JotCast | Notre Dame hoops summer chat

Notre Dame hoops summer chat

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Thomas Noie

11:12

Tony: I'd go with Matt Zona having more of a role than Tony Sanders. It wouldn't be a surprise if Zona started (at least, to start). Sanders might be behind Konieczny and Tae Davis as a wing. It's hard to go that deep on the depth chart. Both will have opportunity to show more and do more than previous seasons, so the chance is there.

Tony

11:10

Tom, have you seen Tony or Matt workout? I have seen pictures and both seem to be bigger/slimmer, stronger. I hope they both contribute!

Thomas Noie

11:06

We've seen that anything is possible in college basketball today. Is it likely? This program's probably not winning 10 ACC games. Last year was a disaster of all disasters and Notre Dame still won 11 overall. I'd go with the over on 10, but not that far over.

Guest

11:04

Tom…..can Shrews possibly win 10 games this year and how long will it take for a tournament bid?

Thomas Noie

11:04

If my six observations from this week's sneak peek at the program (https://tinyurl.com/msw6nktr) had run seven deep, No. 7 would've been something about J.R. Koniecnzy. Specifically, this is a big prove-it year for him. He barely played as a freshman and sat out last season to preserve a year of eligibility. How has that benefitted him? Did his game get better? Did he get stronger? He has a chance to start this season. How will he chase that? Will he? Micah Shrewsberry said Konieczny still needs to slow down a little bit - not everything can be the same speed. He's also seen him get more confident with his shot - something that wasn't the case when the new coach arrived. Play time for J.R. is over. It's time to deliver, and show (and show early) that those last two years weren't wasted.

Mike

11:00

Hi Tom, slightly holding out hope that JR has a similar breakout year like Abro did coming off his Redshift season. Any thoughts on where he fits this year?

Thomas Noie

10:56

Tim: Incomplete for Dane Goodwin (Sacramento) and Nate Laszewski (Indiana). Not enough minutes to evaluate. They were longshots as it was. That Laszewski didn't make a 3 (0-for-9) kind of sealed his future fate (Europe). As for Blake Wesley, he had a massive opportunity as the starting point guard for San Antonio. He put up some nice numbers (12.8 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 3.0 apg., 29.1 mpg) but there were three red flags - his shooting percentages of 31.0 percent from the field (ugh), 21.4 percent from 3 (ugh) and 63.2 percent from the foul line (ugh). They say it's a make or miss league, and that's so true. If Blake Wesley's not long for the league, there will be no secret as to why it didn't work.

Tim from Chicago

10:52

Hi Tom, how would you grade the performance of Goodwin, Laz and Wesley in the recent NBA summer league?

Thomas Noie

10:52

Steve: Everything about this program continues to be a blank slate. There are too many unknowns and too few knows. Like, really none. If this team can double its league win total and go 6-14, that's a step, right? It's hard to see how the parts fit and who will be the difference-makers. Markus Burton has a chance because he offers something the roster doesn't have. Kebba Njie could be good. Julian Roper is going to play because Micah Shrewsberry loves his toughness. Can Matt Zona carry over what he did in limited minutes in the last game of the season last year? It's going to be intriguing, that's for sure.

Steve Duff

10:50

Love the summer hoops talk! What are realistic expectations for this team in your opinion? With nearly all new faces - how do you even project? I’m cautiously optimistic, but there are just so many unknowns. Also who are the difference makers /playmakers on the squad outside of Markus Burton? Thanks for doing this Tom and keep up the great work!

Thomas Noie

10:49

Dennis: Whoa.....nothing like raising the bar of expectations my man. That's a big ask/expectation. Wesley led the team in scoring (14.4 ppg.). He played in all 35 games and made 28 starts. he averaged 29.4 minutes per game and was a second team all-Atlantic Coast Conference guy and all-rookie selection. He had an NBA-type of body (scrawny as it was) from the jump. He was one of the few who believed he could be a one-and-done (and then he was). Burton's a different kind of player and will be on a team that's not going to go 15-5 in the ACC and come within two minutes of getting to the Sweet 16. Burton has a chance to be good, but not that good. At least not right away.

Dennis Huyvaert

10:46

Hi Tom , I cannot wait to see how Marcus Burton performs this year. Do you think he can has as big an impact his first year as Blake Wesley had ?

Thomas Noie

10:39

Mark: So, you're asking me to put on my carnival barker hat ... step right up ladies and gentlemen, step right up and come and see the Irish men's basketball team, which will feature two locak guys (maybe both in the starting lineup), and a freshmen class that might be better than average in a few years. There's also fan favorite Matt Zona, who will do more than just sit and watch at the end of the bench. And there's Kebba Njie, who knows what elite college basketball is all about. If you're coming out to watch this team this season, you're not coming out to watch them win or chase a possible NCAA tournament bid. You're coming out to say you were on the ground floor when this program gets back to being good.

Mark Oliver

10:29

Hi Tom, Hope your summer is going well. I like the Micah hire obviously and it seems he'll get the program back on track, but it will be weird following a team this year where they are mostly all transfers and you know much about anybody. I know it's the new normal, but what can you tell me to help get me excited come September so I can sink my teeth into the new season and connect this mixed bags of guys with the Irish program. Thanks.

Thomas Noie

10:29

JP: Great question. When it doubt, though, go with the local guy, right? The guy you've seen play in person a ton. The guy you know. The guy whose chip on the shoulder is deep. Burton was doubted at Penn the way he's going to be doubted at Notre Dame. He delivered in high school and has to do it again. Booth could be a future pro given his bloodlines, but I've not seen enough of him to say for certain that he's a can't-miss kid. If both develop and then flourish, Burton might be around Notre Dame more than Booth.

JP, San Diego

10:26

Both potentially great players. Who will have a bigger impact on the program when we look back in ten years— Markus Burton or Carey Booth?

Thomas Noie

10:24

JP: You probably can't find five former players who would have anything negative to say about former strength and conditioning coach Tony Rolinski. Players absolutely loved the guy. He was tough but fair and was a sounding board away from the court for so many. Back when they used to run through a year-end banquet (thank God those days are over) every single senior who spoke shouted out T-Ro for helping them get through the tough times. That Rolinski split his time between sports (hoops and hockey) speaks more toward Notre Dame living in the dark ages of strength and conditioning. Hope to soon sit with new strength and conditioning coach Greg Miskinis for a deeper dive into what needs to change from that standpoint. Seeing him at work Tuesday, he's going to be good.

JP, San Diego

10:20

Tom, first time long time. There is a ton of reason for optimism around Micah and the program. Namely a lot of strength and conditioning videos/clips on social this summer. We are tired of having our upperclassmen bullied physically in conference play. How archaic was the previous setup (still Rolinski/shared S/C coach with hockey?) and how much of a difference do you expect to see on the court with a dedicated S/C staff now in place?

Thomas Noie

10:20

Brian: I'm sure Micah Shrewsberry loves the idea, but maybe a year or two down the road. Given how Notre Dame is complete rebuild mode, it's more important in November to play a game against competition that's going to challenge them more than IUSB would. Those kind of exhibition games are good for about a half or a half of a half, and then you get nothing out of them. That said, Notre Dame does plan to play a secret (shhhhh....don't tell anyone) scrimmage against Xavier (somewhere between here and Cincinnati, probably Indy). It would be good to play another secret scrimmage. This Irish team needs seasoning more than area fans need to see a local matchup. Keep that IUSB game on the back burner, though. Good call.

Brian from Mishawaka

10:17

Coach ... Given your ties to IU-South Bend, can we expect a pre-season/exhibition game with the Titans this year? Coach Cooper has taken his team to the NAIAs for the past several seasons and they've won the CCAC championship a few times as well. Lots of fans on both sides would love to see this match-up!

Thomas Noie

10:17

JET: How's this for some insight ... I have no idea. None. I didn't see enough of the Irish earlier this week that one or two guys jumped out and said, hey, keep an eye on me. I'm ready. If I had to guess, I'd say Kebba Njie in that he's played a season for Shrewsberry, he knows the system, he looks the part and he's going to get a big chance. Everyone else was just kind of OK. Nothing good. Nothing bad.

JET from Evansville

10:14

Who will b our best player?

Thomas Noie

10:14

Linas: Usually when you have guys like that who have been around the college basketball block, they're looking for something specific. Like NIL money. Or the chance to win. Mulcahy played in the NCAA tournament at Rutgers, so there's that. Would've been nice to have him (Girard, not so much) but getting a veteran grad transfer at this point was a really hard sell. Notre Dame is not expected to be very successful this season. If you have one more year and you want to win and you want to play in the NCAA tournament, you're probably not going to do it at Notre Dame next season.

Linas from Orange County, CA

10:11

Hey Tom! Happy Summer. Curious about your take on these visits by potential transfers like Paul Mulcahy (can't get anymore Irish than that last name:) and Joe Gerard. Any sense from them why they didn't choose Notre Dame? Is it something to do academics/credits, or the fact that most don't expect an NCAA tournament bid from this young team, or something else? Also, considering Notre Dame's stellar academic reputation why someone like Chris Ledlum from Harvard wouldn't consider the Irish? Thanks for keeping the Irish talk going through the summer

Thomas Noie

10:08

Jon: Micah Shrewsberry likely will play more guys this season, but that will be more out of necessity of not having a core four of veterans to lean on, which is what he did at Penn State. FOur Lions all started at least 33 games and played at least 28.2 minutes per game last season, so it wasn't that far off from Notre Dame's penchant for leaning on a veteran group. What was different was how Shrewsberry utilized his bench, where eight players all logged at least 10-plus minutes and 11 played at least eight-plus minutes with eight different players each logging at least four starts. Markus Burton is going to play. A lot. Same for Julian Roper and Kebba Njie. Maybe Matt Zona. Maybe J.R. Koniecnzy. It will look different in many ways; it might look the same in others.

Jon

10:05

Now that Brey is gone will more players get a chance to play. what's the new coaches take on playing more then six deep!! I liked the energy Matt Zona brought when given the minuscule chances (minutes) in games and then when given more than the 2 minutes at the end of games Sanders, Campbell and he usually got. Zona really showed his long range touch and strength down low the final two or three games.

Thomas Noie

10:02

Banks: As of today, he's the starting (and only true) point guard on the roster. He's going to play and play a lot. Don't expect him to post Indiana Mr. Basketball numbers as a freshman. As long as he can coordinate everything and take care of the ball and defend, it will be a successful season. He'd benefit from playing behind a veteran guard, just so he can learn the game, get stronger and kind of see everything from a patient perspective. That's probably not going to happen. It's going to be right into the fire of the ACC for Burton. Is he ready? There's no choice. He has to be.

Banks Asleson

10:00

What Impact will Markus Burton have as a freshman? Will he start?

Thomas Noie

9:59

Matt: That's the $64,000 question that has no answer. Nobody can say because of what the immediate eligibility transfer rule has done to college basketball. Your roster is your roster but it's never really set. Nobody might leave come spring. Two players might leave. Or four. Nobody really knows, which makes it hard to plan for in a recruiting sense. Notre Dame had what, two guys enter the portal since it became the portal before last spring, when five guys bailed. It's impossible to tell.

Matt,

9:58

how many do you see him bringing in the next 2 classes?

Thomas Noie

9:58

Matt: Kind of/sort of answered the question above (or below). Notre Dame has 10 scholarship players on the roster for 2023-24 and all 10 have eligibility remaining in some way, shape or form. Seniors Tony Sanders and Matt Zona have the COVID year to go. With Cold Certa committed, Notre Dame would have only two scholarships available. That might change as this season unfolds.

Matt,

9:55

Tom, with the staff finally set Shrews can really lock into recruiting. How many do you see bringing in the 2024 class. I

Thomas Noie

9:55

There's a core five of Sir Mohammed, CG, 6-6, 200, Charlotte, North Carolina, Jackson McAndrew, PF, 6-8, 190 Wayzata, Minnesota, Garrett Sundra, PF, 6-10, 215, Fairfax, Virginia, Trent Perry, CG, 6-4, 215 Studio City, California and Travis Perry (no relation), PG, 6-2, 170, Eddyville, Kentucky. How many scholarships Notre Dame will eventually have for the 2024 recruiting class (which already includes Cole Certa) remains to be determined. Notre Dame's roster currently carries 10 scholarship players, and all 10 are eligible to return next season. If that happens - and that's a big IF - Notre Dame would have only three spots (two with Certa committed) for the 2024 class.

Guest

9:51

In the near term, what rising high school players for 2024 recruitment is ND pursuing in addition to its one commitment in Certa.

Thomas Noie

9:47

J.J.: Hard to say, because we haven't seen enough of how the pieces fit. Based on what we did see on Tuesday, this team is going to shoot a lot of 3s. Everybody from Matt Zona to Markus Burton will have the green light to take that shot if it's a good shot. So there's that. Expect this offense to feature a lot of moving and cutting and screening and reading and reacting to what the defense is doing. Not run specific, regimented sets. The bigs are Matt Zona, Kebba Njie and Carey Booth. I don't know that they have a true post-up/back-to-the-basket presence. Njie could eventually be that, but it will be tough to pound it into the post given the size and athleticism that awaits in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It will be intriguing to see how the offense evolves as league play unfolds. It might be a struggle given the lack of size and experience. Shrewesberry will figure it out.

J.J. Post

9:44

Shrewsberry has continually preached playing a system that will fit the players on the roster rather than have any one consistent hallmark, something reflected by his willingness to play his unique 'bootyball' scheme at Penn State. Given the roster as constructed at present, what are some key elements you suspect his 2023 system will possess?

Thomas Noie

9:43

J.J.: If the season started tonight, Markus Burton is the starting point guard. He's actually the only true point guard on the roster, though there are certainly others who could swing over and handle in case of emergency. I don't think the roster is going past 10 this season. You get the feeling that Shrewsberry and the staff have their guys and their going to move forward with this group the way it is. Reasonable expectations? Be a solid point guard. Burton averaged 30 ppg., as a senior at Penn High School last winter. He won't average half of that next season, and doesn't have to. If he can get to double figures, fine, but it's more important (for now) that he confidently gets this team into their offense, takes care of the ball, defends, make the occasional open shot and maybe above all, plays with a confidence that carries over to other players. Shrewsberry knows Burton will make mistakes. It's part of the process. But stay confident through it, and believe that he belongs.

J.J. Post

9:40

If no other Portal additions are made and Markus Burton does end up the lone true point guard on the roster - whether he earns the starting designation or not, what are reasonable expectations for his freshman season?

Thomas Noie

9:39

Jim: It's a relatively small sample size because we've not seen THAT much of practices or been around those guys (still time for that) but I'd say in watching Tuesday it would be Shrewsberry's ability to communicate what he wants done and the way he teaches. He's already rolled up his sleeves and gone to work on the practice floor. The demands are high, but it's what this program needed. He's raised the bar, whether in the weight room or on the practice floor. In the past, it was players who held other players accountable - they kind of coached themselves. Now, though, the accountability starts with the head coach. It's understood what the expectations are from Shrewsberry on down. Different guy, different approach. Refreshing in that regard.

Jim from Evanston

9:36

What has been the biggest positive change Shrewsberry has made to the program so far?

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