JotCast | Notre Dame men's basketball chat - October 2024

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Tom Noie

1:51

That will do it for today. Thanks to everyone who participated. We'll roll back around in early November - maybe after the first game of the season. If you have a question or comment that cannot wait, drop me an email at tnoie@sbtinfo.com.

1:29

And another thing: It's staggering to think that the ACC is in this position - and has its own freaking network. Like, how does that happen? But the ACC Network has done nothing in terms of helping the profile of the league, especially in terms of basketball. Bunch of nice people, but a bunch of people that don't want to say or do anything to rock the boat. Staggering.

1:20

Todd: No more K, no more Roy, no Brey and no Pitino and, sigh, no Boeheim to an extent, left this league void of massively respected voices who would actually use their voices. The next group after them are Leonard Hamilton, Jim Larranaga and Tony Bennett, but they're not willing to put themselves out there. Too soon for Hubert Davis and Jon Scheyer. There's such a void. All those wins and respect just up and left. That hurt the league in ways it never could have predicted.

Todd, Charlotte

1:16

If you're going to Los Angeles in November, I feel like every chat question we ask gets you another $5 towards your per diem. As if that is how monetizing newspapers in 2024 works! So, Bilas needs to prop up the ACC, but are there any current (respected) league coaches who can carry that flag, or should carry it and isn't doing it right?

Tom Noie

1:09

Kevin: You mean a n ACC TOURNAMENT spot right? Notre Dame's not at a point where you need to be counting up possible wins to get to the NCAA TOURNAMENT. This program's not there yet. Now, if the Irish are way better that predicted, we can revisit the how many wins .... hypothesis in January, but certainly not now. Notre Dame went 13-20 and 7-13 last season. The NCAA would be a massive leap. Notre Dame's going to be better this year, don't get me wrong, but not THAT much better. It's too soon.

Kevin - Bloomington

1:06

I’ve always split the season into two halves, games before official start of conference play and conference play. If we go 9-3 10–2 in the first half what do we realistically need in terms of acc wins to compete for a tournament spot. How many teams do you think the ACC gets this year with all the expansion?

Tom Noie

1:03

Justin: Those Las Vegas tip times are just God-awful on so many levels, but when you basically buy a team to play in your nickel-and-dime tournament, you can do whatever you want. That tournament has so many things wrong with it, not the least of which is having TWO full days between the second and third games of a tournament that's not even a tournament, just eight teams playing two four-team pods. Yeah, nothing can go wrong when you turn eight college teams loose in Las Vegas. Notre Dame would be fortunate to get a win. I'll watch the first two games from home (in the middle of the night) and get the Alabama game in my hotel in Los Angeles, so that's not all that bad...

Justin, Ft Wayne

1:00

Hey Tom! Happy to see the Irish are coming to town to take on my school PFW. I’ll certainly be there. Anyways, you going to be in Vegas when the Irish go out there or be up late into the night (morning) watching from home?😂 Those tip times are ridiculous. Hoping for a little bit of Irish luck out there in Vegas!

Tom Noie

1:00

Todd: From the "HAS THIS EVER HAPPENED FOR NOTRE DAME BEFORE?????" mindset of the current Notre Dame men's basketball recruiting class. Why, yes, it has. In 2018, Notre Dame had a recruiting class that ranked No. 9 nationally. It had four top 100/four-star prospects in Robby Carmody, Dane Goodwin, Nate Laszewski and Prentiss Hubb. Goodwin's in camp with the Utah Jazz while Laszewski and Hubb are overseas. Robby Carmody actually will make his Purcell Pavilion return this year with LeMoyne after spending last season at Mercer. Think everyone but Prentiss Hubb is scarred from something about their Notre Dame careers. Carmody, obviously, could never stay healthy while Goodwin and Laszewski stayed a year too long and have the Mike Brey Dumpster fire on their watch. Hubb? Maligned for this and for that, but that guy was a pro in 2021-22 in helping Blake Wesley max out that season. He's the one guy you thought, man, wish he was here one more year.

Todd, Charlotte

12:56

Haven't thought much of those guys from that other Top 10 class since they left . . . Hubb, Goodwin, et.al. I know you write a separate alumni column later, but any quick nuggets to report? Are they scarred a bit by their time at ND?

Tom Noie

12:56

Jim: Great question, easy answer. This season would be a disappointment if Notre Dame didn't take another step. Whatever that step entails. For this program, for this season, that would mean not finishing over .500 overall and in league play. Going 18-13 overall and 11-9 in the league is realistic. So is not playing on the first day of the league tournament. Micah Shrewsberry said it himself last year when Notre Dame played the first game on the first day - they're not going back there on a Tuesday again. So finish inside the Top 10 of the 18-team league. Win a few more league road games than last year, when you went 2-8. Figure out how to be better at home (9-8 last year). My confidence level that Notre Dame can do all this? Pretty high, because for everything we've seen from Micah Shrewsberry to date, you get a sense that he's barely scratched the surface of what he and this program can be. If the book on Micah Shrewsberry as a coach is say, 248 pages long, we're on like page 12. Such a long way to go.

Jim Tal, Valley Center CA.

12:51

Hi Tom, in your opinion what would constitute a disappointing or failed season for the Irish in terms of overall wins, wins in the conference and placement in the ACC? And what is your confidence level that this team will take a significant step forward and show dramatic improvement from last season? Thank you.

Tom Noie

12:29

Todd: Not sure, since we don't really get to see the nuts and bolts of a practice outside ot station/position work and stretching. Recruiting is so personal. You better connect with kids, or they're going to see through your BS. Shrewsberry seems to connect. There were times on Haralson's visit (and others when he was nowhere near campus) when Shrewsberry would send him a video clip and coach him through it - play off two feet here. The coaching/care factor with this class really hit home. It's not anything phony, it's just who Micah Shrewsberry is.

Todd, Charlotte

12:27

Tom, it seems Shrews attracts different levels of players, from the Haralsons to the Frosts, one-year guys to three/four-year guys. For a Haralson type, is there any way that he runs his practices or program that reflects his time in the NBA? Or is it just a function of his genuineness?

Thomas Noie

12:02

Mark: It's all about postiion-less basketball with this group. Matt Allocco's a veteran guard who was a 50-40-90 (50 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3, 90 percent from the line) last year at Princeton. So, he can make a shot. Not sure on Logan Imes. It's not about him taking/making shots this season as much as it's just be decisive with his minutes. Don't just kinda/sorta do something. Do it.

Mark Kru z Mishawaka

12:00

Tom thanks again for the preseason chat. You mention Matt Allocco being a dawg out on the court. Is he more of a shooting guard or more of a ball handler/hard nose defender? Also how has Logan Imes looked and has his shooting improved over the offseason?

Thomas Noie

11:41

Jay Bilas x 10. It has to be someone with ACC roots. Someone who is respected in the league. It can't be anyone outside of someone from North Carolina. The ACC is still theirs. Us Indiana folk? Strictly outsiders, especially when you cover a team that's not a full-time member. #facts

Matt from St Paul

11:39

Absolutely agree, had the 21-22 season on my mind when i asked the question. Any idea on who that voice could be?

Thomas Noie

11:39

Be a fringe-NCAA tournament team this year, then kick that door in next season. Of course, if Notre Dame wants to be better than anticipated this season, that works as well.

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

11:39

Tom with all these guys Coach Shrewsberry is signing i think this team will do good this year and even Better Next year what do you think GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏀🏀🏀

Thomas Noie

11:39

Tyler: Always a possibility, but that program has to get good and stay good. Otherwise, the majority of listeners are clicking off any Notre Dame hoops talk in favor of Notre Dame football, because that program has been such a success since 1988 (ducks). Notre Dame hoops gets good, there will be a podcast. Maybe sooner than later. Promise. Watch. And listen!

Tyler from South Bend (Formerly Granger)

11:37

Tom, hope you’ve had a good summer. Have you ever given much thought/consideration about starting a podcast or talking hoops recorded digitally? Be good audio on the car ride to work and home. I’ve always enjoyed Irish Illustrated Insider during the spring & fall football seasons.

Thomas Noie

11:37

If that season was a week longer, Notre Dame would've been talked right out of the field of 68. It's staggering. How did that happen? Nobody stood up for the ACC 9 (stunning) so everyone went with the flow. The ACC has its share of NCAA tournament-caliber teams. It needs that one person to remind everyone else that good basketball is still part of that league.

11:35

Matt: It's not about the Atlantic Coast Conference being better as much as it has getting that one respected/consistent/known voice to champion the league the way they do these days for the Big 12 and the Big East and and times, the Big Ten. Who's the voice for the ACC? The one that's going to stand firm and talk up teams not named Duke or North Carolina? It's not that this league or that league is that much better or deeper than the ACC. It's that it has Person A, B and sometimes C talking up the league at every turn. Then, group think kicks in and EVERYONE believes this league is good that league is trash. Forever example will be what happened to Notre Dame in 2021-22 when it won 15 freaking league games and finished second in the ACC but was sent to the play-in game in Dayton (no shame there, by the way). Could you imagine Duke or Carolina or Virginia winning 15 leagues and finishing second but being sent to Dayton?

Matt from St Paul

11:31

Will the ACC take a step forward overall this year? Feel like it has been harder and harder to build a tournament resume in this conference over the last few years. With new teams that dont seem like big threats, there are even fewer opportunities for big wins. I know a tournament bid may be a step too far for this team this year (hopefully not!), but this feels like a long term concern as well

Thomas Noie

11:21

Todd: Great to hear from you. Lot of JRK questions. Don't know where he fits. Last year was a step for him in that it was the first time since high school that he played major minutes. Really, it was his first real experience of college basketball, where he learned that it didn't matter what you did in the first half of a game (17 points vs Virginia at home), you have to be just as good in the second half (no points). Think he's learned to better pace himself. There was a stretch last season where nobody played harder. That was admirable, but it took a toll. Konieczny contemplated foot surgery late in the year, but decided to suck it up. As for life beyond this year for him, think we have to see how this year goes. Does he take a big leap, or is he just a guy? That may help to decide how he wants to use his extra year in 2025-26.

Todd S. Waynesville, NC

11:17

Love these chats, Tom! With the recruiting, both high school and portal, where will JR fit in the equation? Has he made substantial strides this off season? Is it safe to assume he will grad-transfer following the season. I’m in his corner pulling for him!

Thomas Noie

11:17

TIm: When the schedule was released last week, my projected record (after about five minutes of thought, analysis) was 18-13 overall, 12-8 (maybe 11-9) in Atlantic Coast Conference play. I too believe it's too big of a leap to say a team that finished 13-20, 7-13 last season will flip everything around and be an NCAA tournament team. But if the Irish want to chase that carrot, go ahead. This is a process, a process that is still in Year Two of Shrews. Climb above .500 in the league, get close to 20 overall wins. That's progress. That's the next step. One thing about Micah Shrewsberry is he's not going to skip steps. Could the Irish surprise? Absolutely. That would be swell, but the beat writer in me (he's still there) says they're still a year away.

Tim, Indy

11:14

What are realistic expectations for this years team? I think it’s a stretch to say they are a tournament team, so is the goal (from the outside, not in the locker room) a postseason NIT invite?

Thomas Noie

11:12

Clancy: Worrying about Notre Dame taking a "Duke approach" to recruiting. We're really here? In Shrews you will trust.

Clancy is Irish

11:11

This recruiting class is nuts but how many years should we realistically expect each recruit to stay? Is this more of a Duke approach to loading up on one-and-done guys?

Thomas Noie

11:11

Kevin: Notre Dame rolled nine deep last year where every one of the nine averaged at least 11.2 minutes. This team is better and deeper. I'd say again, nine guys will average double figures in minutes. Expect a lot of combinations and a lot of mixing and matching - sometimes by week, sometimes by game, sometimes by half. Notre Dame wants to play faster, which means conditioning will be key. Can this group play up-tempo and not lose their defensive identity? Not sure on Mohammed. Feel a littel better about Certa. Will be interesting to see how it all shakes out once the games start. That Oct. 30 exhibition in Fort Wayne will be fascinating. We'll see, OK, this is how these pieces fit this team.

Kevin - Bloomington

11:08

how deep does Shrewsbury go this year? 8? 9? 10…? Lot more talent then last year and I think at least Cole and Sir will play 10 min a game for some stretch of season

Thomas Noie

10:55

Nathan: You look at the non-conference schedule and think, meh. I look at the non-conference schedule and think, whoa.... Notre Dame may have overscheduled with what it has this season. Rutgers (B10 SOS), Houston (Elite Eight good), Alabama (Final Four good), Georgia (SEC SOS), Georgetown (BE SOS) will give Notre Dame ridiculous metrics, if not many wins. Yeah, the non-league home games stink, but they have to stink. With that non-league away from home, you better have some wins somewhere. There are no marqueee non-league home series set for future schedules. Marquette ended last year; Georgetown ends this year. Getting one marquee home game this year was negated by the Las Vegas tournament. That has to change next year, even though Notre Dame is back in Vegas.

Nathan

10:50

Outside of the NIL tourny in Vegas and the SEC/ACC challenge at Georgia, the non conference schedule is less than impressive. Although the stretch of Rutgers, Houston, Alabama, Georgia and Syracuse is extremely tough. What went into the non conference schedule this year? Do we have more home and home series scheduled in the coming years like we’ve done with Marquette and Georgetown?

Thomas Noie

10:47

Notre Dame has worked since spring almost exclusively on offense. There have been some defensive drills mixed in just so those guys don't forget the principles of guarding that allowed them to be better than expected last year. But the majority of the entire offseason - spring, summer, foreign tour, fall camp - has been offense-driven. Playin faster. Moving and cutting and reacting. Interchangeable parts. This team is going to look a lot different from an offensive standpoint. Getting into the 80s (and often the 70s) was a chore last year. That won't be the case this year. Watch. Wait. The offense is coming.

10:44

Chris: In Micah we trust. Or something like that. Last year, all we heard about (and then saw) from Notre Dame was defense. Gotta dig in and defend. Rebound. Keep possessions low and scores lower. It was the only way Notre Dame had a chance. Some (you know who you are!) rejoiced that Notre Dame FINALLY had a head coach who empahsized defense. Guess what? Those same "Fans" who praised the defense were likely pissed at all the games played in the 50s and 60s. Again, all part of the grand Shrewsberry plan, one that this year includes (looks around and whispers) offense.

Chris DC

10:43

Tom, I am excited for ND hoops. However, how will scoring improve this year. Can Cole Certa get 8-10. Need some outside shooting to open the lane for driving.
thanks.

Thomas Noie

10:43

P. Rose: Easy. Birthday cakes and candles. They're a year older, and about five years wiser for having tro go through what they had to go through last season. That was a tough spot to put Markus Burton and Braeden Shrewsberry. Even Julian Roper and Kebba Njie. Tae Davis, too. J.R. Konieczny played the most meaningful basketball since he was a senior at South Bend Saint Joseph. New coach, new program, new culture, new direction. Same old Irish in a lot of ways as they went 13-20, but that changes this year. They're older' they're better given what they went through and the additions of three graduate transfers who have played a lot of college basketball. There has to be optimism. Nothing will be as challenging as the first year. Everything will be better. Bank on the Irish, as well.

P.Rose

10:39

What have you seen so far out of last year's roster that gives reason for optimism?

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