ND Men's Basketball 2014-15 Season

[RDU Irish]

We don't deserve any street cred, ND historically withers in tourney play. We are embarrassingly thin down low and the stereotype of a three point shooting finesse team is hardly undeserved.

Dook twice in less than two weeks will be the litmus test for if we are a legit power this year or not.

 

[woolybug25]

We don't deserve any street cred, ND historically withers in tourney play. We are embarrassingly thin down low and the stereotype of a three point shooting finesse team is hardly undeserved.

Dook twice in less than two weeks will be the litmus test for if we are a legit power this year or not.

So past tourneys determine whether this season's team is good? I don't buy that.

I agree the Du(oo)ke games are big, but i'm not entirely sure that they aren't over ranked. They have two conference losses compared to our one. They only have one more victory over a ranked opponent as well. but they are #4 in the country?

We are not a stereotypical three point, finesse team. We shoot the ball well, but we aren't a one trick pony.

 

[Circa]

Michigan State has a pretty deep basketball following though.

Yea, It's go hard to go head to head with Mr. Larry Bird; the history of Magic vs. Bird. But ESPN is goofy about us more than not.

 

[arrowryan]

Interesting. Why do you say that? I mean... we only have two losses and 19 wins. Our OOC wins aren't mind blowing, but I would put our conference wins up against anyone's. We are firmly in second place in the best conference in basketball and one of our two losses is to the #2 ranked team in the nation.

I am kinda fair weather in regards to college basketball, so am I missing something?

Agreed. If this team was ranked in the top 10 without playing a conference game yet, then I'd say they were overrated. But with conference wins over North Carolina, NC State, and Miami I think they've proved to everyone that they deserve their ranking. But they have a huge game on Wednesday against, what I think is, a slightly overrated Duke team. As long as they don't have a cold first half like they did last night and Auguste can hold his own against Okafor, they'll have a chance to win Wednesday night

 

[IrishLax]

Interesting. Why do you say that? I mean... we only have two losses and 19 wins. Our OOC wins aren't mind blowing, but I would put our conference wins up against anyone's. We are firmly in second place in the best conference in basketball and one of our two losses is to the #2 ranked team in the nation.

I am kinda fair weather in regards to college basketball, so am I missing something?

Mainly because our OOC slate didn't feature a single team that is currently ranked, and we're 6-2 in close games. I like our road win over UNC, and comeback win over Miami, and our close loss to Virginia. This is clearly a very talented team. But if you look at metrics or normalize for close games I think we should be somewhere between 10-15.

 

[koonja]

Mainly because our OOC slate didn't feature a single team that is currently ranked, and we're 6-2 in close games. I like our road win over UNC, and comeback win over Miami, and our close loss to Virginia. This is clearly a very talented team. But if you look at metrics or normalize for close games I think we should be somewhere between 10-15.

I'm as fair weather as it gets for hoops, but I watch the big games. We've had a lot of 50/50 games that come down to 1-5 points, and we've been lucky to come out on top in games that could easily be losses right now.

Definitely something to be said on winning close games and I think that experience will help in the tournament, but it's not like we're crushing the better teams we play.

Has a 2012 ND football regular season feel to some of the games.

 

[anarin]

I'm as fair weather as it gets for hoops, but I watch the big games. We've had a lot of 50/50 games that come down to 1-5 points, and we've been lucky to come out on top in games that could easily be losses right now.

Definitely something to be said on winning close games and I think that experience will help in the tournament, but it's not like we're crushing the better teams we play.

Has a 2012 ND football regular season feel to some of the games.

It's not luck when you battle back to win. It's not like they won on missed calls or the other team tragically missing a layup.

The negative opinions are a direct result of this university not putting a real product on the floor all these years. This team is legit, and if they are hitting, they can beat any team in the nation.

 

[koonja]

It's not luck when you battle back to win. It's not like they won on missed calls or the other team tragically missing a layup.

The negative opinions are a direct result of this university not putting a real product on the floor all these years. This team is legit, and if they are hitting, they can beat any team in the nation.

I'm not saying they're getting calls or anything like that, they're just making shots/opponent missing critical ones at the right time to come out on top of all of a lot of close games - that's not always a sign of a significant talent difference.

Which is good because you have to learn to win the close games, but it's not like they're dominating the big names on their schedule.

They beat MSU, NC, GT, and Miami by a combined 10 points, and won two OT games (GT again and NC State).

Winning is winning, but they could have easily lost a few of those games.

Duke, on the other hand, who also has 2 losses, has 11 point win over Louisville, 10 point win over MSU, 10 point win over Wisconsin, 14 point win over Pitt. I think those are more impressive wins.

 

[anarin]

I'm not saying they're getting calls or anything like that, they're just making shots/opponent missing critical ones at the right time to come out on top of all of a lot of close games - that's not always a sign of a significant talent difference.

Which is good because you have to learn to win the close games, but it's not like they're dominating the big names on their schedule.

They beat MSU, NC, GT, and Miami by a combined 10 points, and won two OT games (GT again and NC State).

Winning is winning, but they could have easily lost a few of those games.

If it makes you feel any better, duke lost to two of those teams.

 

[NCDomer]

ND wins close games because they're incredibly efficient on offense and have one of the best half court offenses around. Currently, ND is statistically the most efficient offense in the country.

Defense is ND's weakness. The first half last night showed that. ND is very average on defense.

ND vs. UVA showed how a great offense compared to a great defense, as UVA is the second most efficient defense (UK is #1). UVA also has a very efficient offense too, which plays excellent half court offense. UVA might not be the most talented team around, but they're they most efficient. They'll be the team to beat come March.

Regarding the close games and what's probably an allusion to ND being lucky, Ken Pom ranks ND as having only average luck. I.e., ND didn't win close games because it was lucky.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I'm not saying they're getting calls or anything like that, they're just making shots/opponent missing critical ones at the right time to come out on top of all of a lot of close games - that's not always a sign of a significant talent difference.

Which is good because you have to learn to win the close games, but it's not like they're dominating the big names on their schedule.

They beat MSU, NC, GT, and Miami by a combined 10 points, and won two OT games (GT again and NC State).

Winning is winning, but they could have easily lost a few of those games.

Duke, on the other hand, who also has 2 losses, has 11 point win over Louisville, 10 point win over MSU, 10 point win over Wisconsin, 14 point win over Pitt. I think those are more impressive wins.

MSU win was before ND really hit their stride and started playing at their current level. UNC is actually a good team, and it was a road win. GT, we were without our only legitimate big (Auguste). Miami, he barely played since he missed practice all week. NC State BEAT Duke, so winning on the road is impressive and GT, more than likely looking ahead to the UNC game just 2 days later.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

Mike Brey will be on Katz Korner today.

 

[RDU Irish]

So past tourneys determine whether this season's team is good? I don't buy that.

I agree the Du(oo)ke games are big, but i'm not entirely sure that they aren't over ranked. They have two conference losses compared to our one. They only have one more victory over a ranked opponent as well. but they are #4 in the country?

We are not a stereotypical three point, finesse team. We shoot the ball well, but we aren't a one trick pony.

Past performance absolutely impacts rankings. Dook and Tar Heels are the perfect examples. Duke is top rated 2 loss team, Tar Heels top rated 4 loss team.

There are so many more losses in NCAABB that the dreaded eye test really comes into play for rankings. Big name players and program count for so much. Our program gets no respect. Yeah, we can always beat just about anyone if our shots are falling historically. Problem is we would also lose by 40 frequently when the shots weren't falling.

I agree this team is much more complete, efficient and overall talented than any I can remember. I just can't imagine why anyone would give us the benefit of the doubt given our past!

 

[woolybug25]

Past performance absolutely impacts rankings. Dook and Tar Heels are the perfect examples. Duke is top rated 2 loss team, Tar Heels top rated 4 loss team.

Duke... it's Duke dog-damn it, not Dook.... is a top team because they only have two losses, not because they are Duke alone. Why is Notre Dame over ranked with the same amount of losses and two more wins?

There are so many more losses in NCAABB that the dreaded eye test really comes into play for rankings. Big name players and program count for so much. Our program gets no respect. Yeah, we can always beat just about anyone if our shots are falling historically. Problem is we would also lose by 40 frequently when the shots weren't falling.

When did we lose by 40? We certainly haven't this year and I cant remember a time in recent seasons either.

And which is it? We get no respect or we're over ranked? You cant have both.

I agree this team is much more complete, efficient and overall talented than any I can remember. I just can't imagine why anyone would give us the benefit of the doubt given our past!

How is a #8 ranking when we have a 19-2 record being given the benefit of the doubt? If anything, we are right where we should be, and teams like Duke are being given the benefit of the doubt.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

Brey was just talking to andy katz. Said they probably wont double team okafor. doesnt wanna give up 3s cause he knows that if they get hot from 3 its gonna be hard to win against them.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Brey was just talking to andy katz. Said they probably wont double team okafor. doesnt wanna give up 3s cause he knows that if they get hot from 3 its gonna be hard to win against them.

Hope Auguste doesn't get into foul trouble.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

Hope Auguste doesn't get into foul trouble.

I agree. Lets hope taht maybe okafor can get into foul trouble but not gonna bank on it. Hes very good at not fouling

 

[gkIrish]

I don't like Brey's strategy. We need to make someone else beat us. Auguste will be in foul trouble all game if he is asked to guard Okafor one on one.

 

[woolybug25]

I don't like Brey's strategy. We need to make someone else beat us. Auguste will be in foul trouble all game if he is asked to guard Okafor one on one.

My question is, why is he giving interviews in the media with outlines of our strategy for the game?

 

[NDGOLDEN]

My question is, why is he giving interviews in the media with outlines of our strategy for the game?

I dont know good question. He didnt say specifically that he wasnt going to do it. He said the games he has watched the other team seems to double team okafor most of the time and said he doesnt rly like to double team a lot.

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

I don't understand why Auguste struggles so much defending on the ball in the post (he is better at getting some weakside blocks). Maybe just stunted by years of playing against Tom Knight and Garrick Sherman? Auguste is an athletic big guy. He should be better than he is in that aspect of the game, but seems to get out of position a lot. He needs to fight for position early a bit more. Also, he tends to pick up one or two cheap fouls a game. Could use those fouls better and would get more PT if he did.

On the bright side, he had a really good rebounding game against NC State. And we already know he can help offensively.

Auguste v Okafor if clearly the key matchup for us this game. If Auguste can hold his own (within reason), I think the Irish come out 20-2.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I don't understand why Auguste struggles so much defending on the ball in the post (he is better at getting some weakside blocks). Maybe just stunted by years of playing against Tom Knight and Garrick Sherman? Auguste is an athletic big guy. He should be better than he is in that aspect of the game, but seems to get out of position a lot. He needs to fight for position early a bit more. Also, he tends to pick up one or two cheap fouls a game. Could use those fouls better and would get more PT if he did.

On the bright side, he had a really good rebounding game against NC State. And we already know he can help offensively.

Auguste v Okafor if clearly the key matchup for us this game. If Auguste can hold his own (within reason), I think the Irish come out 20-2.

Auguste reminds me of Golson to a degree. Thinks as opposed to react.

 

[AgentJ]

Auguste reminds me of Golson to a degree. Thinks as opposed to react.

Nailed it. He isnt always reacting and playing instinctively. Shows flashes and has some talent but looks brain dead for certain stretches as well. But with so little size u need him. I like Brey's strategy... double when u can but its not necessary on every touch. You need to limit Jahlil not completely shut him down. Give up 12-17 points to him and play good enough D on everyone else and you're coming away with a W

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

Auguste reminds me of Golson to a degree. Thinks as opposed to react.

That's an interesting/good comparison. Hadn't thought about it but there are definitely similarities.

On a side note- we should offer the Admiral a position to come coach our bigs!

 

[Ignats]

Yes Okafor is dominant and the #1 pick in this coming draft but what makes Duke good is the fact that they can beat you with that combo of Cook-Tyus Jones-Justise Winslow. Winslow and Jones are both NBA picks and they play like upperclassmen, not freshmen.

Ultimately ND is going to have to win this game doing the thing that we do best: drive, kick and shoot. For as much as we feel that we will struggle against Okafor Duke has struggled mightily guarding teams that play the way we do. Led to them losing by double digits at home to Miami.

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

I don't like Brey's strategy. We need to make someone else beat us. Auguste will be in foul trouble all game if he is asked to guard Okafor one on one.

I think we are clearly best in man to man this year given the pressure the our guards can put on the ball (we are best in man every year actually because we play old man church league 2-3 zone). DJ is the best on ball defender that I can remember in the last 20 years for ND (maybe Humphrey up there too).

It would be really helpful if we could play a little zone to protect Auguste for some stretches. However, we are the only team that invites the entry pass to the FT line in a 2-3 (which never ceases to amaze me given that brey is a dematha / duke disciple). Dukies will hurt us if we let them do that.

I think we start with Brey's plan of allowing Auguste to play one on one (I don't know how this works if colson has to come in or maybe Geben for just a little more size). If Auguste gets in foul trouble, I think all bets are off and we start doubling or go to a zone. Or maybe we just go to the 5 guard lineup and double down. That would be interesting to see Okafor try to guard Pat C, vasturia or beachem. Can't see duke going zone against us given the way we shoot the ball. That would cause some serious problems for them too if Okafor can't capitalize offensively.

Can't wait for the game. Go Irish! Beat dukies!

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

Yes Okafor is dominant and the #1 pick in this coming draft but what makes Duke good is the fact that they can beat you with that combo of Cook-Tyus Jones-Justise Winslow. Winslow and Jones are both NBA picks and they play like upperclassmen, not freshmen.

Ultimately ND is going to have to win this game doing the thing that we do best: drive, kick and shoot. For as much as we feel that we will struggle against Okafor Duke has struggled mightily guarding teams that play the way we do. Led to them losing by double digits at home to Miami.

You're right. We've talked a lot about the defensive side of the ball but we can really fill it up and if we play well offensively it makes up for a lot of deficiencies on the other end and it's tough for anyone to keep pace with us.

Go Irish! Beat Dukies! It's game day...

 

[gkIrish]

I think we are clearly best in man to man this year given the pressure the our guards can put on the ball (we are best in man every year actually because we play old man church league 2-3 zone). DJ is the best on ball defender that I can remember in the last 20 years for ND (maybe Humphrey up there too).

It would be really helpful if we could play a little zone to protect Auguste for some stretches. However, we are the only team that invites the entry pass to the FT line in a 2-3 (which never ceases to amaze me given that brey is a dematha / duke disciple). Dukies will hurt us if we let them do that.

I think we start with Brey's plan of allowing Auguste to play one on one (I don't know how this works if colson has to come in or maybe Geben for just a little more size). If Auguste gets in foul trouble, I think all bets are off and we start doubling or go to a zone. Or maybe we just go to the 5 guard lineup and double down. That would be interesting to see Okafor try to guard Pat C, vasturia or beachem. Can't see duke going zone against us given the way we shoot the ball. That would cause some serious problems for them too if Okafor can't capitalize offensively.

Can't wait for the game. Go Irish! Beat dukies!

Good post. That would be an interesting strategy and one I wouldn't be surprised to see if we get down 10 points early.

I hope the crowd goes crazy tonight and please don't storm the court if we win.

 

[woolybug25]

Tonight is the night!

Ol' lady had to head to Chicago, so i'm gonna grab some Two Hearted and cheer our Irish onto victory!

 

[jimmymac]

Headed to the game tonight. Should be the best atmosphere we've seen in a while. Very pumped