2024-2025 Notre Dame Women's Basketball

[Old Man Mike]

I really hope that Hannah's drop in team efficiency play isn't in-the-moment intentional ... I'm hoping for "growing up needed."

 

[sportallyr]

With UCLA losing to USC yesterday, looks like the Irish are positioned to move into the #1 spot. Gotta take care of business vs Duke at home on Monday and then a big road game vs NC State next Sunday.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I sort of like being number two or three though. Still something to chase. Less press to read.

Upside to "Number One" should be recruiting --- hope staff makes that count.

Citron, King, and Miles are going to remain all business, I'm guessing. Karlen too. Prosper probably too.

The "injured bench" (Watson and Bransford) are also mature and should help the locker-room.

Westbeld has always had leanings towards being a head case. If she "Momma's-up" then we're OK.

Hannah loves Ball more than fame I believe, so I have high hopes there.

Her really low point total vs Pitt might be the cold shower she needs.

 

[BabyIrish]

I want to be clear. I love watching Hannah play ball. I wouldn't trade her for anyone. I just feel that the NPOY talk has gotten to her head a bit. And I hope she gets back to what we've seen in the past from her, making the right plays at the right time, and not forcing shots as much. All that said, even though she struggled mightily on offense, she did take her frustration out on the defensive side of the ball. She was a menace most of the game.

OMM, to your point on Westbeld, she looked extremely uncomfortable and unsure of herself yesterday. And I get it, she sometimes goes long stretches without touching the ball. That can be frustrating for a player of her caliber. But as you say, she's got to be all business and realize she still has a lot to offer on defense and rebounding.

 

[Old Man Mike]

What I have seen (and I can easily be wrong here) about Maddy Westbeld is that she came in Uber-talented (more so than Kate) and without Kate's head on her shoulders. Whereas Kate beat you by knocking you around and outphysicalling you for 40 minutes, Maddy played like a little sister wanting to be a side guard in a big's body. Sometimes she looked like she would rather be staring at butterflies than paying attention to defense or pounding into the boards. ... and, to me, I still see that way too much.

When I get a chance to watch a game, I almost wish for an opponent to thump her a little or embarrass her a bit and get her angry. Because when she's angry, she is Kate with more talent. I think that Maddy is plenty smart to realize everything. I just think she has a lazy gene in her which grew from being so naturally good she hasn't had to work at things hard enough .... until now.

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

What makes Hannah so good is also what hinders her at times. She’s an absolute savage. You can’t teach it. It’s that trait Jordan and Kobe had. Sometime that intense competitive nature is going to backfire - especially with a sophomore guard who is still learning. There’s going to be ups and downs when you play like that. But I think we’ve seen so much good with just a small sampling of struggle. You need that dawg mentality when you’re going to play South Carolina,Tennessee, UConn, UCLA, USC, Duke NC State etc…I’ll take her when the bright lights of March are on and and a tight game is on the line. You need fearless players for those moments. We’ve got 2. While Miles isn’t on same level intensity wise I think she’s pretty fearless at this point.
It was nice to see Sonia get going. She’s disappeared at times this year and looked shaky with ball.
Maddy is Maddy. I agree, lacks the dawg. I worry about her in WNBA. But also someone who by this point shouldn’t be afraid to take a big shot and she’s capable of getting hot.
The beauty is we’ve got options. 2 are in the tank and we win by 30 on the road. That’s why you build depth.

 

[Old Man Mike]

We DO have another "Dawg": King.

Astoundingly underrated and underutilized player.

Given the teammates, I understand (sort of) the utilization problem (her acceptance of which just elevates her in my eyes), but the underrated part of it I can't get my head around at all. EVERY BASKETBALL PERSON SHOULD SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN HER.

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

We DO have another "Dawg": King.

Astoundingly underrated and underutilized player.

Given the teammates, I understand (sort of) the utilization problem (her acceptance of which just elevates her in my eyes), but the underrated part of it I can't get my head around at all. EVERY BASKETBALL PERSON SHOULD SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN HER.

Agreed!

 

[BabyIrish]

NCAA tourney reveal came out. We’re the 4th one seed. I can’t figure out how in the world Texas would be a higher one seed than us. Makes no sense.

 

[Huntr]

UConn just WORKED SCar in Columbia. 71 game home winning streak goes <poof>.

Imagine how good a team must be to beat the Huskie women.

 

[BabyIrish]

Down goes NC ST. If we take care of Duke tomorrow night we basically have the ACC regular season locked up barring a monumental collapse.

 

[laughingirish92]

Down goes NC ST. If we take care of Duke tomorrow night we basically have the ACC regular season locked up barring a monumental collapse.

yep it allows this team to suffer at least one loss these next few games remaining and still win the regular season title

 

[irishff1014]

Down goes NC ST. If we take care of Duke tomorrow night we basically have the ACC regular season locked up barring a monumental collapse.

I watched some of this game and NCST was playing bad

 

[BabyIrish]

We’ve got three to four stars on our team. FSU has Latson but FSU hasn’t been able to play defense at all when they face a team with a pulse. Some argue that James for NC St could be a star. Point being we should be able to win every game in the ACC including the tournament as long as we play above average ball.

 

[irishu]

 

[arrowryan]

The real Notre Dame hoops team has a top 10 matchup tonight at home against Duke

 

[Irish#1]

The real Notre Dame hoops team has a top 10 matchup tonight at home against Duke

I like that they have this game after getting voted #1 in the polls. This should tell us if they are satisfied or not. My guess is they aren't and will roll Duke.

 

[FU BK]

Hopefully they pull heads out of rear or they're gonna be a 1 week #1

 

[laughingirish92]

29-27 irish at the half but Duke has to be the team feeling good right now because game is being played at their pace and plus our irish are turning the ball over too much right now

 

[FU BK]

And Koval couldn't hit the broadside of a barn from 3 foot away.

 

[BabyIrish]

One thing about a Kara Lawson coached team: they’re elite on defense. Certainly we can play better but most games with them are grind it out ugly games. Expect more of the same in the second half.

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

Duke is pesky. That frosh is good. Hoping coach Ivey has some adjustments. Less ball screens. Duke is feasting on blitzing them hard and disrupting ND flow. More off ball screens and space.

I like the zone.

Hannah needs to get back to being Hannah as well.

 

[FU BK]

Nice way to answer out of the half

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

That’s more our style!

 

[BabyIrish]

One thing about a Kara Lawson coached team: they’re elite on defense. Certainly we can play better but most games with them are grind it out ugly games. Expect more of the same in the second half.

Never been so proud to be so wrong. Shows what I know. Awesome start to the half.

 

[Irishdwarte]

Give me the mushrooms you guys are on to think Duke had a chance. The Irish are the best team in the country for a reason. Their defense has been suffocating and they have better athletes, shooters, and overall basketball players. Duke can’t keep up with them in transition. Lawson is lost and has no answer. Duke is a joke compared to the Irish.

 

[Huntr]

outscored these bitches 21-8 in the 3rd.

Cruise control

 

[DillonHall]

Give me the mushrooms you guys are on to think Duke had a chance. The Irish are the best team in the country for a reason. Their defense has been suffocating and they have better athletes, shooters, and overall basketball players. Duke can’t keep up with them in transition. Lawson is lost and has no answer. Duke is a joke compared to the Irish.

Nice of you to chime in after the Irish made their run

 

[Irishdwarte]

Yep, I wasn’t crying like a bitch when the game was tight either

 

[FU BK]

Yep, I wasn’t crying like a bitch when the game was tight either

You weren't crying...your just a bitch