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Notre Dame Hoops Season Wrap Chat

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Mark Kruz from Mishawaka

10:52

Tom with John Mooney graduating who could you see between Juwan and Nate gathering double double's next season? Also I wish the ACC would change up the scheduling on the home and home matchups. Tired of seeing Ga Tech and Boston College every season. I'd like to see Louisville being such a close proximity to ND plus the games have been pretty good too. BTW congrats on the award from the AP!

Thomas Noie

10:52

P: I don't see him having the stamina to go 30 minutes a game, but he should give them way more than the 17.5 minutes he did this season. He's probably not going to get any bigger (223 pounds) but he can afford to get tougher. He (and John Mooney) were pushed around by Olivier Sarr late in the year. That can't happen. Not in this league. Can he be a 10-point, 8-rebound guy next year? He has to be.

P. Rose

10:50

Durham seems to have a great touch on the offensive end. He doesn't do a great job with rebounding. What is the growth prediction on him? Does Brey expect him to become a 30 minute a game guy?

Thomas Noie

10:50

Mike: Probably because they prefer to take their time with recruits....make sure the academics are in order....make sure it's a prospect worth pursuing. If a kid has Notre Dame listed along with North Carolina and Duke, probably not a guy you want to spend a lot of time with unless he's made absolutely clear that he's interested in Notre Dame. Recruiting kids to Notre Dame is hard. That's not an excuse. It just is. Notre Dame was the first big-time school to identify Matthew Hurt. Once Duke swoops in, the Irish were an after thought. Notre Dame thought it had Hunter Dickinson. He picks Michigan. Nobody was earlier to the party on both those guys, and they can't land them. That's recruiting.

Mike from Rochester

10:47

Tom- when I read national articles at Rivals and 247, I never see ND mentioned when a recruit is asked who contacts him the most? It also seems like the staff doesn't establish relationships early. Why is ND so late to the party always?

Thomas Noie

10:47

Christian: Thanks for the voice of reason. Juwan Durham is headed down the same fan support role as Nik Djogo. Durham's had his moments this season - 16 points and nine rebounds in the first Florida State game, 21 and 4 at Duke, 12 and four in the ACC tournament win - but man, there were some serious gaps between those games where he was just kind of....there. Now, part of it probably can be explained that it's Durham still maturing as a basketball player. He sulked a bit when his role was diminished because that's never happened to him. He didn't know how to properly channel those frustrations or that focus. It looked like he did in the B.C. game when he came off the bench for the first time this season. OK, he didn't like it and felt he should've played more. Guess what? Now he gets that chance to show everyone what he can. No more John Mooney puts the frontcourt focus on Durham. He's not going to deliver a steady stream of double doubles, but he's got to do something to merit that time. It's his time now.

Christian, Chicago IL

10:42

Tom, I have a hard time understanding the groundswell of support for Juwan Durham. He has trouble catching the ball, goes stretches without making any positive plays, and often plays with a lack of energy/enthusiasm. He has big shoes to fill next year without Mooney. I'm cheering for the guy but he's not the answer. Thoughts? Can we find a big-guy on the transfer market that can "fit in" with our culture of losing to ranked teams 20 straight times and not making the NCAA's?

Thomas Noie

10:42

Tom: None. We hit that topic earlier in the chat. It's too much of a stretch to say college hoops kids should get another year. It's one thing if the season was shut down in November or early December. But they played an entire season. And not every college kid or program is assured of going to a postseason tournament. It might seem harsh, but there's no way they should have that option. It's unfortunate and for some kids unfair, but so is life.

Tom from Atlanta

10:40

Hi Tom. What are the odds that Gibbs gets another year now? Mooney's probably ready for next level, somewhere, and Rex has probably closed that chapter, but T.J. might really benefit.

Thomas Noie

10:40

Mark: Easiest question of the day, kind of like asking if John Mooney's going to get at least 10 points and 10 rebounds in an ACC game. The starting lineup if the Irish were rekindling their series with Georgetown tomorrow and a non-league game in D.C. would be a perimeter of Prentiss Hubb, Cormac Ryan and Dane Goodwin and Nate Laszewski and Juwan Durham in the frontcourt with Robby Carmody and Elijah Taylor the first options off the bench, along with a transfer (hopefully) to be named later.

Mark M.

10:38

What is your way too early starting 5 for next year?

Thomas Noie

10:38

At the end of the day, that might be more than OK for a guy who never dreamed he'd have the chance to attend Notre Dame, much less leave with a degree from the Mendoza College of Business and a likely Master's. That's pretty good for someone no one knew about coming out of high school.

10:37

He's got to be better. More consistent. What he does in practice doesn't always translate onto the court. If you know how Mike Brey's program operates, you know you've got to have several skill sets to cement your spot in his rotation. Nik's strength in practices has been an ability to make shots, but what else? What can he offer that would allow Brey to sit, say, a T.J. Gibbs or a Rex Pflueger. Brey always walks that proverbial line of fragility - he doesn't want to take a chance of giving up easy baskets or turning it over if even for a few minutes. So he goes with the guys he trusts. Djogo would be the first to admit that, yeah, gotta be better in other areas to earn Coach's trust. He's expected back next year and does have value. Like an Austin Torres of the 15-16 teams. He doesn't play much can be a good locker room guy, a voice of reason, a resource for the young guys. It's just not going to translate into a large role. Maybe ever.

10:32

Mark: Nik Djogo remains one of the weirdest storylines in the two-plus decades that I've covered the team. Hearing from the fan base, you'd think he's the X factor that would've not only gotten the program back to the NCAA tournament, but a Final Four. Or two. Usually when the topic of Djogo comes up, I have to offer this disclaimer because too few people understand the role between beat writer and player, which leads the to roast me (yeah, you know who you are, lol) for coming down too hard on a kid. Nik's a great dude. he's always had time for me. He's always been up front and honest. All class. But I think he'd be the first to say this when people wonder why he doesn't play more - he'

Mark M.

10:30

Where does Nik Djogo fit next season? Does he transfer?

Thomas Noie

10:29

Now, though, I get more of a sense from those close to him that he's not ready to walk away just yet. he wants to see this sophomore class finish out, and, hopefully, max it out. I can't show all my beat writer's cards but I can say this - I wasn't going to be surprised if I had to spend the offseason on a coaching search/transition. Now I'd be surprised if that happens. Remember that coin flip? Heads he stays, tails he leaves. Think he's flipped it and it's come up heads.

10:28

Having been around the program for his entire 20 years, having been around him for 20 years, having been around his staff and his players, I had a sense that this year was going to be it. Nothing definitive, just a beat writer's gut feel. I saw what the losing and the inconsistencies was doing to him. He didn't look well. He blew up after the first Florida State loss. Then the second. It was frustration on his part, but part of me wondered whether he was frustrated with being frustrated about the program, and didn't care to be politically correct anymore. He's still as media friendly as any college coach in any sport around, but he's cut way back on that. He used to do a weekly presser that ran 30-plus minutes. The last two years, we gather in the lobby of Rolfs for a 10-minute "gaggle." There were just so many small instances that made you wonder if he was ready to move on.

10:22

Steve: Might be the most popular question of the offseason - other than the transfer issue - so we might as well address the elephant in the room. Buckle up. I mentioned in our previous chat in February that I thought it was a 50/50 proposition on whether Mike Brey would return for his 21st season in 2020-21. The flip of a coin. Heads, he stays, tails he leaves. And it would be totally HIS decision. Why? Simple. After the last two seasons, and this year was almost as trying as last year's 14-19 campaign, he had to decide whether at his age (he turns 61 on Sunday) he still had the energy required to do this job and do it well. If he didn't, it was time to hit the beach and grab an adult beverage and recharge his batteries about life. If he did, he'd have to take a hard look at the program from top to bottom and do all he could to make it better. Bring it back to where it was in 2015-17.

Steve from Fort Wayne

10:18

Has Mike Brey commented on his future with Notre Dame? Do you have any more information? When is a reasonable time table for a decision? Do you get the feeling the school wants him back? I know I do, I think he is a fantastic coach.

Thomas Noie

10:18

Matt: That second-round Atlantic Coast Conference tournament victory over Boston College (the most lopsided in Irish hoops history) does indeed count toward the overall record. The Irish finished 20-12. How the season ended has zero influence on Mike Brey's future. They could've gone 5-15 or 15-5 in the league and he would feel the same about his future. How would the rest of the season unfolded? I think Notre Dame would've beaten Virginia in the quarterfinals but lost to Louisville in the semis - lack of depth and three games in three days would've caught up to them. A deep run through the NIT would've been nice - and needed - for the core coming back next year. I know the NIT's awful - it really is - but this group of returning guys needed to know what it was like to play in postseason in some capacity.

Matt from DC

10:15

Hey Tom, thanks for the distraction. Since the ACC tourney was cancelled, does ND's win over BC (giving us a 20-win season) count for official records? And do you think the way this season ended could affect Brey's decision to either retire or carry on? Finally, just for fun, give us your projection of how the rest of ND's season would've unfolded. Thanks!

Thomas Noie

10:15

Ian: Top 15 might be too big of a step for a team that finished seventh in the Atlantic Coast Conference last season unless this year's sophomore class takes a quantum leap. It'd be nice to see, but think it's a bit of a reach. See above for the transfer talk.

Ian

10:13

I think ND hoops has a chance at being top 15 next year but probably need another transfer would be a big help, who is on NDs radar?

Thomas Noie

10:13

Mike: Asked an answered above. That's going to be an interesting offseason dynamic. How long is campus closed? Summer? fall? Nobody knows, and nobody really knows how to proceed in the coming weeks. Maybe months.

Mike

10:12

Any potential grad-transfers on our radar for next year? It would be nice to add another body

Thomas Noie

10:12

Annie: I just don't see that happening. It's hard to rationalize that college basketball seniors should get a do-over. They did play an entire season. They didn't get their league tournaments or postseason, but not every college player is afford the opportunity to play in the postseason. The spring sports athletes have more of a chance to get that year back than basketball players. It hurts teams like Dayton and Baylor and San Diego State, teams that captured the proverbial lightning in a bottle this season. But you can't re-create that by giving seniors a second chance. Seasons are a journey. They just kind of happen organically. Those teams had great seasons, but what if all the guys of say, Dayton are allowed one more year and take it, but they don't go 29-2 or 18-0 in the A-10. Makes that chance more of a waste than a second one.

Guest

10:09

If the NCAA grants all CBB players another year of eligibility, will Mooney and Rex come back? — Annie, Annapolis

Thomas Noie

10:09

Alex: It remains to be seen what type of player Mike brey might add. I don't know if it's necessarily a forward. Juwan Durham will get a chance, as will Elijah Taylor. If they'd ask me, and why would they ever do that, I'd try and find someone who could create off the dribble and go get a few buckets with relative ease. As far as Cormac Ryan, the minute this season ended last week, he immediately became a key guy - a starter, a scorer, a leader. I wrote a column in Tuesday's SBT about there not being any Alpha dogs in this year's team, no guys like Grant or Hansbrough or Connaughton. Ryan's that alpha. He'll get into guys. He'll get guys to follow his lead. Don't let his slight frame fool you. He can play.

Alex perry

10:06

Will mike Bret try to add a transfer forward ?? And what does cornmac Ryan bring to the table ?

Thomas Noie

10:06

...I know some players have already transferred to other schools, but Notre Dame doesn't operate that way. it wants to make sure both sides agree that there's a fit. On the other hand, Notre Dame really needs to lengthen its roster. Ten guys - at least these 10 guys, doesn't offer much confidence that it can compete with the ACC elite.

10:04

Joey: Likely a popular topic today and rightfully so....something has to be done to deepen the roster next season. Notre Dame returns only six scholarship players, adds Stanford transfer Cormac Ryan and incoming freshmen Elijah Taylor and Matt Zona. Walk-on Elijah Morgan makes 10, which means there are three scholarships to use. Figure Notre Dame would use two of them (Mike Brey always wants to keep at least one open in case of emergency). The traditional transfer/graduate transfer pool again is deep, but as far as names, it's really too difficult to determine given the way Notre Dame operates. Brey prefers transfer prospects see campus, get around his guys, plays pickup, sees how he fits in on and off the floor. With coronavirus having shut down the university for who knows how long, that's not going to be possible. Do they then just take a guy or two on blind faith and hope that he fits in with the culture of the school and the program? It's a tough spot right now. ....

Joey, Roswell Georgia

10:01

With the lack of bench depth on the roster next year how many grad transfers could we get and what names stick out?

Thomas Noie

9:53

A bit of chat business before we get started - the chat queue has been open and accepting questions since Monday, and there's a big chunk of them waiting. If you ask a question in the next minute or hour and don't see it posted, don't fret. I'll get to all of them because, well, what else is there to do today. I've cleared my interview/writing schedule for nothing but hoops today.....so should you! Leggo....

9:52

Welcome to a Notre Dame men's basketball chat like no other, at a time like no other. Time, and college basketball, has stood still since everything went dark a week ago today. No conference tournaments. No Selection Sunday. No NCAA tournament. It's a different world we're living in right now, and hopefully, you're safe, you're healthy and you're smart about taking care of everyone around you. We're here for a couple hours to offer a little break from all the breaking news, the coronavirus updates, the new world that finds us all trying to find our way. Plenty of ground to cover, so let's get going. Please be sure to include your name and city with any question or comment. And with that, you know what's next - let's light this chat candle!

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