2021-2022 Notre Dame Men's Basketball

[sportallyr]

Nate coming back is huge. He had a solid season last year and seemed to get better as the season progressed. He's never going to be a force in the post, but he's a stretch 4 and takes some of the pressure off the incoming freshmen bigs. If Brey were able to find a big man in the portal, this team could be dangerous. Still really bummed that Wesley didn't return. I understand and respect his decision, but I'm looking at this roster now and next year's team could have been special (and having Blake back probably would have made it easier to recruit a big man transfer).

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Nate coming back is huge. He had a solid season last year and seemed to get better as the season progressed. He's never going to be a force in the post, but he's a stretch 4 and takes some of the pressure off the incoming freshmen bigs. If Brey were able to find a big man in the portal, this team could be dangerous. Still really bummed that Wesley didn't return. I understand and respect his decision, but I'm looking at this roster now and next year's team could have been special (and having Blake back probably would have made it easier to recruit a big man transfer).

I agree with all of this. We are much better with Nate in the fold than we would have been without him. Wesley stings but hard to fault a guy for chasing his dream; wishing him the best at the next level.

We have a nice veteran core with some serious young talent coming in; I'm really excited to see this squad compete. Feel like the floor for this team is a top third finish in the ACC, time will tell what the ceiling is.

 

[notredomer23]

ACC is going to be pretty loaded next year. ND will probably be better. UNC and Duke will be better. VT and Miami will be as good or better. Louisville should bounce back strong and is probably getting Emoni Bates. UVA could go either way. Syracuse will be pesky as always and had a strong recruiting class. Duke has 4 5 stars coming in, of which 3 of them are the top 4 overall recruits. Ridiculous.

 

[RDU Irish]

Nate's return takes our post game from DOA to just abysmal. Still need a portal infusion in the paint so we don't have to see freshman bigs dunked on 150 times against Duke and UNC.

 

[stpeteirish]

Nate's return takes our post game from DOA to just abysmal. Still need a portal infusion in the paint so we don't have to see freshman bigs dunked on 150 times against Duke and UNC.

Correct. I do think we'll be better than most of the other teams in the league besides Duke and NC.

 

[irishandy]

Glad to have Nate back, but ND is bringing in a hell of a class; play them.

JJ is going to be like Blake last year, starting by November.

ND will have 2 bigs in Nate and Van Lubin; & I think the surprise player this year will be J.R. Konieczny

Brey needs to find that starting 5 quick in the summer and be more than a 7 man rotation.

 

[ab2cmiller]

If he’s only going to play 2 bigs, there is literally zero percent chance that Brey goes with more than a 7 man rotation. Let’s be realistic. This is Mike Brey we are talking about.

 

[Henges24]

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Damn that's pretty cool. I really liked him as a player

 

[Henges24]

I only watched a couple of the Heat’s games during the playoffs but CQ looks poised to be a HC. He was very active on the bench and during TOs which appeared to have the player’s attention.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Blake drafted 25th to the Spurs

 

[NDPhilly]

Would have been lottery if he came back. At least some slimy agent made his money.

 

[irishandy]

The Spurs are a great spot for Blake, Pop should develop him.

I agree with NDPhilly- Blake should've come back to ND, it would've been his team, and he & JJ could've taken ND back to the Final 4.

His number's were OK this past year, he will need to become a better finisher at the rim, and getting that 2nd contact in the NBA is important. I don't follow the NBA that much, but if someone doesn't work out, the NBA now is a young man's game & teams quickly move on.

 

[texbender]

The Spurs are a great spot for Blake, Pop should develop him.

I agree with NDPhilly- Blake should've come back to ND, it would've been his team, and he & JJ could've taken ND back to the Final 4.

His number's were OK this past year, he will need to become a better finisher at the rim, and getting that 2nd contact in the NBA is important. I don't follow the NBA that much, but if someone doesn't work out, the NBA now is a young man's game & teams quickly move on.

I think his rookie contract is 4 years, with first 2 guaranteed. He's a millionaire, hope long term it works out for him.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

 

[irishandy]

Humphrey is moving on, sad to see him go; always liked him:

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Just don't let Solomon get away.

 

[anarin]

Humphrey is moving on, sad to see him go; always liked him:

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Just don't let Solomon get away.

One would assume Solomon is the coach in waiting...

 

[irishandy]

One would assume Solomon is the coach in waiting...

He should be the coach in waiting. Look what he has done in his career at ND.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Blake made the right move and getting drafted round one to the Spurs is about as good of an ending as he could have hoped for. There are zero guarantees that he's a lottery pick in a year because the 2023 Draft projects to be loaded. Some of these guys knew that and came out now.

Solomon turns 58 in September, which isn't necessarily old even by coaching standards, but it has to be considered. His previous head coaching experience was getting handed St. Bonaventure to clean it up after a scandal, which was no easy task. He did a hell of a lot for Anthony Grant at Dayton before coming back to ND for round three.

I have a hard time thinking Solomon just gets handed the keys next. I almost think making a Marcus Freeman type of hire and retaining Solomon as second in command seems like a better idea.

I won't even assume that Jack Swarbrick is the AD that makes the hire to replace Brey.

 

[notredomer23]

Wesley signed a 2 year deal with $4MM guaranteed. Additional third year team option for $2MM. Then a fourth year option that would give an 80% increase in salary.

With all the moves the Spurs have made and a rebuild looking likely, Wesley is bound to see a few more minutes this year than previously expected.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Wesley signed a 2 year deal with $4MM guaranteed. Additional third year team option for $2MM. Then a fourth year option that would give an 80% increase in salary.

With all the moves the Spurs have made and a rebuild looking likely, Wesley is bound to see a few more minutes this year than previously expected.

As someone who initially thought he was making a mistake leaving early with lottery potential in '23, damn hard to fault a 19 year old kid for jumping to the pro ranks and making an instant $4MM.

Can always go back and earn your degree like Jaylon Smith and even the Bus, most recently, to name a couple. I hate the Spurs but I'll be pulling for Blake.

 

[Henges24]

Wesley is playing on NBA TV right now. Has 15 points mid way through the 2nd quarter. He looks good so far. He’s got the hot hand.

 

[BabyIrish]

As someone who initially thought he was making a mistake leaving early with lottery potential in '23, damn hard to fault a 19 year old kid for jumping to the pro ranks and making an instant $4MM.

Can always go back and earn your degree like Jaylon Smith and even the Bus, most recently, to name a couple. I hate the Spurs but I'll be pulling for Blake.

Don’t think that will happen. One of the main reasons he left because of his struggles in the classroom.

 

[irishandy]

First I've heard that Blake had struggles in the classroom.

His passion is basketball and his plan was at most 2 years in college. If it weren't for COVID I don't know if Blake would've ended up at ND.

He was fun to watch at ND, what he and JJ could've been at ND we will never know. Wish he would've stayed for another year.

 

[BabyIrish]

First I've heard that Blake had struggles in the classroom.

His passion is basketball and his plan was at most 2 years in college. If it weren't for COVID I don't know if Blake would've ended up at ND.

He was fun to watch at ND, what he and JJ could've been at ND we will never know. Wish he would've stayed for another year.

Boys on II mentioned it in one of their recent podcasts