ND Men's Basketball 2015-2016 season

[mtnd15]

Even DJ really struggled freshman year. You could tell he was hesitant around the rim. You could actually see in his eyes he was not used to the length and speed. Amazing how good he's gotten.

My guess is they end up just having a point guard by committee next year. I don't see Farrell doing what Brey needs out of a guard. I bet Vasturia runs a lot of the offense.

 

[arrowryan]

Even DJ really struggled freshman year. You could tell he was hesitant around the rim. You could actually see in his eyes he was not used to the length and speed. Amazing how good he's gotten.

My guess is they end up just having a point guard by committee next year. I don't see Farrell doing what Brey needs out of a guard. I bet Vasturia runs a lot of the offense.

Rex Pflueger as well

 

[House16]

The loses to Monmouth and Alabama really hurts us.

They definitely hurt, but not as much as you'd think. Both teams are in the Top 50 for RPI, which is the number one factor the committee looks at. I think the Iowa win will help us more than those losses, making it a positive weekend overall.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Tonight's game against Clemson is huge for a variety of reasons.
1) This is probably the last chance ND has to collect another good road win. Right now, ND really only has the win @Duke. Beating Clemson would give ND another top 100 RPI road win, against a team that has beat Duke, Miami, L'ville and Pitt.
2) It would demonstrate that the team is taking a step forward. Sure the win against UNC was fantastic, but can they handle the success and use the game as a stepping stone?
3) With L'ville not playing in the ACC Tourney, ND is still in play for a top 4 seed (most likely the 4 seed). Clemson is one of the teams still in play for that seed, especially given their weak schedule down the stretch. If ND loses this game, ND would most likely need to sweep L'ville and Miami at home to still be in play for the 4 seed.

 

[RDU Irish]

Early February coming off a tough win over #2 team in the country.... and folks are whining about how we may suck next year? Enjoy the moment folks! Regardless of what we do from here, that was a great, storm the court win. Offense looked like garbage most of the game but they manufactured points and stuck with this. Scrapped and fought the whole way - can't believe we won shooting as poorly as we did but you saw the impact of offensive efficiency - ridiculous turnover margin made all the difference in the world.

NDAcct is exactly right, we need a road win badly. ACC is also up for grabs, remember there is no regular season winner - tourney champ IS the champ. Let's go defend this thing! We have absolutely owned Duke and UNC, what a glorious thing.

 

[House16]

Tonight's game against Clemson is huge for a variety of reasons.
1) This is probably the last chance ND has to collect another good road win. Right now, ND really only has the win @Duke. Beating Clemson would give ND another top 100 RPI road win, against a team that has beat Duke, Miami, L'ville and Pitt.
2) It would demonstrate that the team is taking a step forward. Sure the win against UNC was fantastic, but can they handle the success and use the game as a stepping stone?
3) With L'ville not playing in the ACC Tourney, ND is still in play for a top 4 seed (most likely the 4 seed). Clemson is one of the teams still in play for that seed, especially given their weak schedule down the stretch. If ND loses this game, ND would most likely need to sweep L'ville and Miami at home to still be in play for the 4 seed.

Totally agree. This is low key one of our most important games of the season. They're favored by 1.5, but it would feel like a big let down, especially for our momentum, if we dropped this one. Big big big game. Hopefully Auguste recognizes that and balls out... when he's fired up he's pretty much unstoppable.

 

[yankeeND]

Totally agree. This is low key one of our most important games of the season. They're favored by 1.5, but it would feel like a big let down, especially for our momentum, if we dropped this one. Big big big game. Hopefully Auguste recognizes that and balls out... when he's fired up he's pretty much unstoppable.

Dude, I am with you about Zack. That kid is fantastic when he wants to be. He really turns it up on tne biggest stage too. Hopefully the team realized how good they can be after knocking off number 1 (coaches poll) and gets after it the rest of the way.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Here's to hoping we come out of our shooting slump, and that Zach shows up.

 

[irishandy]

If this team can play like it did in the 2nd half against North Carolina they can be dangerous.

They always bounce back after a loss, they haven't lost 2 straight games this year.

 

[Woneone]

Watching the Duke v. Louisville game, and it has to be said.

Grayson Allen is flat-out punk.

He just tripped a kid, intentionally.

That by itself isn't that much, but I've seen on at least 4 or 5 occasions when he's undercut kids going up for layups, kick his leg at kids as he's falling, and just flat play dirty.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Anyone know how to listen to Jack Nolan call the game? Do I need XM radio or something?

NM found it.

 

[irishfan]

Looking good so far tonight, even with Auguste on the bench for most the half. Would be a huge win to get us into the top-4 of the ACC. Would love to get that bye to the Quarterfinals in the ACC Tournament again.

 

[yankeeND]

Auguste showed up big-time in the second half!

 

[Shamrock Theories]

Man this team is fun to watch

 

[IrishLion]

Auguste showed up big-time in the second half!

No shit. Him and Bonzi have been animals the past two games.

This team will be tough if they keep that up, combined with some timely Vasturia/Beachem deep shots.

 

[irishfan]

What a tough/great win.

 

[yankeeND]

No shit. Him and Bonzi have been animals the past two games.

This team will be tough if they keep that up, combined with some timely Vasturia/Beachem deep shots.

Here's to hoping. Crazy to think how close they are to being a top 10 team. Those Monmouth, Indiana, and Alabama games are the difference. I am glad they have turned it around.

 

[House16]

Really gritty, tough win. Auguste balled out when he was on the floor and the defense was surprisingly good for a game in which we gave up 83. If we can cut down on the threes made against us, this team could really hit a new level...

 

[BabyIrish]

Here's to hoping. Crazy to think how close they are to being a top 10 team. Those Monmouth, Indiana, and Alabama games are the difference. I am glad they have turned it around.

I was really down on this team early, but they're making me believe again.

 

[NDgradstudent]

Really gritty, tough win. Auguste balled out when he was on the floor and the defense was surprisingly good for a game in which we gave up 83. If we can cut down on the threes made against us, this team could really hit a new level...

Nice to see the Irish making late FTs. Those 3s...Clemson normally shoots 35% from 3, and they shot 50% against us. This has happened again and again, at home and on the road, against pretty much everybody we've played. Is there some obvious explanation for this that I'm missing?

 

[yankeeND]

I was really down on this team early, but they're making me believe again.

It was a rocky start, that's for sure. Zack and Bonzie were great when the other wasn't on the court. Now they are starting to play well when out there at the same time. It's not so much that they are playing well together, but they are learning to be productive otherwise. It's been a lot of fun since Duke is all I know lol.

 

[gkIrish]

Team is starting to come together. We have the weapons to go far in the tournament but if our threes don't fall we will be prone to an upset.

Really love our improved free throw shooting.

 

[RDU Irish]

Really gritty, tough win. Auguste balled out when he was on the floor and the defense was surprisingly good for a game in which we gave up 83. If we can cut down on the threes made against us, this team could really hit a new level...

Last two minutes we were not defending and trading their shots for our FTs. Seemed like they made half a dozen shots in a row during that stretch including some 3s. Defense definitely looked more active than usual. Maybe, just maybe, Brey is actually going to push defense to put this team over the top? Farrell and Pflueger put in some good minutes, Torres played 2 minutes - an extra big body will be essential so good to see him at least get on the floor.

Pflueger makes me think we are going to be just fine next year. Kid is athletic as hell, plays with some attitude and not afraid to mix it up in the paint. He is definitely hesitating on open looks, once he gets that out of his head he will be dangerous. Easy to imagine him as our leading scorer even next year.

Not sure what to make of Beachem - for a guy raining 3s for pretty much all of his offense he just doesn't feel like pure shooter. 3 bombers should be more than 60% from the foul line. He has been more active on defense, using his length. That block on the break away was pretty sweet. I'm sure part of it is clearing the paint for DJ, Zach and Bonzi but he just never seems to be anywhere near the basket on offense.

 

[Ndaccountant]

1) They needed this win and got the job done. It was a tough ask......going on the road and beating a team unbeaten at home in conference play......48 hours after an emotional game. Well done.

2) I thought for sure after the Miami game that this team was cooked. That was two road games in a row they looked like garbage, especially on defense. While still not stellar, the defense has improved the last two games. Hands have been so very active leading to tips and turnovers and the zone has been much better (though there are still two individuals that play VERY lazy while in zone). To me, that is what has made the team look better.

3) Big night for Ryan and VJ. For Ryan, he needed this to give himself a boost. Having someone off the bench that can shoot 3's is needed for this team and Ryan is that guy. Let's hope it sparks him. For VJ, he carried over the second half performance against UNC to this game and it was fun to watch. His on-ball defense is still shaky, but his help side shot blocking has been fantastic.

4) ZA has had up's and down's his whole career, but my lawd did he eat Clemson alive last night. Most of that was ZA playing focused. But if I was a Clemson fan, I would be livid that multiple big men literally walked away from ZA around the basket. I have no clue what they were doing.

5) Here is to hoping that the last two games is what we see going forward. Brey usually gets his teams to gel and it looks like that is finally happening here. Will be an interesting Feb for sure.

 

[RDU Irish]

Team is starting to come together. We have the weapons to go far in the tournament but if our threes don't fall we will be prone to an upset.

Really love our improved free throw shooting.

Beat #2 UNC with horrendous three point shooting - these guys are can find a lot of ways to win. I just think Brey does well in conference play where he knows the teams and personnel versus tourneys that he has a short window to prep.

Lights out from the line, that is very key to preventing upsets in the tourney. We could do better slowing them down at the end though, Clemson was scoring something like every five seconds for a while. I understand not wanting to foul but you can't completely go into a shell.

 

[RDU Irish]

2/13 Louisville @ home
2/20 @ Georgia Tech
2/24 @ Wake Forest
2/27 @ Florida State
3/2 Miami @ home
3/5 NCST @ home

Very manageable. 4-2 or 5-1 most likely IMO.

 

[gkIrish]

2/13 Louisville @ home W
2/20 @ Georgia Tech W
2/24 @ Wake Forest W
2/27 @ Florida State L
3/2 Miami @ home W
3/5 NCST @ home W

I see 5-1

 

[irishfan]

2/13 Louisville @ home
2/20 @ Georgia Tech
2/24 @ Wake Forest
2/27 @ Florida State
3/2 Miami @ home
3/5 NCST @ home

Very manageable. 4-2 or 5-1 most likely IMO.

I see 5-1

13-5 in ACC play would be pretty sweet...almost a lock that we would be a top-4 seed for the ACC Tournament with that record.

 

[IrishLion]

I see 5-1

I would reverse Louisville and Florida State, but they need to win one of those two for sure.

 

[irishfan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Latest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> numbers from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ESPN?src=hash">#ESPN</a> - Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) 23, Strength of Schedule (SOS) 18, Basketball Power Index (BPI) 22</p>— Tom Noie (@tnoieNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/tnoieNDI/status/698157645241442304">February 12, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

These are great numbers for us. Our computer numbers tend to lag behind our national Top-25 ranking, so this is very good to see come tourney time. Nearly everyone has us as a #6 seed at the moment...I think we jump to a #5 if we win tomorrow (about #20 in the polls) and then we would most likely be favored in our final 5 games as well...we have so much momentum right now, I would love to see us end the year hot going into the ACC Tournament and get some real momentum for the NCAA Tournament.

5-1 down the stretch and an ACC double-bye seems very doable right now.