JotCast | Notre Dame season wrap chat

Notre Dame season wrap chat

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Thomas Noie

12:01

Ed: Wait and see

Ed, Greensboro

12:01

Tom, regarding Zach’s question. I think that is the problem -Brey is not going to change his staff or his ways like Brian Kelly did.

Thomas Noie

12:00

Ethan: Nope. Notre Dame's probably not going the Martin Ingelsby route. Or the John Beilein route. Or Nick Saban or Urban Meyer or Jon Gruden....sorry, I digress.

Ethan (Clifton Park, NY)

11:59

If Brey does not turn it around and we miss the tourney again, I would assume he would retire or leave for a different job. Are there any hints or clues on who ND would turn to to take over? Maybe the Delaware route again and bring back Ingelsby?

Thomas Noie

11:59

Ed: Might be a good time to trot out this little stat. Should Notre Dame ever go four years between NCAA Tournament trips? Nope. Never. Not acceptable. But for the crowd that likes to bang the drum of, man, it feels like it's been forever since Notre Dame went to an Elite Eight - here's this. Take the group that went to the Elite Eight this year - USC, Arkansas, UCLA, Gonzaga, Michigan, Baylor, Houston and Oregon State. Add up collectively how long its been since any of those program have been to the Elite Eight. You know what the AVERAGE number of years those teams went between Elite Eight appearances? 19.5. Winning's hard in college basketball, a lot harder than a lot of people realize.

Ed, Greensboro

11:57

Tom, hit wrong button.Alarming to hear that Brey is pretty safe through the 2024/2025 season.Does Jack really want part of his legacy to be the collapse of the men’s basketball program? I see no hope for the future.thanks

Thomas Noie

11:57

John: man, it took only two hours to get to the Prentiss Hubb is the issue question. Can't disagree enough on that. Hubb led the team ins coring (14.6), was first in the ACC in asissts (5.85), third in the league in 3-point percentage (.342) and 3s made (65) and 10th in A/T ratio (1.83). And that's not good enough, how? Yeah, he takes the occasional questionable shot and raises the occasional questionable middle finger, but a big part of that is that guys who don't want the ball give him the ball. Like, here, you go figure it out. Sometimes, that's at the end of a clock where he's got nothing left to do but hoist it. Get a few more guys like him and we're not wondering why it's been four years with no NCAAs.

John from Somers, CT

11:52

Don't you think it is a problem when the guy who took more shots than any other player on the team has the 2nd worst shooting percentage? Hubb shot a horrendous 38% from the field. Only Ryan had a percentage that was worse. I believe N.D. has lost more than they have won over the last 3 years and are much worse in ACC games over that span. Hubb is a decent player and I know he gets little help from his teammates, but Brey needs to redefine Hubb's role. Can it be that one reason the players love Brey is that he gives them too much freedom?

Thomas Noie

11:51

Joe: This goes more toward the "Brey never leaves the state or bothers to recruit HS seniors" crowd, but if - and it's still an IF - the one-time transfer rule passes, it's going to really impact high school seniors. Coaches are going to realize, hell, why should I go chase a kid through the summer when all I have to do is click open the portal. Teams are going to be built more from that than they are the traditional high school recruits. It will be a circus. Already is.

joe from the south side

11:49

Tom: I don't think Brey has all that much recruiting to do. First, it is the wild wild west out there. You have bodies flying all over the place. Hell, Walker Kessler is in the portal. My point is, if things return to normal (or close) he will likely lose Hubb, Atkinson and Nate. I believe Carmody stays due to his injury riddled career and his brother. Goodwin already said he is a 5 year guy. That covers 9 spots. Let's say he bags a transfer. Not unlikely. He probably is only recruiting one or two more guys since he never gets to 13 anyway. Assuming, as you say, no ND player enters the portal as we are chatting.

Thomas Noie

11:49

Tom: That's what makes it so interesting. We all know WHERE this program needs to go. Question is, HOW does it get there. And the status quo will be shaken next year with the addition of Paul Atkinson and Blake Wesley and J.R. Konieczny. What does Elijah Taylor offer? Can Robby Carmody salvage his college career? How will a "normal" spring and summer benefit them come fall. What does the staff look like? It might not be a seismic change in terms of the head coach, but there might be enough subtle ones to pique your interest.

Tom (Chicago)

11:46

I try to be an optimist, but is there actually any reason to look forward to the upcoming season? I just don't see a path for a path to the NCAA tournament for this team. If that is the case why delay the inevitable, and stick with status quo for another year? Changes to the program need to start being made now.

Thomas Noie

11:46

Joe: But is it? Or is it a domino to fall within the Carolina family? Is it Hubert Davis' job? Does Bubba Cunningham make a run at Porter Moser? Chris Holtmann? You know how Carolina is with that family thing? LOL

joe from the south side

11:45

Tom: Roy Williams just retired. Going to be a lot of changes in D1 coaching this off season. That's a big domino to fall.

Thomas Noie

11:45

Erik: He's done studio work for CBS/Turner during the NCAA Tournament. He also did color commentary for one of the Notre Dame alumni teams in The Basketball Tournament (which, by the way, could be in play for ND alums this offseason). Whenever it ends, he'll go sit on a beach for a year then parachute into television. He'll crush it there. He's a natural.

Erik (Granger, IN)

11:44

Thank you for taking all my questions! When Mike Brey finally does retire, I do think he'll be a good color commentator. His personality seems well suited to such a role, and he'll bring a combination of humor and deep basketball knowledge. But has he ever had the chance to try it out before? For example, has there been some sort of off-season olympics where he was involved in the commentary? Or would he be going in cold like Drew Brees is this year for ND football?

Thomas Noie

11:44

Joey: Oooooof! A gut punch. Here's the thing with Dickinson - Mike Brey had a commitment from him. Had it. Locked it down. Then Michigan happened. Yeah, they'd have been way better than 11-15 with Dickinson. But then again, would they?

Joey ,westernport md

11:43

Tom. What do the think the Irish record would have been if Hunter Dickinson would have have signed with the Irish?

Thomas Noie

11:43

Phil: A collective and complete collapse to date. There's little evidence that says next year is going to be any better. Individually, that junior class was really good - all within the Top 100. But collectively, perfect strangers. Mike Brey's going to sink or swim with them. Think right now it's more sink. Can't wait to be wrong, because that means this team's actually going places. Still seems too much stuck in neutral.

Phil (Chicago)

11:41

Some of Mike Brey's better recruiting classes are currently on the roster, yet this team plays like one of his worst. What went wrong: player development, recruiting experts got it wrong, coaching decline, all of the above?

Thomas Noie

11:41

Mike: I'd be stunned if there wasn't at least one new assistant coach and/or some major restructuring within the staff. Let's see how it plays out.

Mike from Rochester

11:41

Tom- if Brey is serious about making things right, then it seems to me that he needs to make a number of significant changes, starting with staff overhaul. I know he's loyal (I would say to a fault) to his guys, but is there any chance that he'll bring in a new assistant or two, preferably with an eye on improving the defensive performance?

Thomas Noie

11:41

Justin: Not necessarily. Lot of coaches going nowhere this year and that hasn't stopped players from scrambling to find new homes. Penny Hardaway's still at Memphis. Boeheim still at the 'Cuse. Steve Forbes at Wake and he had how many, seven guys, in portal? That only Nik Djogo is in the portal (mainly because he's earned two degrees) might be a sign that it's not all the doom and gloom that people think Irish hoops currently is.

Justin Ft Wayne

11:39

Tom, assuming Brey hung it up after the season. Do you think many of the players would of hit the portal? Have to think Brey coming back is a big reason why no one has entered or will enter the transfer portal.

Thomas Noie

11:39

Dave: Rarely. Never say never, but recruiting the foreign prospects is something Notre Dame won't invest the time or money or effort into unless that player is 130 percent set on getting the full Notre Dame experience. Foreign-born players usually want something that's going to get them to the NBA quickly. They're not looking at anything Notre Dame might offer.

Dave from Alpha, NJ

11:37

Hi Tom. I saw foreign-born players scattered throughout the NCAA tournament on some higher seeded teams. Do you think ND will ever dabble back into that market?
Thanks for doing these chats.

Thomas Noie

11:37

Andrew: And I'm immediately transported to that July day in 2000 when Matt Doherty is on the phone with the SBT beat guy sobbing as he's headed to South Bend Airport and the flight back to Carolina. And be careful what/who you wish for.

Andrew from Plymouth, IN

11:36

With Roy Williams announcing his retirement, is it wrong of me that the first thing I think of is that I'd actually be happy this time around if UNC stole ND's coach? I know it won't happen but that's the first thought that popped into my head.

Thomas Noie

11:35

Joe: Agree and disagree. I don't know if it's the goal of anyone at Notre Dame - head coach, administrators, etc. - to cultivate NBA-level talent. Or even G-League talent. It's always, always, always been about more than just the athletic experience. I get when fans get all worked up about no NCAA Tournament or the talent level isn't where it should be, but do they get how that place operates? Like, really, get it? Notre Dame's playing the same game as the sport's blue bloods - with a ball and five guys and a 3-point line, but the real game, yeah, Notre Dame's not ever playing that one.

joe from the south side

11:33

Tom: Each year, prior to the start of the Tourney, I watch the 2015 ND-KY game in its entirety. Kind of like a tradition to whet my appetite. My God, this program is light years away from that team. Essentially, 5 of the top 7 guys had a taste of the NBA. Hell, Bonzie was the 7th man. The only way anybody on today's roster could have contact with the NBA is to buy tickets. They aren't even Developmental League talented. I think that's the size of the mountain that must be climbed. Not insurmountable, but not probable either.

Thomas Noie

11:33

Jake: No, this hire has to come from outside that circle. Need someone like Michigan has in Phil Martelli, a veteran who's been around the college basketball block. And might be in a position to offer a little push-back on the head coach when needed.

Jake

11:32

If notre dame is bringing in another assistant, will it be a former player or might it be an outside addition?

Thomas Noie

11:32

Chris: There's the big unknown - you have seven departing, but the only one next season out of college eligibility will be Paul Atkinson, which means there could be six returning. Think Porter Moser's waiting on a bigger job/payday than what Notre Dame might offer.

Chris, Dallas, TX

11:30

Tom: In one of your year-end articles, it felt like Brey knows he needs to make the NCAA tourney or be gone after next season. If he's a lame duck this year, could you see a scenario where a new coach takes over this time next year with just five kids on scholarship and seven departing (including Ryan, Wertz, Carmody)? Second, I would think Porter Moser's Chicago ties and Majerus background of coaching D and ball movement would be a distinct differentiator for a team looking for relevance in ACC long term. Thanks for all you do!

Thomas Noie

11:29

Jake: This year's non-league schedule was sort of like the Atlantic Coast Conference opening with league games to start the season in 2019-20 - it's a one-shot deal. Mike Brey scheduled the way he did this season because he wasn't convinced there would be a season. So go play as many power games as possible. No, this year's schedule will be constructed with building early confidence and wins. Gotta get back to the NCAA Tournament.

Jake

11:27

Will the non-conference schedule go back to one like we’re used to seeing in 2021?

Thomas Noie

11:26

Zach: Easy answer - Paul Atkinson. Does the roster need someone else? Yes, but there's no evidence that this staff is going to go and add a guy just to add a guy. Mike Brey's a big believer in trusting the guys he has. That gets you - and your program - to where it is today.

Zach

11:25

If you had to guess one transfer who winds up in blue and gold next season, who is most likely?

Thomas Noie

11:25

Think he's more of a Cabernet guy.

HvG - Chicago

11:24

Which is greater over the last two weeks? A) Players Brey has contacted in the transfer portal / B) Mai Tai's consumed by Brey.

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