Can the basketball program enjoy sustained success?

[PerthDomer]

I think Jerian's play is mitigated by better Jackson/Vasturia and much better big play. Especially if the Providence dude comes here. Also if Colson follows the Harangody productivity arc... look out.

Basically I think our offensive efficiency slides a bit but the D numbers surge to be top 50ish and the rebounding gets a lot better.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

I think Jerian's play is mitigated by better Jackson/Vasturia and much better big play. Especially if the Providence dude comes here. Also if Colson follows the Harangody productivity arc... look out.

Basically I think our offensive efficiency slides a bit but the D numbers surge to be top 50ish and the rebounding gets a lot better.

I agree that our defense is definitely going to go up from here. Jax is a great player and probably more athletic then grant but it will be interesting to see if he can take over a game like grant did. Vasturia is a beast shooter and is starting to have confidence to drive and we all know how amazing he is at defense. Bonzie is gonna get better on offense and we will see if he can keep up the scoring more consistent but he does love the big spots and he is a good defender at such a small height. And if auguste can learn to play defense better and get stronger he will be an absolute monster next year and I'm excited for him. The 3 spot is gonna be interesting to see if beacheum takes that spot or a freshman like pfegular comes in and takes it. Great shooter and defender is what the scouts saying.

We actually are gonna have a deep bench next year I think. We could possibly go 9 deep next year.

It's gonna be interesting to see who takes the leadership role

 

[Ignats]

I predict that Auguste is going to have a very, very good Senior year. The bigs in Brey's system often show big improvements their Junior year and then have an outstanding Senior season. This tourney should give Zach some much needed confidence, I could see him up to 16-17 ppg with more of the offense rolling through him next year.

 

[House16]

I predict that Auguste is going to have a very, very good Senior year. The bigs in Brey's system often show big improvements their Junior year and then have an outstanding Senior season. This tourney should give Zach some much needed confidence, I could see him up to 16-17 ppg with more of the offense rolling through him next year.

Only problem I see with that is that so much of his offense was around getting beautiful passes off of his cuts. I don't see him as much as a post up, back to the basket, take the guy one on one kind of guy. And without Grant, he might need to do that.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Everyone is talking about Rex taking over...
Y'all see Elijah?
He'll be straight athleticism off the bench.

 

[arrowryan]

Everyone is talking about Rex taking over...
Y'all see Elijah?
He'll be straight athleticism off the bench.

I think Elijah can be really good. I think everyone is talking about Rex because he really only has to compete against VJ and Matt Ryan for a starting spot. Assuming Elijah is coming in as a PF, he has to compete against a Zach Auguste that really found his game in the post season, Bonzie, and probably a transfer. But you're right, I think Elijah could be as productive as Bonzie was this year.

I think we should be talking about Matt Ryan more. Out of the 3 recruits, he had the best offer list

 

[RDU Irish]

If we have sustained success, it will be a team concept that gets us there. The team success after Harangody went down should have been the wake up call to Brey. Guy can flat out coach but didn't trust himself enough. Instead he would ride his best player to death.

This team was a thing of beauty and it is fully repeatable. Good ball handlers and a multitude of scorers with guys getting just as excited about an assist as they do scoring. VJ has all the tools to be an asset next year as an athletic 6'8" SF. Bonzi will be able to play PF along side Zach at C to create a good tandem in the paint on both sides of the floor. STEVE will be Steve, with an extra year of experience resulting in even icier water running through his veins. Damn if an open three by Steve to finish off KY would have been in the cards..... he was rolling to the top of the key wide open as Jerian sprinted to the corner... oh what a few more seconds could have opened up for us with those undisciplined cats over pursuing the ball...

DJ will be the straw that stirs the drink. He is 1000% ready to take this bull by the horns. He can create for everyone, including himself. His first motion is to pass but he has shown us this year he can take the entire team on his back if needed. He is always the best athlete on the floor, can go 40+ minutes without missing a beat, pick your pocket on one end and then sting you from 3 or dunk over your 7 footer.

Part of me would love to see DJ be a yearlong centerpiece like teams past just to see what kind of ridiculous numbers he could put up. I think he will do just fine stirring the drink though.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Stating the obvious, but this team was unique. It had the perfect mix talent, leadership and drive. Not easy to replicate.

That said, I think this team can be very good next year. I think Steve V has some Abro in him. He can shoot the hell out of it, but his ability to score off the dribble in the tourney really opened my eyes. The guy will be a great scorer next year. I think the tandem of Bonzie and ZA will be good, but that will change the dynamics of the offense since neither can shoot the three like Pat could.

I think VJ lacked confidence down the stretch, but he is another guy that is athletic and showed stretches during the year of scoring on the drive. If he can develop that this offseason, no reason he cannot score 10 per game next year.

All in all, this year was unique and we as fans should really cherish it. This was something the program has not seen in my lifetime. I do think this is the opening for Brey to take this program to the next level if he can leverage it on the recruiting trail. We probably will never get the one and done players, but there is no reason why Brey cannot continue to get even better talent.

 

[RDU Irish]

Yep, see my post in the BBall recruiting page. Brey has already stocked better talent than we have seen in decades. The incoming class looks very complimentary as well. I think sticking to an offense that uses the entire floor and all five players is the key to this year's success. I see no reason VJ cannot be a taller but less physical version of Pat C.

Going from a four guard set to a more traditional 3 guard set will be interesting to see in practice. We were at our best cutting to the hoop and scoring inside. Threes open that up, although Bonzi's elbow jumpers are a nice dynamic too.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I think Elijah can be really good. I think everyone is talking about Rex because he really only has to compete against VJ and Matt Ryan for a starting spot. Assuming Elijah is coming in as a PF, he has to compete against a Zach Auguste that really found his game in the post season, Bonzie, and probably a transfer. But you're right, I think Elijah could be as productive as Bonzie was this year.

I think we should be talking about Matt Ryan more. Out of the 3 recruits, he had the best offer list

I really think we could do a 3 forward lineup at times with elijah.

He can handle the ball well enough and is a great passer/shooter, and having a 3 forward lineup could be used as a nice wrinkle.

 

[NDgradstudent]

We probably will never get the one and done players, but there is no reason why Brey cannot continue to get even better talent.

If the rule on this changes, and the one-and-dones presently playing in the NCAA simply go straight from high school to the NBA, wouldn't that help ND by improve ND's competitive balance relative to "blue blood" programs? (Although things looked pretty balanced on Saturday night, save their height and FT attempt advantage, but ND has not consistently enjoyed that balance in recent years).

 

[LoveThee]

If the rule on this changes, and the one-and-dones presently playing in the NCAA simply go straight from high school to the NBA, wouldn't that help ND by improve ND's competitive balance relative to "blue blood" programs? (Although things looked pretty balanced on Saturday night, save their height and FT attempt advantage, but ND has not consistently enjoyed that balance in recent years).

This is a good question, if kids can either go to the NBA right out of high school or go to college for 2 or 3 years, kids will do one of two things:

1) Enter the NBA before they are ready and flame out
2) Weigh education more heavily, which would be a huge pro for ND in getting highly talented kids

 

[BobbyMac]

Don't count out Jalen Coleman at LaLu just yet. That isn't over per my buddy who's their former coach and an ND grad. Watch the recruitment of Marcus LoVett, if he goes Illinois I'll bet the moon Coleman goes to ND. He's the best all around guard in the country.

He's 30 miles away from campus, don't let him get away.

.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

Don't count out Jalen Coleman at LaLu just yet. That isn't over per my buddy who's their former coach and an ND grad. Watch the recruitment of Marcus LoVett, if he goes Illinois I'll bet the moon Coleman goes to ND. He's the best all around guard in the country.

He's 30 miles away from campus, don't let him get away.

.

Wow i really really hope your source is correct cause that would be a massive pick up for us once again. Wish swanigan didn't write us off just recently too.

 

[BobbyMac]

Wow i really really hope your source is correct cause that would be a massive pick up for us once again. Wish swanigan didn't write us off just recently too.

He's 100% correct. He sits on boards / committees at both schools and is personally involved. He's one of those 6 year Mendoza guys who's paid to always be right. It's his mission to make LaLu a feeder to ND it's just the last coach wasn't getting kids that could get into ND. Coleman is the first kid that has been ND material.

.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

He's 100% correct. He sits on boards / committees at both schools and is personally involved. He's one of those 6 year Mendoza guys who's paid to always be right. It's his mission to make LaLu a feeder to ND it's just the last coach wasn't getting kids that could get into ND. Coleman is the first kid that has been ND material.

.

Wow that would be very huge pickup. With our class now and if it happened and add coleman then could be once again arguably breys best classes.

Would just love the scenario where we get coleman and then auguste comes back for a 5th year and jaxs stays along with everyone else. Man that would be a team right there not including the freshman recruits for 2016 and possibly transfers

 

[irishfan]

Wow that would be very huge pickup. With our class now and if it happened and add coleman then could be once again arguably breys best classes.

Would just love the scenario where we get coleman and then auguste comes back for a 5th year and jaxs stays along with everyone else. Man that would be a team right there not including the freshman recruits for 2016 and possibly transfers

He played as a true frosh, he has no 5th year option.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

He played as a true frosh, he has no 5th year option.

Oh ok my bad

 

[fightingirish26]

Am I missing something? Coleman is a 2015 recruit and already signed with Illinois, no?

 

[Buster Bluth]

Don't count out Jalen Coleman at LaLu just yet. That isn't over per my buddy who's their former coach and an ND grad. Watch the recruitment of Marcus LoVett, if he goes Illinois I'll bet the moon Coleman goes to ND. He's the best all around guard in the country.

He's 30 miles away from campus, don't let him get away.

.

247 says he signed with Illinois in November. What am I missing?

 

[Buster Bluth]

Am I missing something? Coleman is a 2015 recruit and already signed with Illinois, no?

Yeah, this.

 

[Buster Bluth]

I didn't realize the 2016 ACC matchups were already available. No dates yet, but at least we know they Irish will benefit by only having to play the ACC powers once this season (instead of Duke twice)

Home:
Boston College
Georgia Tech
Miami
Wake Forest
North Carolina
North Carolina State
Virginia Tech
Louisville
Pittsburgh

Away:
Boston College
Georgia Tech
Miami
Wake Forest
Florida State
Clemson
Duke
Virginia
Syracuse

If they can go 8-0 against their doubled games of Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Wake Forest, they're in great shape. Louisville finished in fourth place with a 12-6 record, I think that's doable.

 

[irishfan]

I didn't realize the 2016 ACC matchups were already available. No dates yet, but at least we know they Irish will benefit by only having to play the ACC powers once this season (instead of Duke twice)

Home:
Boston College
Georgia Tech
Miami
Wake Forest
North Carolina
North Carolina State
Virginia Tech
Louisville
Pittsburgh

Away:
Boston College
Georgia Tech
Miami
Wake Forest
Florida State
Clemson
Duke
Virginia
Syracuse

If they can go 8-0 against their doubled games of Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami, and Wake Forest, they're in great shape. Louisville finished in fourth place with a 12-6 record, I think that's doable.

Obviously it's so far away and I'm not entirely sure what the mid and lower-tier ACC teams are bringing back with their rosters....but I would be very disappointed with less than 12-6 just looking at that schedule.

 

[Crazy Balki]

This is a good question, if kids can either go to the NBA right out of high school or go to college for 2 or 3 years, kids will do one of two things:

1) Enter the NBA before they are ready and flame out
2) Weigh education more heavily, which would be a huge pro for ND in getting highly talented kids

Honestly I don't know why this doesn't benefit us now. There are only so many one and done players. Hell, unless you're a top 15-20 pick in the draft, you aren't guaranteed sh*t in the NBA. It's not like the NFL where you can be a 5th rounder and be a ROTY and Pro-Bowler the first year. A rare occurrence sure, but very possible. This makes me think that education would be a lot more important for basketball players, because only a select few players get selected by NBA teams and actually stick. I honestly wouldn't leave school until I get my degree unless I'm a top 10 pick.

And the "location location location" argument that is largely against ND doesn't really work well in basketball.

"Why would I want to go to dreary South Bend when I can set up shop in Beautiful Lawrence, Kansas...Y'know they have almost as many women per capita than tumbleweeds, and it's the 11th largest exporter of sunflower seeds in the entire Midwestern US."

 

[NDGOLDEN]

I think going 12-6 should easily be done. We barley lose at home so say we go 9-0 at home and that's pretty realistic. And say we lose between 3-4 on the road. I'd say aiming for 14-4 or 13-5 can be a realistic feat.

 

[dshans]

... We barley lose at home ...

I know that this is just a simple typo, but my twisted, aging and drug addled brain (not necessarily in that order) led me to chuckle and brought this to mind:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lYMW24HgGVE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

No harm intended, NDGOLDEN. I hope that no umbrage is taken. It shouldn't be. It's just me Feeling Free To Be Me.

 

[heygipper]

Brian Kelly has one good season at ND with players he called not his own and people love him. Mike Brey takes his team to unprecedented heights after having a solid fifteen year run and people ask if ND basketball can find "sustained success". I hope both are successful, but I think that the way it's worded doesn't give the BB program its due.

 

[Rocknes Ghost]

Brian Kelly has one good season at ND with players he called not his own and people love him. Mike Brey takes his team to unprecedented heights after having a solid fifteen year run and people ask if ND basketball can find "sustained success". I hope both are successful, but I think that the way it's worded doesn't give the BB program its due.

I think it depends on what you define as "success." This was a successful year. ACC Champs, elite 8, 32-6 record. This was a ton of fun. I have always liked Mike Brey and his system (especially when we play some defense too like we did this year) There are some good points above about what "success" would look like at Notre Dame.

We have had regular season success in the past but been terrible and disappointing in the tournament. This year shook a lot of demons and I think has renewed optimism for a lot of people including myself. We needed something to build off of. Needed to prove that ND could win in the postseason- could win big games when it matters. There was a cloud around the program previously that feels like it has been lifted. Yes we had a solid fifteen year run of regular season success but for all those wins we never played in a big east championship game and had 1 sweet sixteen appearance. This year was a big step forward for the program and we showed we were one of the best teams in the country. We were 1 shot from slaying the giant and making the final four (and i think we would have won it all).

 

[RDU Irish]

Any other bracket and we are in the Final Four. Our lack of post season success got us a crappy draw. Like it or not, the selection committee plays favorites and we have never been a favorite. If we can parlay this year into top 4 in the ACC season next year, we should have some goodwill built up for a more respectful seed and draw.

DJ, Zach and Steve make a phenomenal core of battle tested talent.

I really think Brey finds his new stride and continues to coach like a champion rather than fall back on the methods that made us so sporadic in the past (and may have been necessary due to severe talent/athleticism drop off from #1 to #5 on the floor). If we bring in more developed frosh, we should see more bench usage. A lot of these guys have needed to mature physically or mentally to be ready to contribute, a necessary trade off for a sub-par program. We saw a reversion to mean with a short bench and most minutes to starters which I found a bit discouraging. As will anyone, Brey will grow from this experience and be better equipped to do it again. Development and game planning, A+. Game time/crunch time/real time decisions, B.

Now that we have some street cred, I think Swarbrick plays the RPI game better this year.

 

[NDGOLDEN]

Any other bracket and we are in the Final Four. Our lack of post season success got us a crappy draw. Like it or not, the selection committee plays favorites and we have never been a favorite. If we can parlay this year into top 4 in the ACC season next year, we should have some goodwill built up for a more respectful seed and draw.

DJ, Zach and Steve make a phenomenal core of battle tested talent.

I really think Brey finds his new stride and continues to coach like a champion rather than fall back on the methods that made us so sporadic in the past (and may have been necessary due to severe talent/athleticism drop off from #1 to #5 on the floor). If we bring in more developed frosh, we should see more bench usage. A lot of these guys have needed to mature physically or mentally to be ready to contribute, a necessary trade off for a sub-par program. We saw a reversion to mean with a short bench and most minutes to starters which I found a bit discouraging. As will anyone, Brey will grow from this experience and be better equipped to do it again. Development and game planning, A+. Game time/crunch time/real time decisions, B.

Now that we have some street cred, I think Swarbrick plays the RPI game better this year.

I agree. I hope we can start getting some more respect. I understand why we didnt get much this year cause we had one of the worst OOC schedule but hopefully we can get some quality teams we can play this fall. I think we are up to play in the orlando classic.

Teams playing in the tourney are:
Alabama Crimson Tide (SEC)
Dayton Flyers (A 10)
Iowa Hawkeyes (Big Ten)
Monmouth Hawks (MAAC)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (ACC)
USC Trojans (Pac-12)
Wichita State Shockers (MVC)
Xavier Musketeers (Big East)

I cant see us not winning that opening tournament.