2017-2018 Notre Dame Men's Basketball

[RDU Irish]

That Wichita State game was classic - cold and dead in the first half and they turn it around with methodical - focused play in the second half. To win despite playing so poorly against a top 10 team is awesome. All around team effort and pretty much everyone showed some huge cajones to make it happen.

Geben is has been a very pleasant surprise - flowing great on offense and taking a ton of pressure off of Bonzi defensively. Going to the hoop with a purpose and aggression - will be interesting to see him in ACC play.

Rex is a straight up baller. With TJ, Farrell and Bonzi he does not need to do much more than drill 40% from 3 and take what they give him. Currently shooting 3/13 from deep (23%) where he was 32% and 39% last two years. Brey guys tend not to regress as shooters and he should see a ton of open looks. More than makes up for it defensively - kid is indispensable on that side of the court. Anyone calling for him to sit can eat a dick. Harvey will have plenty of chances and games like that show why maturity matters.

 

[dwshade]

#5 is nuts considering 3-4 years ago the fan base was calling for Brey's head. Guy is an absolute GOAT.

Can't believe they sit at #5. This could actually be a final four team. Always have been a fan of Brey and it's good to see him finally getting his due credit.

 

[RDU Irish]

The risk I see, Brey and team tighten up under the notoriety. Bonzi and Farrell under spotlight of national All-American pressures, Brey managing a top 5 team for the first time... it is a lot and could derail the season. On the other hand, I could see Farrell feeding off of it like a crack addict and Bonzi taking his confidence up a notch further.

I hope they can keep their eye on the prizes - ACC Tourney and NCAA Tourney. Top seeds are great to sit two days for ACC and easier first weekend in NCAAs. Greatly improves your chances to go deeper. Keep having fun and play your game - let the chips fall where they may.

 

[ab2cmiller]

That Wichita State game was classic - cold and dead in the first half and they turn it around with methodical - focused play in the second half. To win despite playing so poorly against a top 10 team is awesome. All around team effort and pretty much everyone showed some huge cajones to make it happen.

Geben is has been a very pleasant surprise - flowing great on offense and taking a ton of pressure off of Bonzi defensively. Going to the hoop with a purpose and aggression - will be interesting to see him in ACC play.

Rex is a straight up baller. With TJ, Farrell and Bonzi he does not need to do much more than drill 40% from 3 and take what they give him. Currently shooting 3/13 from deep (23%) where he was 32% and 39% last two years. Brey guys tend not to regress as shooters and he should see a ton of open looks. More than makes up for it defensively - kid is indispensable on that side of the court. Anyone calling for him to sit can eat a dick. Harvey will have plenty of chances and games like that show why maturity matters.

I recognize all that Rex brings to the team (defense, rebounding, hustle, some decent passing), but his shot looks bad this year. Not just the end results, where he has had at least one air ball in each game I've watched. The very first 3 pointer he took against Depaul, I said to myself as he was taking the shot "Wow that looks ugly".

I've always thought of Rex as a decent shooter who could hit the open 3. Hopefully he figures out his shooting stroke and settles into a nice rhythm as the year progresses.

 

[RDU Irish]

I recognize all that Rex brings to the team (defense, rebounding, hustle, some decent passing), but his shot looks bad this year. Not just the end results, where he has had at least one air ball in each game I've watched. The very first 3 pointer he took against Depaul, I said to myself as he was taking the shot "Wow that looks ugly".

I've always thought of Rex as a decent shooter who could hit the open 3. Hopefully he figures out his shooting stroke and settles into a nice rhythm as the year progresses.

Last year VJ Beachem shot 36% from three - a big step back from the prior two years where VJ shot 41% and 45% - he wilted in the prime role where he flourished as a supporting role. I thought Vasturia was down too but just seemed that way - he shot 36% last year and 34% the year before (40% year prior).

It is early - Rex may have the weight of fighting off a more proficient scorer behind him but he is not pressed by the expectation of picking up tons of offensive slack like Beachem. Rex shot 95% FTs as a frosh and then 65% as a sophomore - currently 87% as a junior. From three- frosh (32%), soph (40%) and junior (23%). We need Rex shooting 85% FT and 35%+ from three to be dangerous on both ends of the court. History says he has it in him and I would be more concerned if his FT #s were also abysmal this year - November is a good month to be slumping and the sample size is pretty small to really call it a slump.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Highest ranking since being #4 going into the Big East Tournament in 2011 I think.

Another year ended with an early exit from the tournament and people calling for Brey's head. Not unwarranted IMO. But I'm thrilled that he's turned it around.

 

[irishfan]

Highest ranking since being #4 going into the Big East Tournament in 2011 I think.

Another year ended with an early exit from the tournament and people calling for Brey's head. Not unwarranted IMO. But I'm thrilled that he's turned it around.

It's crazy that the 2016 Elite 8 (when we were a 6 seed) is considered a better year by many...that 2011 team was awesome.

 

[Blaise]

What do you think Notre Dame has to do to get the win in East Lansing on Thursday? Shoot 60% from threes?

 

[Henges24]

We all have to pray a rosary, This one could get ugly. I hope they can keep it close and be competitive with MSU. That right there would be a moral victory.

If ND is hitting, really anything could happen. I’m going with a 20pt blowout though and hopefully will be back to eat my crow.

 

[Ndaccountant]

What do you think Notre Dame has to do to get the win in East Lansing on Thursday? Shoot 60% from threes?

MF cannot have more than 3 TO's and he cannot let his shot impact the rest of his game. He has a tendency to force drives / dishes when his shots aren't falling. Bonzi needs to avoid cheap fouls and play within himself, Gibbs needs to score at least 15 and we need the combo of MG/Rex/DJ to score 20. They do that, they have a shot.

 

[zelezo vlk]

We all have to pray a rosary, This one could get ugly. I hope they can keep it close and be competitive with MSU. That right there would be a moral victory.

If ND is hitting, really anything could happen. I’m going with a 20pt blowout though and hopefully will be back to eat my crow.

Wait, y'all aren't already praying a daily rosary for ND? Filthy casuals

 

[notredomer23]

I'm more worried about our rebounding than I am our scoring verses MSU

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

What do you think Notre Dame has to do to get the win in East Lansing on Thursday? Shoot 60% from threes?

Gibbs needs to have his shot going down and we need one of Geben or Mooney to have themselves a day on the boards and contributing 10 pts. I think MSU will really try to shut down Matt and Bonzie and might actually be successful. We need our complimentary guys to step up and contribute if Bonz or Matt are getting shut down.

 

[RDU Irish]

We just need to come out ready to play - lethargic first half like against Wichita State will be suicide - no way we recover twice in a week against top 10 teams. Watching MSU vs UNC the other night I wasn't blown away by either team. AT MSU is a different story though, could be a hot environment.

I think they come to play and put on an offensive clinic, at least from a motion and passing perspective - then be patient if the shots aren't falling off the bat. I think they have the poise to do that.

Pound the ball into the floor and we are in trouble. I don't think we need to shoot way above average to stay in the game by any means, just be our normally efficient selves.

 

[irishfan]

+6 tomorrow night at Michigan State.

Crazy, if we win this we have a legit shot at being #1 at some point before we get too deep into conference play. The rest of the non-conference schedule is pretty easy as is the start of conference play.

 

[gkIrish]

+6 tomorrow night at Michigan State.

Crazy, if we win this we have a legit shot at being #1 at some point before we get too deep into conference play. The rest of the non-conference schedule is pretty easy as is the start of conference play.

Yuge game

 

[irishfan]

Yuge game

Would love to steal it, but we're playing with house money IMO. No shame in losing on the road at MSU. If we get run off the court I'll be pretty annoyed, but anything else is fine by me.

 

[Woneone]

Brey was on Courtside with Greenberg and Dakich Podcast if anyone is interested.

 

[Irish Wildcat]

Got home from work and just finished watching the game. Not too concerned about the final score, as it felt competitive in most of the second half. I still think that Notre Dame will only go as far as Pflueger and Geben take them offensively. Duke suddenly seems scarier than ever, despite Brey having the answer for Coach K (ignoring that one instance in Cameron). I feel much more confident about ND basketball than I do ND football or U of A basketball, which is probably the first time I'd ever say that in my 26 years on this planet. Can't wait for conference play

 

[NDGOLDEN]

Got home from work and just finished watching the game. Not too concerned about the final score, as it felt competitive in most of the second half. I still think that Notre Dame will only go as far as Pflueger and Geben take them offensively. Duke suddenly seems scarier than ever, despite Brey having the answer for Coach K (ignoring that one instance in Cameron). I feel much more confident about ND basketball than I do ND football or U of A basketball, which is probably the first time I'd ever say that in my 26 years on this planet. Can't wait for conference play

Ya MSU is a very good team. Tough lose but we looked a lot better in second half. Showed some toughness. It’s so hard to go on the road in college basketball and win especially a top 5 team. Energy is way different. DJ was not ready for that stage at all.
These slow starts better not continue into conference play cause it could hurt us in the long run. Can only come back at half so many times. Also our schedule until conference play is pretty easy so being 12-1 going into conference play and probably top 10 team will be awesome.

 

[Woneone]

Ya MSU is a very good team. Tough lose but we looked a lot better in second half. Showed some toughness. It’s so hard to go on the road in college basketball and win especially a top 5 team. Energy is way different. DJ was not ready for that stage at all.
These slow starts better not continue into conference play cause it could hurt us in the long run. Can only come back at half so many times. Also our schedule until conference play is pretty easy so being 12-1 going into conference play and probably top 10 team will be awesome.

That seems like an understatement.

There wasn't anyone in the country who wouldn't have gotten run in the first half of that game. Maybe not 20, but I can't fathom a scenario where they lose that game at home. Not to mention it being a true road game, probably the first for most power five schools , that most teams would have had. I'm willing to guess, as far as halves go, that MSU fans look back and say that this was the best half of basketball they will play all year.

Hurts, but in the grand scheme of things, could be a net positive. The second half was +2 (and should have been more). We ended up making them at least sweat a little. Got some good experience. We won't see that type of size until Duke (and even then they aren't the same brand of physical, and I promise Duval doesn't go 4/4 from deep like Winston). We will only see 1 or 2 environments like that.

Sometimes the team your playing plays their best. When that team is a legit NC contender at home, well, these things can happen.

 

[Irish Wildcat]

These slow starts better not continue into conference play cause it could hurt us in the long run. Can only come back at half so many times.

Totally agree. Showing the grit to make comebacks is great, but it shouldn't become the hallmark of a team. Although Brey is one of the better coaches at making halftime adjustments and focusing his team, it'd be nice to avoid that situation altogether. Having said that, what Woneone is absolutely correct. Watching the game, it felt like MSU just didn't miss for the first 15 minutes of the game. I'm not sure any team would have been able to weather the storm until the second half.

But, damn, the contrast between the football and basketball team is unreal. Under Kelly, I feel like the game is over the moment we fall behind. Under Brey, I didn't feel like the Irish lost until the final whistle of the game. Give Brey 5 OTs and Notre Dame wins that game

 

[Irish#1]

MSU looked very, very, very good last night. The better team won.

 

[RDU Irish]

I saw a lot to build on - these slow starts have to get corrected but damn if the halftime adjustments aren't something to behold! Not sure why we can't see some of that in the first half but give credit for getting within 7. I would like to see them flow a bit better and just work to the open guy - felt like they keying on one or two guys offensively and forcing some shots, pounding the ball into the ground instead of moving. Getting too deep in the shot clock hurt too.

MSU is going to be hard for anyone to keep up with when they shoot that well - Izzo has built quite a team there. That frosh 7 footer settles into the season and they are only going to be more dangerous. Final Four worthy group and hopefully this game keeps us out of their bracket. They took us out of our game (I mean we went with Torres to battle beef on beef) - Izzo is pretty good at this coaching basketball thing. Turnovers are their weakness for sure.

 

[irishfan]

Horrible first half, but I'm glad we showed some fight, and making a team like that sweat at home is no small task. Good experience early in the year, and it should be a good learning experience. Better for the resume come March than if we had beaten some MAC school at home.

 

[irish4ever]

That 1st half was a thorough azz wuppin', no doubt about it! MSU looked very good and ND looked very bad! Use it as a wake-up call or motivation I suppose. Pretty decent turnaround in the 2nd half by the Irish I thought.

 

[IrishLion]

This team is going to be very dangerous for everyone if they figure out how to avoid slow starts.

Also, I kind of scoffed at MSU as a potential National Title favorite coming into this season, but they are no joke. They have ridiculous depth AND talent. Usually, they are dangerous because they have one or the other... this year they have both, big time.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Good learning experience for Gibbs, Harvey, Burns and Mooney. They will learn from it and be better for it. Geben didn't look out of place, which is a huge bonus moving forward. Chatter that MF was sick last night...anyone know for sure? He didn't look normal.

 

[RDU Irish]

Good learning experience for Gibbs, Harvey, Burns and Mooney. They will learn from it and be better for it. Geben didn't look out of place, which is a huge bonus moving forward. Chatter that MF was sick last night...anyone know for sure? He didn't look normal.

Announcer mentioned Farrell was playing sick at one point.

We have seen this dynamic before - lanky shot blocker destroying our offensive rhythm, good we got him out of there, bad we couldn't figure out how to work with him in there. Can't one-on-one drive/post a team like that, need to flow as a unit and take the open shots. Brey fixed that at the half but we got too cold middle of the second half to fully capitalize. Great lesson and tape to come back to and keep them honest as the season wears on.

 

[ND NYC]

there have been some REALLY good college hoops games so far--and were only in November! (edit: December 1)

love that teams playing in tourneys that are stacked with other legit teams, and taking games like the one ND did last night this early.

great for the game and is great for the programs that seek out playing legit teams early!