2020-2021 Notre Dame’s Men’s Basketball

[BilboBaggins]

The back half of the schedule is much easier than the first half, they could get on a roll and get our hopes up lol

 

[Ndaccountant]

Not really ND related, but Coach K really showed (once again) how big of a douche he really is. Honestly, he is such a petulant asshole at the first instance of adversity. He and Jim Boeheim are peas in a pod but the only difference is that people call out Jimmy B every now and again. Can't wait to wake up to the news in the coming weeks that Coack K needs back surgery again and is out for the year.

 

[stpeteirish]

Hubb is soooo much better playing off the ball.

Yeah, last night really solidified that in my mind. Hubb can shoot and he can create, but when he tries to create for himself bad things happen. We need Brey to realize Hubb's limitations and for him to find another guard who can instigate the offense. Not sure if we've got that guy. Wertz? Ryan? The walk on? No idea.

But if we can turn Hubb into a wing scorer it would give us a potent offense and make it easier for Laz and Goodwin to get more open looks and they are great at hitting open shots. Durham can score inside if he's on on one.

I don't see any solution to our defensive problems however. That zone worked great last night but Miami can't shoot worth a damn. Brey's zones are a proven commodity; good teams destroy them

 

[Irish#1]

Looks like Brey started all of the reserves trying to light a fire under the guys.

Took a page out of Bobby Knights playbook. He did the same thing against Illinois once.

 

[Irish#1]

Nice win over Miami. Maybe the tide is turning. Probably not.

The back half of the schedule is much easier than the first half, they could get on a roll and get our hopes up lol

Yeah, last night really solidified that in my mind. Hubb can shoot and he can create, but when he tries to create for himself bad things happen. We need Brey to realize Hubb's limitations and for him to find another guard who can instigate the offense. Not sure if we've got that guy. Wertz? Ryan? The walk on? No idea.

But if we can turn Hubb into a wing scorer it would give us a potent offense and make it easier for Laz and Goodwin to get more open looks and they are great at hitting open shots. Durham can score inside if he's on on one.

I don't see any solution to our defensive problems however. That zone worked great last night but Miami can't shoot worth a damn. Brey's zones are a proven commodity; good teams destroy them

You ever feel like we have these same conversations every year? lol

 

[irishandy]

Nice win last night by the Irish. Hubb played a complete game. Laz and Durham also played a solid game. To me ND had a ton of dunks...when was the last time they had so many dunks?

This is a game to build their/Hubb's confidence. Is Carmody coming back this year?

 

[notredomer23]

You ever feel like we have these same conversations every year? lol

Seems to be the same story every year since Grant and Connaughton left. I know the year after they made the elite 8, and in 16-17 made it as a 5 seed, but since then it has been miserable.

 

[Woneone]

Playing #20 VT.

Ranked, good team, which means Mr. Goodwin should disappear for most of the game.

I've watched about 5 possessions so far.

One lob to Durham (good).
2 No pass possessions by Wertz/Hubb (bad) with just a high ball screen jumper.
Hubb charge (bad).
Goodwin missed wide-open 3 off one pass (bad, but a good shot).

I like Wertz more at the point, but so far it's just marginally better than Hubb.

 

[Woneone]

GOD DAMN HUBB.

He waived off Laz in the post with a 6'2 guy on him to chuck a 3.

 

[Woneone]

And what a bullshit call on Laz.

VT switching the ball screens, and their guards are just beating on him.

Then they call a bad offensive foul.

-- Then back to back turnovers by Wertz and Hubb. Our guards are just awful.

 

[Woneone]

10 points with under 6 to go.

 

[Woneone]

Every player on VT plays harder than our guys. Every one of them.

Hubb has 10. Great. We're so desperate to have him shot that we're either not confident in Laz posting up a 6'2 guard, which is awful, or we're more confident in Hubb finishing, which is awful.

 

[stpeteirish]

10 points with under 6 to go.

picking up where we left off in the last VaTech game.

 

[Woneone]

Bit of a run to cut it to 8, but then give up an open 3 (albeit after an obvious push-off on the drive in the paint, but these refs are taking a break unless it's a big in the post against a guard).

 

[Woneone]

If they wouldn't have blown the whistle on that Hubb drive to end the half, I may have broken my TV. That was freaking obvious.

 

[Woneone]

31-22.

Hubb with 17 (got REAL hot that last 5, and had 2 passes that should have been dunks).

Goodwin is, predictably, MIA.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

Can’t watch this crap anynore

 

[Woneone]

Wertz, Goodwin and Hubb - 12/39.

 

[anarin]

Watching hubb run this offense makes me want to pour soap in my eyes.

 

[TP81989]

Watching a Mike Brey coached team makes me want to pour soap in my eyes.

Fixed

Haven't done this in over a month though which feels good.

 

[gkIrish]

Props to people who still watch. I'm pretty much done until they move on from Brey. Called for it years ago then he went and made a couple elite eights to make me look dumb. Now we are worse off than we were before that run.

 

[Irish YJ]

35.7% FG
16.7% 3pt
57.1% FT

Triple ouch...

 

[Ndaccountant]

This team is like watching John Macleod teams.

After this year, Brey will have double digit conference losses in 5 out of the 8 years in the ACC. During his 13 seasons as coach in the BE, he only had 2 such seasons.

 

[Irish YJ]

This team is like watching John Macleod teams.

After this year, Brey will have double digit conference losses in 5 out of the 8 years in the ACC. During his 13 seasons as coach in the BE, he only had 2 such seasons.

Not saying Brey is great (or horrible), but he has 20 win seasons in 5 of 8 ACC seasons. Not sure how that ranks with other ACC teams not named Duke, Louisville, and NC, but guessing it's not horrible. I've never had high expectations of ND BB. ND isn't a BB school, and has to deal with same barriers the FB team struggles with.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Not saying Brey is great (or horrible), but he has 20 win seasons in 5 of 8 ACC seasons. Not sure how that ranks with other ACC teams not named Duke, Louisville, and NC, but guessing it's not horrible. I've never had high expectations of ND BB. ND isn't a BB school, and has to deal with same barriers the FB team struggles with.

Whether it's at Brey direction or not, ND usually has a notable weak non-conference slate (except for this year). Take last year as an example...the non-conference wins came against Robert Morris, Howard, Marshall, Presbyterian, Toledo, Farleigh Dickerson, Detroit Mercy, UCLA & Alabama A&M. So one win against a major conference team in UCLA.

I think the issue with Brey is that the Elite 8's showed what the program can be. He certainly had down years before, but it feels like the down is hitting lower depths or staying below water level for too long. If this team were full of freshman, I think we could give a pass. But the stuff that plagued the team three years is still an issue. Just seems like we are treading water and there is a waterfall on the horizon thanks to recruiting.

 

[Irish YJ]

Whether it's at Brey direction or not, ND usually has a notable weak non-conference slate (except for this year). Take last year as an example...the non-conference wins came against Robert Morris, Howard, Marshall, Presbyterian, Toledo, Farleigh Dickerson, Detroit Mercy, UCLA & Alabama A&M. So one win against a major conference team in UCLA.

I think the issue with Brey is that the Elite 8's showed what the program can be. He certainly had down years before, but it feels like the down is hitting lower depths or staying below water level for too long. If this team were full of freshman, I think we could give a pass. But the stuff that plagued the team three years is still an issue. Just seems like we are treading water and there is a waterfall on the horizon thanks to recruiting.

I don't disagree, but my expectations are different. I don't see EEs as a norm, as attainable. I think it's a blue moon (once a decade) type of thing when we get the right recruits.

I'm not saying Brey is great. Honestly I'd prefer a gamble on a young and energetic up and comer who might strike gold with some recruits. IIRC, we've only had one top 25 recruiting class in the last 5 years. Maybe only one or two top 50s (ouch). And it was only 15ish. If you can't string together 2-3 top 25 classes, your chances of making a dent just isn't that good. IMO, it's more Brey's lack of recruiting, than coaching. And our brand as a BB team just isn't a good one.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I don't disagree, but my expectations are different. I don't see EEs as a norm, as attainable. I think it's a blue moon (once a decade) type of thing when we get the right recruits.

I'm not saying Brey is great. Honestly I'd prefer a gamble on a young and energetic up and comer who might strike gold with some recruits. IIRC, we've only had one top 25 recruiting class in the last 5 years. Maybe only one or two top 50s (ouch). And it was only 15ish. If you can't string together 2-3 top 25 classes, your chances of making a dent just isn't that good. IMO, it's more Brey's lack of recruiting, than coaching. And our brand as a BB team just isn't a good one.

Yea, to be clear, I don't think EE's should be the norm. ND isn't Kansas or Duke. But there is no reason that ND shouldn't make quasi regular appearances in the S16 (1 every 3 years or so) and or finish in the top 6 in the ACC. That's essentially what Brey was doing, with the exception of the last few years.

 

[BilboBaggins]

Whether it's at Brey direction or not, ND usually has a notable weak non-conference slate (except for this year). Take last year as an example...the non-conference wins came against Robert Morris, Howard, Marshall, Presbyterian, Toledo, Farleigh Dickerson, Detroit Mercy, UCLA & Alabama A&M. So one win against a major conference team in UCLA.

I think the issue with Brey is that the Elite 8's showed what the program can be. He certainly had down years before, but it feels like the down is hitting lower depths or staying below water level for too long. If this team were full of freshman, I think we could give a pass. But the stuff that plagued the team three years is still an issue. Just seems like we are treading water and there is a waterfall on the horizon thanks to recruiting.

I've never understood why Swarbrick can't make Notre Dame basketball a more national brand. Why don't we play USC or UCLA annually in Los Angeles? Can't we schedule Michigan? Do we take advantage of Chicago being down the road? ND should be playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York every year IMO.

Basketball and especially basketball recruiting is a different world than football, but I've just never been able to understand why Notre Dame doesn't do more.

The thing with Brey is the same thing with any coach. Some times the magic runs out and you need to respectfully hit the reset button to get rejuvenation. Brey should take a buyout after the season and allow the program to move on.

 

[Irish YJ]

Yea, to be clear, I don't think EE's should be the norm. ND isn't Kansas or Duke. But there is no reason that ND shouldn't make quasi regular appearances in the S16 (1 every 3 years or so) and or finish in the top 6 in the ACC. That's essentially what Brey was doing, with the exception of the last few years.

To be quasi regular S16, you still need to be a regular in the top 25 recruiting. Our current problem....

2020 - 77th
2019 - UR (top 100)
2018 - 15th
2017 - UR
2016 - 40th

 

[Ndaccountant]

To be quasi regular S16, you still need to be a regular in the top 25 recruiting. Our current problem....

2020 - 77th
2019 - UR (top 100)
2018 - 15th
2017 - UR
2016 - 40th

Oh yea, no doubt about that. Recruiting has always been a struggle though for Brey. It was either local(ish) recruits or those from EC. I never understood it either, as his personality, coaching style and offense are all ultra player friendly. I think it's just effort. Like you said, nobody is expecting or asking for 2 5*'s a year. Just have consistent, higher level guys and we would be in good shape. The junior class was supposed to be that, but it isn't working. But the problem is that it's literally the junior class and nothing else. Lazy.