JotCast | Notre Dame men's basketball March chat

Notre Dame men's basketball March chat

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Thomas Noie

10:31

Mike: The student body reaction is probably 20th or 21st on the list of what you can't have happen and expect to keep your job as the head coach. It's more piling on at this point than any deciding factor. Nobody's making a decision (nor should they) based on Timmy or Joey or Tyler in Section 115. If you don't have the support of the students, what's next?

Mike - Fort Worth, TX

10:29

Man - naturally endless thoughts after last night. I'm admittedly a big mike brey fan - arguably my fondest memory of college was going to every single game during the semesters in 14-15, and traveling to all 4 tournament games with my friends and soaking it all in. The UK loss hurts more than any FSU, Clemson or other football loss imaginable for me. But - students at ND today have never sniffed any of that excitement. I am not excusing their chants, but the entire student body basically has never experienced the magic of mike brey, so he's hardly their coach. Do we think the voices of a small handful of students (that have had a shell of an ND experience all year) should be having this much power in a sense? The games the last 3 years (obviously not including this year) have looked absolutely lifeless with the student section consistently half empty, and while I know people flock towards a good product, I am not sure listening to a student body that doesn't show up 95% of the time is the move here.

Thomas Noie

10:28

Tyler: Think Wednesday was almost like the point of no return for Mike Brey with the students chanting for him to be fired. He talked in the presser about next year, but what does one more year do? What happens if they're not any better and the general seating population echoes the student body after home games? After every loss, the refrain will be the same - he should have left after last year. Now, if Mike Brey decides to overhaul everything about his program, maybe that works. But Brey's nothing if not loyal to his guys. His staff. I just can't see him sacrificing them to save himself.

Tyler

10:26

Tom, your both wise and honest. If I gave you 70/30- which side is Brey in or out? I’m leaning towards him returning. I feel like Brey gets a pass with the pandemic. It just feels that’s “owed” for some reason. It just feels like that might just be a Notre Dame thing too.

Matt from MA

10:22

I also want to add context to the BC game. BC fired it's basketball coach, had a 2 week pause with no practice, and Mike Brey and co couldn't find a way to defend them and prevent 90 points?????? Are you kidding me??? Does he even coach anymore? If he does, it certainly isn't very good. That loss alone should get him fired. BC had 1 win, 2 week layoff, new coach, bad players and started a walk on. Brey's "stop and score" defense gave up 90....

Thomas Noie

10:22

Matt: Seriously, I've got nothing for you on this. No debate. A short rotation is only as good as the short rotation. Everybody has, has to be on every single game. If they're not, there's no other option. That's where the Irish are.

Matt from MA

10:21

Tom, I'm tired of ND basketball. Seriously. We have reached the point that me, a sports and Irish fanatic, is not mad anymore, but simply disinterested. Good thing they let students in to watch that pathetic performance last night. Mike Brey needs to go. He has done great things for ND basketball, but he is running them into the ground now. They don't have enough players, the players they do have aren't good enough and he is too stubborn to change his ways.

Thomas Noie

10:20

Ed: Fullcourt press requires athletes, and sometimes a deeper bench. You use a lot of energy pressing and trapping and running all over the place. This team can't really afford to do that with seven guys. They've always been more about position defense. And getting your defense set, which is why nobody's in the lane on free throws.

Ed, Belleville, IL

10:19

Why does ND never use the full court press on defense? Why do they often not fill the lane when they are shooting free throws? They’ll never get a rebound if nobody’s there.

Thomas Noie

10:19

Ed: First thing is you have to coach a team that understands how to beat a press. You said it yourself, they were repeatedly double-teamed in the corners. What's the first rule you learn in grade school about handling the press? Stay out of the corners.

Ed, Belleville, IL

10:17

I blame Brey more than you do for the debacle at Syracuse. Watched Syracuse against Ga Tech which had no trouble against the press. You have to know what you’re doing against the press. You can’t “just play.” ND repeatedly got double-teamed in the corner w the inbounds pass. There have to be ways to prevent that. How do you coach a team to handle the press?

Thomas Noie

10:16

Doug: Bad for the ACC, but at this point, what are you really missing? At least Saturday's game is on ESPN, as is the tournament. Maybe next year, right?

Doug

10:16

it appears ND friendly Comcast is winning the standoff with Disney over carriage of the ACC Network. with Disney's stock price at an all-time high, they're unlikely to cave to Comcast..so stalemate continues...bad for the ND brand, no?

Thomas Noie

10:16

Victor: My man! Great to hear from you. Most disappointing? The non-development/growth/leadership of the junior class. There's no alpha dog in this group, somebody who's going to lead with their words and their work. That's what's really torpedoed this season. Mike Brey doesn't do this and hasn't done that, and that's all true. Don't get me wrong. But he put his trust in guys to deliver and they haven't delivered.

Victor K.

10:12

Here in Salem, we’re just so disappointed in this season. I’m just wondering for a veteran observer like yourself, Tom, what has been the most disappointing aspect of this team to watch.

Thomas Noie

10:12

William: Recruit like the staff's coaching lives depend on it. There are enough prospects out there who fit the profile of a Notre Dame student-athlete. Find them.

William

10:12

What does Notre Dame need to do to improve its hoops recruiting program?

Thomas Noie

10:11

Pudge: A lot of questions...not a lot of answers.

Pudge

10:10

Is Mike Brey aware that fans want him gone? Is he recruiting like his job is on the line? Is he coaching like his job is on the line? Does he care at all? It doesn’t seem like it. Does Swarbrick care at all? It doesn’t seem like it.

Thomas Noie

10:10

Christian: Short of tearing it down and starting over, this is not going to be a quick fix. Mike Brey has his faults as a coach, there's no debating that. But some of the fingers have to be pointed at the current roster. They've been given a lot. A lot has been expected. They haven't delivered anywhere near what was expected. The blame goes everywhere.

Christian, Chicago IL

10:08

Hi Tom. We are close to 30 consecutive losses against ranked teams, 4 years without a tournament berth, and some serious recruiting/roster management gaps that have unfolded in the same time span. This Hubb-centric approach has been a disaster on Brey’s part and gives you no hope for next tearWhat system changes should and can be made going into this offseason to get this program back on track?

Thomas Noie

10:08

Matt: Thanks for the note. And a note for those reading along ...a lot of these questions were submitted prior to Wednesday's game, so the questions/comments might seem outdated given what transpired at the end of the game. There's no way Notre Dame's going to the NIT and after what happened Wednesday, there might not be any way Mike Brey returns for his 22nd season. You'd think Brey would have the same chance as Brian Kelly to reboot everything and reinvent himself, but we might be beyond that point.

Matt from DC

10:03

Hey Tom, thanks for sticking with this miserable slog that is the ND men's basketball season. Three quick questions: (1) Do we have a decent shot to make the NIT (albeit with a reduced field) to get some semblance of postseason experience heading into next season, and what would we have to do to be in the mix? (2) Are you hearing anything around the program that the winds have shifted for Brey's retirement timetable, so he leaves the cupboard better stocked for his successor (with next year's senior class)? (3) Is Brey capable of a Brian Kelly-like soup-to-nuts program reboot, with a push from Jack Swarbrick? Thanks so much and we'll all keep slogging!

Thomas Noie

10:03

Dave: Generating offense seldom has been the problem for this team. It's getting into a stance. No, defense might not be taught at the level it needs to be, but at some point, defense also is a lot about want-to. Do you want to guard your guy? Do you want to get a stop? Do you want to compete? That stop-score stat stuff worked for a while, but at the end of the day, it didn't much help. It also doesn't help that other teams have figured out Notre Dame - run the ball at the throat of the defense and get into the lane and make the Irish react. They haven't.

Dave P

10:01

Obviously these guys will never be all world defenders, but what can be done to make them better? Putting the ball in the basket is not the problem. KenPom has them like 16th in offense and I believe outside of the top 150 in defense

Thomas Noie

10:01

P: Same situation happened last night. Juwan Durham spent a long stretch on the bench and Tim O'Malley of Irish Illustrated looked over at me on press row at Purcell Pavilion and wondered why Brey was going with a lineup that featured five guards. The explanation was easy - Durham had two rebounds at that point in the second half. The marching orders for Durham has been simple - rebound and protect the rim or don't play. He didn't do either very well against Boston College or North Carolina State.

P. Rose

9:59

What happened to Durham at the BC game? I couldn't watch or listen, but he had a good first half stat line, and then he was gone. Defensive issues?

Thomas Noie

9:59

Ian: Great question, but maybe a day too late. Something has to change, maybe sweepingly, after last night's fourth straight loss where Notre Dame didn't bother to show up. The student body has since turned on Brey, which never is a good sign or look. The staff - from Brey on down - just hasn't been able to reach these guys. For myriad reasons.

Ian, Rockport IN

9:58

Do you think Brey makes any changes/upgrades to the staff? This year has been embarrassing and something has to change right?

Thomas Noie

9:58

Mike: Good to hear from you. Every team needs a lightning rod for criticism and apparently Prentiss Hubb is that for this team. He's not your classic pass first and second and third point guard, but heading into the final week of the regular season, Hubb was first in the Atlantic Coast Conference and eighth in assist/turnover ratio. He was 15th in scoring with three other "point guards" above him in that category. Hubb's about as misunderstood as misunderstood goes. Does he take questionable shots or make questionable decisions? Yes. But there's a reason for that. Late clock situations often see him with the ball in his hands, in part because nobody is creating something for themselves. The feeling seems to be, let Prentiss figure it out. It's a tough situation. But when he stepped in the door three years ago, and I told you he'd lead the league in assists as a junior, your reaction probably would be, let's do it. Right?

Mike,New Jersey

9:54

Hi Tom appreciate all your coverage......obviously very disappointed like many fans with this season but i do see potential for a great bounce back year next year with the yale transfer and two local freshmen......my one concern is can hubb actually run this offense efficiently? Raw Talent wise it sounds like an easy yes but it seems like the team needs a more team oriented point guard running the show....someone who can keep their dribble and actually set guys up for success with minimum turnovers....sorry for the rant but basically what are breys options? wertz and ryan are not full time pgs and it seems like hubb will never fully turn into one

Thomas Noie

9:52

One more bit of housekeeping business...be sure to include your name and hometown with your question comment. It will have a way better chance of being addressed instead of coming from someone named GUEST....Thanks!

9:46

Welcome to today's Notre Dame men's basketball. Usually, i don't set many ground rules, because there are none, but today will be an exception. Let's talk Irish hoops. The present (ugh). The future (bright, maybe?) What I hope not to do is turn this into a five-hour what-if session on who the next head coach should/will be. Nobody has any idea. Right now, Mike Brey is the head coach. When he isn't there will be plenty of time to ponder who might be next. So we'll save our wish lists for another day. And with that, let's light this chat candle.

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