduates who all played for him on staff right now in assistant coaches Ryan Ayers and Ryan Humphrey, opps guy Harold Swanagan and video coordinator Scott Martin. His associate head coach (Rod Balanis) has been with him since the start. Balanis is the one guy who can push back with ideas for the head coach. If he's not changing staff, he at least should figure out a way to better teach/reach the guys on the roster.

Tim- Collingswood, NJ

11:10

Do we see any changes to Breys staff going into next year that could have an impact on gameplan or recruiting?

Thomas Noie

11:10

I was just as critical of the 2014-15 team that went 32-6 and 14-4 as I was this year. The 30-point loss to Duke at Cameron Indoor comes to mind. I was hard on Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton. I criticized the effort and the focus and the no-show that day. Wondered where it was all going. When teams go to the Elite Eight, that gets swept to the side. When teams struggle to sustain success, like the last two years, the easiest avenue is to say, ah, beat guy's too critical. Tough? Fair? I'll take that because it means I'm doing my job.

11:08

Dick: I'll answer, even though I know you're still hiding behind that Twitter alias (lol). Fair question/comment and one that seems to surface only when the Irish struggle. There are still those who wonder why beat writers aren't more,w ell, upbeat, about the teams that they cover. Losses should be reported more of how nice of an effort the team might give instead of the ways it couldn't figure it out at the end (see, Florida State). Notre Dame had some nice aspects to its season, and those were indeed noted - John Mooney being John Mooney, the bump in league wins by seven, the scramble-back from starting 2-6. But I have a hard time painting positive pictures when you lose four home league games or when you lose 20 in a row to ranked teams or lose to a 14th-place Wake Forest team knowing your NCAA tournament life depends on it. The criticism comes because you see the potential in this program to be better than 10-10. The Irish figure out just a few of those close games, they're 12-8 or 13-7.

Dick Barone

11:03

Tom you do a nice job but are a tough critic, have you considered being a bit more positive? ND had a first team all ACC member, competed in some close games, had a head coach who stuck his neck out there for the boys, and earned a bye ending the season with a win in the ACC Tournament! Didn’t like the uniforms with white and gold but that’s my only compliant, they need some blue in there. Come on Under Armour! - Dick Barone, Formerly of Northern New Jersey, current whereabouts undisclosed

Thomas Noie

11:03

Mark: Asked and answered earlier. But Landers Nolley? Woof the way he played that season finale against Notre Dame and then in the ACC tournament. Hard pass on that one.

Mark Kruz from Mishawaka

11:02

Tom I have been checking the transfer portal and an interesting name is on there in Landers Nolley from Va Tech. One other name that I think ND would seriously consider is grad transfer Jordan Bruner from Yale. He is a 6'8" PF that averaged 11 ppg and 9 rpg for a really good Yale team. Any other names in the portal that have caught your eye that possibly might fit at ND??

Thomas Noie

11:00

As for the repeat opponents, be careful what you wish for. Think at this time, Notre Dame is right where it needs to be with Boston College and Georgia Tech as the permanent repeat opponents. There are rotating repeaters, and there's no way that Louisville shouldn't be a part of that mix. That's the ACC being the ACC. Next year's league repeaters, in addition to Boston College and Georgia Tech are Duke (oof!), Miami, Virginia (oof, too!) and Virginia Tech. The 2021-22 repeaters are BC, GT, Clemson, Lousiville, North Carolina State and Pittsburgh. Notre Dame went 6-6 against its repeaters this season.

10:55

Mark: Thanks for the shout-out my man....that first-place award came from the 2019 NCAA women's Final Four. I've also finished in the top 10 in the country for our newspaper circulation size for column writing - pretty good for a beat hack! But back to hoops. It's good that Mooney put the Notre Dame sports information department to work documenting double doubles because it might be a while before we see someone come anywhere close to those numbers. Durham and Laszewski might get one now and then, but that steady stream will slow to a trickle. Mooney was unique....

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