2024-2025 Notre Dame Women's Basketball

[stpeteirish]

I agree....I will say, they basically never sub her out, so she is either going to get in game shape pretty quickly, or just get worn out and run down....

When Westbeld and Karlen get back Koval’s minutes will be about half what they are now.

 

[BabyIrish]

When Westbeld and Karlen get back Koval’s minutes will be about half what they are now.

Yeah, I believe the ideal starting 5 would be: Miles, Hidalgo, Citron, King, and Westbeld

In terms of yesterday's performance: I thought it left a lot to be desired by the three guards. Silly/sloppy turnovers, bad shot selection at time. This team can be dynamic for sure, but I think they need to use their athleticism more to setup their teammates. I get the feeling they hear all this talk about how great they are and it's gotten to their heads a bit. That they always have to drive and sink some acrobatic shot/layup.

 

[irishu]

When Westbeld and Karlen get back Koval’s minutes will be about half what they are now.

Watson too. What's the ETA on her return?

 

[arrowryan]

Watson too. What's the ETA on her return?

I’d find it hard to believe she’ll be healthy enough to play this year

 

[irishrb]

I had imagined that Koval would be an agile, athletic big because that’s what ND has always had in the past. She seems much more of a bruiser down low.

Yeah, for sure....Actually wish she was a little more of a bruiser....or a little more agile. She has been impressive so far though!

 

[laughingirish90]

Watson too. What's the ETA on her return?

college career done according to beat writers due to injury from last season

 

[Old Man Mike]

Couldn't see game at all, perhaps someone can answer this: King, in my opinion is a VITAL factor for us. She is our always on fire attack the boards person. And she's tough. BUT her stat line vs JMU was odd. She played only half the third quarter and almost none of the fourth. Her shooting percentage was OK, but only a few rebounds. She had three fouls, but that shouldn't explain it. Was she hurt? Was she benched for some reason? Is this just a coach losing track of a player on the bench? Very curious to know.

As to our new center: she looks baby-fat to me, and if so will definitely need time management ultimately. On the positive side, she can block shots even without seeming in very good shape, nor really getting off the ground. So on that front, she should get better and better once she's in true shape.

Hope the comment is wrong about Watson --- very serviceable center and should be better (as she definitely improved over last season gathering and scoring. Plus she brings five hard-working fouls.)

 

[BabyIrish]

King was injured in the third quarter. She took a nasty fall on her back and I think her head whipped lashed to the floor. Possible concussion.

In terms of her play, she was certainly the most energetic out there. Loved the way she was playing. She did miss some easy shots that I’m guessing she would normally make.

Yeah I though Watson was coming back next year but maybe I’m wrong.

 

[stpeteirish]

King was injured in the third quarter. She took a nasty fall on her back and I think her head whipped lashed to the floor. Possible concussion.

In terms of her play, she was certainly the most energetic out there. Loved the way she was playing. She did miss some easy shots that I’m guessing she would normally make.

Yeah I though Watson was coming back next year but maybe I’m wrong.

Watson’s time line is uncertain but if she makes it back this year it’ll be late. She tore her ACL in March. If she returns for the 25/26 season it would be her 6th

 

[PigtownIrish]

On King, apparently she felt a little dizzy after the blow to the head and was held out for the remainder as a precaution.

 

[laughingirish90]

maybe Watson can come back after this year but beat writers have at least said she wasn't playing this season and i assumed she was out of eligibility once this season ended

 

[domer13]

Up early to #3 USC. Hidalgo and Miles all over the place.

 

[BabyIrish]

Defensive effort has been spectacular so far.

 

[FU BK]

Hidalgo is fast as hell. Fun watching her and olivia out there together

 

[sportallyr]

Big win for the ladies. Not easy to go on the road and beat the #3 team in the country…but this team somehow made it look easy. Irish proved they can beat anyone today and they will only get better as they get healthy and back to full strength!

 

[irishandy]

Impressive win for the lady Irish- without Westbeld and on the road. They are fun to watch offensively and defensively. USC's Watkins looked annoyed the whole game. They all understand their roles and they gel as a team.

 

[laughingirish90]

this team just showed the nation who has the best backcourt in the nation as all the three hannah, olivia and sonia were all sensational today between defense and offense and when liza and westbeld come back later this season this team will be tough to keep out of the final

 

[UPMich_NDfan]

I thought Koval had a really tough start (whole 1st half) but she really woke up and played big time minutes in the 2nd half. Hopefully a huge confidence builder for her.
Prosper also showed up big time. This was a big time win. USC is sooo tall, long and athletic.

 

[Old Man Mike]

King's rebounds, too. And Miles had an unusally good shooting game.

The obvious, though, is the obvious: Hannah Hidalgo is just "different." She just messes everything about the opponents up.

I don't see us losing until she just gets too tired to be Hannah. ... never seen anything like her.

 

[BabyIrish]

Hannah and Soni are stars. Soni has had no problem shutting down two potential #1 draft picks. Hannah is a league of her own.

Let’s not forget Koval shutting down Kiki. This team could be special with Westbeld and Karlen.

 

[texbender]

Impressed by the team against one of the best WBB teams on the road. Seemed to dominate from start to finish. Could be a special year, and still not even full strength.

 

[irishrb]

Hidalgo is fast as hell. Fun watching her and olivia out there together

Hannah has got to be one of the most athletic girls I have ever seen play basketball....Adding in her competitive, fiery edge, is truly insane.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Strong "Yes" to the comment on defense above. Since Bball defense is so difficult, offense takes over one's eyes. But defense (always remembering it's a percentage stopping game) and defensive rebounding win you the games. Hannah is a Mongoose. She just flummoxes opponents (I recall a point guard two games ago flubbing the ball out of bounds before Hannah even made a move at her.) And Soni, who takes more careful observation to see how great she is about this, is an always-on-the-job dog, both on and off the ball. Completely mentally in the entirety of the game. Add Prosper's enthusiasm to get at it, and Koval's ability to block shots, and King's roughhouse toughness, and there will be times when opponents won't even want to be the person with the ball. (Olivia's not a great defender, but she won't have to be as long as she likes what her girlfriends are doing and does what she can. Same with Maddy when she comes back. What we want to see about both Olivia and Maddy is aggressive DRebounding and Olivia's showing that.) These ladies might just bring something special home this year. Doubt anyone wants to play them at the moment. Especially the point guards.

 

[arrowryan]

This team is loaded. I would put this back court against anything Muffet ever had, including her 2018 championship guards.

They have great size in Koval and a great rebounder in King. Just need Westbeld and the other transfer to get healthy. Prosper logs in productive minutes too.

 

[Irish#1]

USC still doesn’t know what hit them.

 

[stpeteirish]

Irish Women follow up their terrific usc win with a loss to TCU. Led the whole game fell apart in last three minutes

 

[arrowryan]

Katie Koval got absolutely torn up today by TCU’s big. TCU’s girl had 20 points and 20 boards. Koval shot 0% with only 5 rebounds.

 

[laughingirish90]

the 4th was a total choke job by the team as they couldn't buy a bucket but we had no center most of that qtr which TCU took advantage of and scored a lot inside

 

[irishrb]

Katie Koval got absolutely torn up today by TCU’s big. TCU’s girl had 20 points and 20 boards. Koval shot 0% with only 5 rebounds.

Yeah, still the missing piece to winning a championship.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Prosper was non-functional also. Three people scoring plus one other rebounding doesn't make a complete team. This is why I hoped that not only Westbeld would be ready but also last year's center. Watson would be a BIG help even vs power centers like TCU has.

TCU also has a player who has been maligned here on IE but wrongly so in terms of talent and winning attitude. That's Van Lith. ... a very tough and talented person. That LSU coach completely misused her giving the nation a wrong impression of what she can do. I was probably the only person on the planet who hoped last year that she 'd somehow come here. Even in the three-on-three Olympics where that team could not figure out how to play, she ultimately pulled them somewhat together (had the best +/- most games), and the coach recognized that finally. Unpopular person perhaps but a helluva competitor. BIG +/- rating in our game just played. TCU is 7-0 for a reason.

Our fourth quarter, even saying all of that, was an enormous collapse --- wish I had the chance to watch it. Koval hardly played and Prosper couldn't accomplish anything. Of all people, Ivey took out Citron just when TCU tied, and then shortly passed us. The play-by-play seems to indicate that Hannah broke her ass hustling but still couldn't get us back. Prosper's +/- was something like minus 19. Wow.