2021-2022 Notre Dame Men's Basketball

[Some Irish Bloke]

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.

They came in at 7-1, ranked in the top 10 with their only loss being a tough opening night loss to Duke. Since losing at Purcell, they're 14-2. Idk what else you need to hear from us or anyone else to dignify that as a huge win for this club.

 

[notredomer23]

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.

I think the defense is fine actually. It might even be amongst the best defending teams of the Brey era. They are 67th in total defense giving up 65 points a game. Even defensive rebounding is much improved as they are in the top 100. The real issue with this team is they get no second chance opportunities... they're ranked 335th in offensive rebounding. They're getting half the second chances many of their opponents are getting.

I am far from a Brey defender, but I think in terms of his in-game coaching, there is a bit of a dichotomy. Defensively, I am always impressed with the way they shift from man to zone and even some exotic zones this year implementing 1-3-1 type of trap defense which I can't remember any other Brey team using. Part of that is because of Wesley- you need a long athletic guard to play the top 1. Offensively, I agree with you. This team, even in this nice 14 of 16 run, has a scoring draught every game where they don't score for 5 or so minutes. Draughts are gonna happen, but they shouldn't be 5 minutes seemingly every game.

 

[RDU Irish]

I think the defense is fine actually. It might even be amongst the best defending teams of the Brey era. They are 67th in total defense giving up 65 points a game. Even defensive rebounding is much improved as they are in the top 100. The real issue with this team is they get no second chance opportunities... they're ranked 335th in offensive rebounding. They're getting half the second chances many of their opponents are getting.

I am far from a Brey defender, but I think in terms of his in-game coaching, there is a bit of a dichotomy. Defensively, I am always impressed with the way they shift from man to zone and even some exotic zones this year implementing 1-3-1 type of trap defense which I can't remember any other Brey team using. Part of that is because of Wesley- you need a long athletic guard to play the top 1. Offensively, I agree with you. This team, even in this nice 14 of 16 run, has a scoring draught every game where they don't score for 5 or so minutes. Draughts are gonna happen, but they shouldn't be 5 minutes seemingly every game.

I'm with you here - I have a hard time placing that defensive coaching on anyone but Solomon. Brey wasn't doing that before really - any season without Solomon was "outscore your opponent or lose".

This is a great run - no matter the opposition it is hard to put together a stretch like they have. BUT there is no denying the ACC is not good this year - downright awful by ACC standards. Honest evaluation - where does the ACC rank against other conferences this year and when is the last time the ACC was this weak? Answer those two questions and you might temper those Sweet 16 hopes a bit.

 

[stpeteirish]

Actually Anthony Wyche, the other new assistant, has been credited with implementing the new zone defense we’re using this year

 

[Rogue219]

Any time this program enjoys success, it's always fool's gold. Whatever. They've won games in the last few months that they would have lost in the last couple of seasons. The long term stuff, recruiting, that will hopefully get dealt with in the spring and summer. If not, Brey will be gone soon enough and whatever pie in the sky replacement everyone is dreaming of will replace him. At least enjoy this now if you choose to. The wheels might fall off in a few weeks for all we know, which would make most people happy I guess.

I don't understand why Brey gambled so hard on this senior class, but they are producing and Brey has proven this newly shuffled staff can recruit. They could have a very good team in 2022/23 depending on who comes back after doing some overachieving this year with a very small rotation of only 6-7 players. The recruiting class coming in is going to be very good. Unfortunately, none of them are helping at this moment.

An alum friend of mine said it best a few weeks ago: any discussion about ND men's hoops requires context and nuance. This team, this season, is more nuanced than ever before when it comes to Brey and the program. Brey is probably as good of a fit for ND basketball as there is, which is why he's been around for so long. He took a big risk on this senior class, and if he chooses to operate this way going forward, he might not end up so fortunate. In that instance, it could finally mean his ass is in the jackpot.

If it was going the opposite way, you can imagine the howling that would be taking place. They're winning games right now. Take them while you can get them.

 

[BabyIrish]

We’re currently an 8 seed in the cbs bracketology and a 9 seed in Lunardi’s. Unless we fall apart and lose to some crappy teams we should be in the tourney at this point.

 

[stpeteirish]

And there’s lots of teams like that on the schedule

 

[Irish#1]

If the wheels don't fall off, we should end up an 8-10 seed, but I'm still not comfortable thinking this team gets out of the first weekend. The B1G is far and away the best conference, but I'm not sure the ACC is any worse than the others. Maybe the Big East?

 

[notredomer23]

If the wheels don't fall off, we should end up an 8-10 seed, but I'm still not comfortable thinking this team gets out of the first weekend. The B1G is far and away the best conference, but I'm not sure the ACC is any worse than the others. Maybe the Big East?

1a. SEC
1b. Big 12

I think third is very close between the Pac 12 and the B1G this year. The B1G isn't as good as expected. The Pac 12 is having their best year in some time. Decent gap between the SEC and Big 12 and everyone else IMO.

 

[chicago51]

Need to try to avoid an 8 or 9 seed. 10 is okay, 7 or 6 would be ideal. Anything hire isn’t too realistic.

 

[Irish#1]

1a. SEC
1b. Big 12

I think third is very close between the Pac 12 and the B1G this year. The B1G isn't as good as expected. The Pac 12 is having their best year in some time. Decent gap between the SEC and Big 12 and everyone else IMO.

Disagree on the B1G, but that's okay. Totally forgot about the P12. They have four in the top 25 compare to five for the B1G and the SEC. Outside of Kansas and Baylor, I'm not sold on Big 12 yet.

 

[sportallyr]

Gotta take care of business tonight vs BC. Can't let them beat us twice!

 

[stpeteirish]

damned straight. BC's center totally abused Atkinson in the first meeting. Shouldn't happen again. Atkinson is in a good groove and the BC guy is not good. Strong as an ox however.

 

[BeauBenken]

D looking uncharacteristically sloppy to start the game.

 

[notredomer23]

D looking uncharacteristically sloppy to start the game.

BC always plays ND tough it seems.

I like seeing Ryan and Wertz playing with confidence.

 

[BeauBenken]

Atkinson has to play for Laz. He is trying too hard to compensate for his bum leg and just isn't playing the game like he should.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Atkinson has to play for Laz. He is trying too hard to compensate for his bum leg and just isn't playing the game like he should.

Yep he's still pretty limited on both ends of the court. Thank God for Dane Goodwin.

 

[stpeteirish]

We can’t defend this team. Other teams don’t seem to have that problem. Man to man or zone no difference. Open shots and dribble penetration we have no answer.

 

[clashmore_mike]

BC just refuses to miss shots.

 

[notredomer23]

We can’t defend this team. Other teams don’t seem to have that problem. Man to man or zone no difference. Open shots and dribble penetration we have no answer.

To be fair, BC has hit 3 or 4 ridiculous shots this half that have been contested and off balance. I agree with the first half effort

 

[notredomer23]

This team is so dangerous offensively when Goodwin and Wesley are clicking. When this is all said and done they’ll have combined for 50

 

[clashmore_mike]

Rough stretch from Wertz. Yikes

 

[Irishize]

Another case of ND playing down to their competition. If they can’t hit 3s, they lose regardless of opponent. Even the analyst (an ND alum) says ND has no business winning this game on their home court. Then he correctly criticizes Atkinson for missing a layup. Just jacking up bricks from 3-pt range at this point.

 

[Irishize]

Notre ame

no D…LOL

 

[irishff1014]

This is only my second game I have been able to watch this year but when the opposing team gets an offensive rebound it seems like the Irish are slow to transition.

Like I said I have only watched two games but Ryan is not a good player.

 

[irishff1014]

Terrible call

 

[BeauBenken]

These refs have been ridiculous tonight.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Why can't that be reviewed? Brutal

 

[Irishize]

Another brick in the wall

 

[BeauBenken]

Why can't that be reviewed? Brutal

That's two huge calls in a tight game where they called it based on the reaction of a BC player and not on what actually happened on the play.