JotCast | Notre Dame men's basketball season wrap chat

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Joe, Chicago

12:46

I know you mentioned every coach is intrigued by offers, but Brey's recent flirtation with MD is really surprising for a guy who seemed drained over the last few years and with such a strong recruiting class coming in. Seems like if Brey had showed similar interest the previous times MD opened up, they would have welcomed him with open arms

Thomas Noie

12:46

Jim: That's a risk you have to take in this day and in college basketball. Wesley wasn't even a Top 100 kid coming out of high school and was right down the street. Do you not recruit him? Yeah, that would've gone over well (see Ivey, Jaden). Same thing with J.J. Starling. A kid that talented who WANTS everything that Notre Dame can offer. You going to tell him, nah, we'll pass? Do that and you're soon out of a job.

Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.

12:44

Tom, as much upside and undeniable talent that guys like Wesley and Starling possess, isn't there a risk of disruption within the program if you keep bringing in potential one-and-done players who might leave quickly and thereby create possible roster upheaval? This approach seems to be the very anthesis of the big-picture, veteran-laden approach that Brey has long embraced and advocated. I'm not saying don't go after players of this ilk but isn't there a potential long-term downside to going down this route?

Thomas Noie

12:44

Port: Not close. He always believed he could get this group to where it got to this season. He was frustrated to no end not being able to reach them the last few years, but one really good year has energized him. Jack Swarbrick has said Mike Brey can coach here for as long as he wants. Does he want to? We'll see,

PortND, Upstate NY

12:42

Brey clearly seems to have the juice again to continue coaching, how close do you think he was to either stepping down or retiring? Also, how much longer do you think he'll be around?

Thomas Noie

12:40

Joe: Hard, hard pass on this one.

Joe, Chicago

12:40

Any word on Ryan Ayers' future?

Thomas Noie

12:40

Gotta get here earlier, my man. Scroll through the chat. You'll find a plethora of answers...

The man

12:40

Who might we see coming back Tom? Are there any definites or probablys? Sorry I just arrived if you previously answered this.

Thomas Noie

12:40

Joe: it's the old never say never adage. I expect it to remain intact, but if an offer that Ryan Humphrey really likes, maybe he takes it. But he's smart enough to know that you don't take a job just to take it. Everything has to fit. Because, why not Ryan Humphrey when Mike Brey decides it's over?

Joe, Chicago

12:38

What are the odds the coaching staff stays intact for next season? Slo and Wyche would seem to be long shots, but Humphrey would seem like a strong candidate for a mid-major

Thomas Noie

12:38

Kyley: Might have been one of the worst decisions ever this season from Mike Brey. Totally unnecessary. Dropped Dane Goodwin into such a funk. They flushed that Virginia Tech game because of it. It was a week or two or maybe even three early when Brey mentioned that there was no way they were switching up the starting lineup. He liked how everyone flowed in their roles. Then we get to Barclays and see the change and it's like.....huh???? Brey admitted afterward it was a mistake and a decision he shouldn't have made.

Kyley from Virginia

12:36

Thanks, Tom. I agree. I am also curious to hear your opinions on mixing up the starting lineup at the end of the season? I.e. not starting Dane at the ACC tournament. How much do you think this impacts games?

Thomas Noie

12:36

Jake: I can. Nope, no, no way, nada, zilch. Any other term you want to use. Mike Brey says that every year and every year the fan base falls all over its collective self when it doesn't happen. It still will be seven, but what will change is the seven. Maybe it's JRK for a stretch, or Taylor, or maybe even Zona. But eight, nine, 10 deep. Not happening. Like, ever.

Jake

12:35

I can’t believe we’ve made it this far into the chat without a question about the bench/rotation lol. But do you think Brey is going to finally go beyond 7 deep next season? It seems like he will almost have to.

Thomas Noie

12:35

Done! Email me for details...

Ryan from Notre Dame

12:34

Bru Burger on me, Tom. You name the time.

Thomas Noie

12:34

True, but full transparency. I did vote Nate Laszewski for all defense this year. He was the guy in terms of making it all work. He rebounded. He guarded. He talked. He drew charges. We've seen that "just score 80" mentality. It doesn't hold up in the long run. Notre Dame's not Virginia in terms of defense but it played it well enough this year to win. And to sustain/expect that effort in the years to follow.

joe from the south side

12:32

Tom, Brey has always been willing to trade 2 for 3. Always. And always will. If he said it once he said it a 1,000 times. He'll sacrifice something on the DEF (rebounding, shot blocking) end if it creates the OFF flow and mismatches he desires. As proud as he is/was of how Slo improved the DEF, he is way more enthusiastic about "how hard it is to guard us when we share the ball". You are right. NC will kill them on the glass. So will Duke. Mainly because they get NBA talent at those slots and ND gets "projects". But if Wesley returns, I find it hard to believe anyone will be able to defend him, JJS, Dane and CMAC at the same time. Honestly, their least effective (read sluggish) OFF this year was when he played Laz and Paul at the same time. Not that you won't do that in spurts, but I think he would go all in on averaging 80+ pts/game and let the chips fall where they may.

Thomas Noie

12:31

Joe: Two facts that also go overlooked from a national perspective. Nobody in the portal and no COVID stoppages. Even when it wasn't going to the NCAA Tournament, Notre Dame still was doing everything right within its program. That matters.

Joe, Chicago

12:30

Something or nothing that no one transferred from the core senior class during the some really low times over the last few years? Also, how many other teams did not have a positive COVID test over the last two years - not sure if that translates to the court at all, but that was pretty impressive

Thomas Noie

12:30

Mike: Hunter Dickinson, because you still could've gotten Blake Wesley for one year to pair with him. Wesley was more of a realistic get than Jaden Ivey. He just was. And Mike Brey had Dickinson. Had him. Like, commitment. He was coming. Then he wasn't. Dickinson would've been a game-changer.

Mike,New Jersey

12:29

In your opinion which was more of a bigger miss in recruiting, Jaden Ivy or Hunter Dickinson? Just having Dickinson's size took a Michigan Team that had no business in the tournament to the Sweet 16. He would be unstoppable in Brey's offense

Thomas Noie

12:29

Joe: Honestly, my question to Nate Laszewski and Cormac Ryan post-Pittsburgh when I asked both if that was their last Senior Day. Ryan tackled the question head on, saying he'd love to make another Senior Day speech. Laszewski turned beet red as if he'd just been caught doing something he shouldn't. Some of us media dopes read that reaction to be, yeah, he's done. Honestly, though, he's always been a longshot to return from those in the know.

Joe, Chicago

12:27

I thought the prospects of Laz coming back was more 50/50 a few weeks ago - what has changed to make him likely to depart?

Thomas Noie

12:27

Greg: A road game at Dayton, a road game at UCLA and home and home against Gonzaga. As for bigs (bugs), the game's changed. It's not so much a bigs game as it is guards/small forwards/stretch fours.

Greg, Las Vegas

12:24

What are 3 (non conference) opponents you would love to see on the schedule in the coming years? Also, why are bugs so elusive to Brey? With Humphrey, a free flowing offense and ACC opponents to battle against, what more do you want?

Thomas Noie

12:24

P: Trey Wertz went for a career high 27 points in his first game (Purdue) and we've not seen anything close to that guy since. Why? There's more there. He hit a key 3 Sunday against Texas Tech, but his deliberate foul was disappointing. Young guys make those kind of plays. Old guys can't. He seemingly became a different (better) player in early February, then slid back to the shadows. It's hard to see how he really fits next year.

P. - St. Paul

12:22

Re: Wertz - He started delivering some amazing assists by the end of the season, and has the ability to be a great 3 pt shooter. I believe his ceiling is much higher than we've seen and he just needs another year to develop. I would opt for him and Ryan to return among the guards. (and Wesley of course)

Thomas Noie

12:16

Kyley: Do it all again. Now, winning 15 Atlantic Coast Conference games and finishing second might be a little too much to ask (given that we don't know how the conference opponents shake out), there's no reason to think this team can't A) win double digit league games, B) finish in the top five or six C) go back to the NCAA Tournament and D) challenge for a spot in the Sweet 16. This season should be a starting point, not a stopping point. Go build on it.

Kyley from Virginia

12:15

Hi Tom, really loved your content this season. Despite the unfortunate end to ND's tournament run, I am wondering what you think Notre Dame needs to have an even more successful March next season?

Thomas Noie

12:15

You buying? Never known a reporter to turn down a free meal, right?

Ryan from Notre Dame

12:14

Hi Tom. First time, long time. Want to get lunch sometime?

Thomas Noie

12:14

Jim: It's hard to say. Usually you really have a chance to gauge that in postseason during the media availability sessions where the locker room is open and you have a chance to talk to guys in their setting. We didn't get that this year because of COVID. That made it difficult to really see how guys interact away from the cameras and the bright lights of the interview dais. It would be hard to beat that 2015 team, and even the 2016 squad in terms of togetherness. Both those teams had it at different levels.

Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA.

12:12

Hi Tom, really enjoyed your coverage from San Diego. The loss to Texas Tech was particularly painful because that game was right there to be taken and a season of redemption could have become truly one for the ages. A missed opportunity to say the least. But that aside, this was a fun team to follow and watch. One thing that struck me throughout this season was the genuine bond and chemistry that existed among the players. Their kinship and connection was real and tangible. Would you say that since you've been on the ND basketball beat, the closeness of this group rivals just about anything you've seen from any other Irish team? I would value your opinion on this. Many thanks.

Thomas Noie

12:12

Joe: Less than zero. Wesley and Starling have talked about playing together, but I've asked J.J. about the possibility of not being able to play with Wesley. His response? Just wants what's best for him. If it's best for Wesley to go to the NBA, then go to the NBA.

Joe, Chicago

12:11

How does the idea of playing with Sterling factor into Wesley's decision? Do they have much of a relationship?

Thomas Noie

12:11

Joe: Solid. Slo was in charge of the defense overall, but Wyche added some new principles to the zone that really helped. And he's another guy who won't allow guys to settle. He's a younger version of Slo. The tweak to the staff cannot be understated. Mike Brey knew he needed to make a change and that change worked. For all involved.

Joe, Chicago

12:09

Slo got all of the headlines for the difference he was able to make defensively, but what was some of the feedback from Wyche's first year on the staff?

Thomas Noie

12:09

Joe: Sometimes it just takes that - time. For a player to find his voice, to figure out where he fits, to believe that, yeah, I can do this and this and this. He was their most valuable player down the stretch. I didn't know if he had it in him. It reached a point where every time he shot it, you figured it was going in.

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