2021-2022 Notre Dame Men's Basketball

[Rogue219]

So happy for these kids. They're giving everything. Staff really should be out there recruiting so it isn't on the kids they have who are shouldering the burden.

Just keep winning. Most people only tune in looking for a reason to complain because there is no football to complain about. Keep winning.

 

[notredomer23]

So happy for these kids. They're giving everything. Staff really should be out there recruiting so it isn't on the kids they have who are shouldering the burden.

Just keep winning. Most people only tune in looking for a reason to complain because there is no football to complain about. Keep winning.

I think this second part isn’t fair. This team has many flaws and the fact Brey refuses to play more than 6 people is why this team is going to burn out early in the ACC tournament and hopefully the NCAA tournament as well.

Hubb until his dagger 3 didn’t even hit rim his first 5.

Zona played 2 minutes, didn’t do anything bad, and was never heard from again.

Rebounding, while better this year, is still pretty bad and a big part of why Louisville made it a game. This point goes into Brey only playing 6 because it wasn’t an issue in the first half when they had energy.

 

[irishff1014]

I quit wathing the team a few years ago. Between not gettingthe games and the path Brey had this team on it wasn't worth my time. I am glad to see these guys putting to gether a very good season.

 

[clashmore_mike]

I think this second part isn’t fair. This team has many flaws and the fact Brey refuses to play more than 6 people is why this team is going to burn out early in the ACC tournament and hopefully the NCAA tournament as well.

Yep, it's turning in to the same old story. We hear in the preseason how excited the staff is for some bench guys to contribute some meaningful minutes and once exhibition games are done, we are back to a 7 man at most rotation. Unless there are injuries we don't know about, Sanders, Taylor, Zona, and Morgan should be getting some kind of minutes to at least save the starters legs. You'd think that would help keeping everyone invested and hungry as well. Playing just 2 bigs every game is just stupid.

 

[NDPhilly]

Love these guys but this has to be the worst 1st place team in the ACC at this point of the season in decades if not history. We are 66 now in KenPom lol.

 

[Rogue219]

I think this second part isn’t fair. This team has many flaws and the fact Brey refuses to play more than 6 people is why this team is going to burn out early in the ACC tournament and hopefully the NCAA tournament as well.

Hubb until his dagger 3 didn’t even hit rim his first 5.

Zona played 2 minutes, didn’t do anything bad, and was never heard from again.

Rebounding, while better this year, is still pretty bad and a big part of why Louisville made it a game. This point goes into Brey only playing 6 because it wasn’t an issue in the first half when they had energy.

Using this thread and Twitter as an example, it's very fair. Both liven up whenever the team loses, which I find particularly interesting. Everyone has something to say when the team loses a game. It has actually gotten to the point that even when they WIN it's consistently negative.

Everyone knows what they have and who plays. I've come to accept the rotation. There isn't anything I can do about it and yes, I think it sucks. That situation isn't going to change until next year. For now, I hope the players keep playing hard and win as many games as possible. Then it is up to Mike Brey to go out and get the pieces he should be getting to run a deeper, more consistent squad. That's on him. If he can't do that, or doesn't want to, maybe it's time for a change.

 

[Irish#1]

Love these guys but this has to be the worst 1st place team in the ACC at this point of the season in decades if not history. We are 66 now in KenPom lol.

Agree. Happy their winning, but this is just fools gold.

 

[RDU Irish]

Using this thread and Twitter as an example, it's very fair. Both liven up whenever the team loses, which I find particularly interesting. Everyone has something to say when the team loses a game. It has actually gotten to the point that even when they WIN it's consistently negative.

Everyone knows what they have and who plays. I've come to accept the rotation. There isn't anything I can do about it and yes, I think it sucks. That situation isn't going to change until next year. For now, I hope the players keep playing hard and win as many games as possible. Then it is up to Mike Brey to go out and get the pieces he should be getting to run a deeper, more consistent squad. That's on him. If he can't do that, or doesn't want to, maybe it's time for a change.

This has been the story for over a decade. Brey's refusal/inability to build a roster has been a gospel fact for just short of an eternity. When he gets a monster recruiting class and they take four years to luck their way (ACC multi-generationally crappy year) in to an NCAA bid they still need an NBA level freshman and all conference big man transfer to make it happen with high level transfers Wertz and Ryan to still struggle to go 7 deep. It would be funny if I didn't actually like ND basketball and want to see it succeed.

Yeah! Beat Louisville! Go team! Is that what you want? I was happy I could finally watch a game- disgusted to see Brey fist pumping in the stands afterward. Dude does best with a 6 man rotation b/c it minimizes his decision variables - whoever needs a breather gets swapped and doesn't go back in until someone else is gassed (even if it is the very next whistle). Does his best (only?) coaching with his back against the wall and has been further bailed out by transfers. Solomon saving his ass this year by figuring out how to defend better than not at all.

 

[Henges24]

I think we’re in.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I think this second part isn’t fair. This team has many flaws and the fact Brey refuses to play more than 6 people is why this team is going to burn out early in the ACC tournament and hopefully the NCAA tournament as well.

Hubb until his dagger 3 didn’t even hit rim his first 5.

Zona played 2 minutes, didn’t do anything bad, and was never heard from again.

Rebounding, while better this year, is still pretty bad and a big part of why Louisville made it a game. This point goes into Brey only playing 6 because it wasn’t an issue in the first half when they had energy.

To play devil's advocate. He plays 7 normally. Which is the same number he used to win the ACC and make back to back elite 8s. Nothing new there.

 

[ACamp1900]

This is the most bitch ass thread in history,… all this team is doing is winning and the entire board just bitches about,… I mean none of y’all best ever bitch when I pretend to hate on the football team when all y’all just shit all over the bball team, seriously

 

[irishrb]

This is absolutely the team I was hoping for at the beginning of the year. They are truly showing their experience, as they just don't get flustered. They are super focused/determined right now and playing incredibly well. They are giving the extra effort on defense and truly picking each other up, as needed. I am definitely enjoying the run!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Yeah
Weather isn't fair enough yet for the fairweather fans.

Maybe every school in the acc below ND should "consider moving on" from their coaches too.

Relax and have some fun and be proud of the turnaround this season. So what if they don't get a banner. It's still freakinf impressive from where theuve started ... And they're doing more right than everyone but duke so far.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

And you guys are forgetting some fatal flaws the elite 8 teams (and early)had. This is nothing new. I don't know what the peak is for ND basketball. I want a chip in bball more than football even.

But to bitch and whine right now is freaking sad.

 

[BabyIrish]

And you guys are forgetting some fatal flaws the elite 8 teams (and early)had. This is nothing new. I don't know what the peak is for ND basketball. I want a chip in bball more than football even.

But to bitch and whine right now is freaking sad.

I don’t think people are bitching and whining. They’re asking questions about whether this team is actually good right now. The schedule has been extremely soft and the one elite team they did play they got owned. At no point did they have a chance to beat Duke.

To be fair I was pretty critical at the beginning of the season. But the team is playing better since then and they are playing with confidence. And confidence is half the battle in basketball.

 

[benneboy]

I don’t think people are bitching and whining. They’re asking questions about whether this team is actually good right now. The schedule has been extremely soft and the one elite team they did play they got owned. At no point did they have a chance to beat Duke.

To be fair I was pretty critical at the beginning of the season. But the team is playing better since then and they are playing with confidence. And confidence is half the battle in basketball.

They beat a top 5 Kentucky team so you can scratch this comment

 

[BabyIrish]

They beat a top 5 Kentucky team so you can scratch this comment

Kentucky wasn’t playing like a top 5 team when they played them. They were not elite in December. The game would be much different second time around.

 

[notredomer23]

So much gaslighting in this thread. No one’s mad they’re winning. It’s possible to be happy they’re winning and will likely make the tournament while also realizing that this being the worst ACC in history that is the catalyst for that success. Very happy for the team and will continue to watch every game.

Looks like Wesley busted out of his shooting slump. That type of shooting will be critical for any type of run.

 

[stpeteirish]

Funny thing is this team is well positioned to do something Brey has not done in 22 years-finish in first place in the conference regular season. Yeah I know the ACC doesn't consider winning the regular season title a "title" but its still quite impressive.

Brey annoys the hell out of me. He got complacent in a job where complacency will kill you. But this year shows how good he can be when he goes all in and gets rid of his assistants who don't perform. He finally upgraded his coaching philosophy and its paid dividends; we actually play defense!

Calling for his ouster now is misguided. He can actually sustain this now that he's recruiting better. Next years team could be better than this years if guys like Goodwin and Wesley return.

 

[BabyIrish]

Current RPI standingf of our opponents we played
Kentucky- 6
Indiana- 70
Western Michigan- 314
TAMUCC- 297
Pitt- 198
UNC- 36
GT- 203
Clemson-137
VT-99
Howard- 300
Louisville- 150
NC St- 196
Virginia- 90
Duke- 19
Miami- 38

That puts us at 4-3 against top 100 RPI teams. Not bad considering how we played before the Kentucky game. But it still leaves fans skeptical and add in the fact that our wins against Pitt, GT, and Howard were too close for comfort, it has some still wondering how effective this team can be in March.

But they continue to look better with each game and they’re actually exciting to watch. And I personally love how much they’ve improved on the defensive end. Kudos to Coach Solomon.

 

[BabyIrish]

Funny thing is this team is well positioned to do something Brey has not done in 22 years-finish in first place in the conference regular season. Yeah I know the ACC doesn't consider winning the regular season title a "title" but its still quite impressive.

Brey annoys the hell out of me. He got complacent in a job where complacency will kill you. But this year shows how good he can be when he goes all in and gets rid of his assistants who don't perform. He finally upgraded his coaching philosophy and its paid dividends; we actually play defense!

Calling for his ouster now is misguided. He can actually sustain this now that he's recruiting better. Next years team could be better than this years if guys like Goodwin and Wesley return.

Pairing those two with JJ next year could be some entertaining basketball.

 

[IrishLax]

I think it’s valid for people to be upset that Brey so clearly mailed it in for a few years.

At the same time, I look at what’s happened at Georgetown and Maryland out by me and I think it’s clear that we could “do worse.”

 

[NDGOLDEN]

I for one really like this team. Yes the ACC is down this year but we are tied with Duke for first and they are ranked 7th in country currently.

Metrics don’t always tell the story cause it takes into the factor of not blowing out teams we should blow out but we are 18-7(17-7 with chaminade win that doesn’t count towards tourney) and we are in a great position to finish top 2 in the ACC.

I doesn’t matter how down the ACC is. Winning in college basketball is hard especially on the road and we are 6-2 on the road in ACC and everyone of those games we were considered underdogs(except BC) according to Vegas.

We are winning when we aren’t “supposed” to. Keep winning and see where the season goes. It’s quite plausible we make the ACC championship game. It’s also plausible we win the rest of our games. It’s college basketball so anything can happen but we are in great shape

Go Irish!!

 

[irishandy]

How about appraising Brey for hiring Solomon for his defensive work. When ND plays a zone defense it really shakes up the opposing offense.

This team is starting to jive and jive at the right time. Yesterday's analyst called ND a Sweet-16 team; hard to agree, but I'll take the compliment.

When Clemson came back with an answer, ND was better.

This team could be a dark horse.

To all the negative Nancy's-- enjoy it.

 

[drayer54]

Wesley and Goodwin are coming in hot! I think this team will hold its own. Tourney baby!!!

 

[BabyIrish]

I think it’s valid for people to be upset that Brey so clearly mailed it in for a few years.

At the same time, I look at what’s happened at Georgetown and Maryland out by me and I think it’s clear that we could “do worse.”

That’s the crux of the issue. This team was Maryland and Georgetown level bad for three years on the tails of one the greatest three year stretches in ND basketball history.

Then we flirted with the idea of firing Brey only to have him promise to make the necessary changes to rebuild the program or at least have one more shot at the tourney with the seniors. Then the first seven games happened and it didn’t look like anything changed at all, if not we possibly got worse.

But the team has grown tremendously since that loss to BC especially defensively. They’re playing with confidence and now are an entertaining team to watch. The schedule has been soft and will continue to be, which worries me, but all they can do is take care of business. And they certainly have been doing that.

 

[ACamp1900]

So much gaslighting in this thread. No one’s mad they’re winning.....

 

[Irish#1]

I’m happy that Brey has turned it around and hope there’s a trip to the S16, but if we’re being honest Brey shouldn’t have let the program get to the point that we’re talking about a turnaround.

 

[chicago51]

What a weird year. Tied for first in ACC record wise and not even ranked in top 25 poll.

 

[RDU Irish]

Solomon and Wesley turned this from dumpster fire to Sweet 16 viability. I still don't see us being good enough on defense to keep up with the big dogs but step one is to beat those you should. Destroying Clemson (who was a 2 point favorite) is a good sign of taking care of business. Also overcame me betting on the good guys to win - that is usually a kiss of death.

Would love to hear how Brey made some great, in-game coaching moves from all of the defenders here. He always strikes me as a fan on the bench who rarely if ever outcoaches the other team.