ND Men's Basketball 2015-2016 season

[JD Irish]

Good article on Demetrius Jackson at the Stephen Curry Camp:

Demetrius Jackson Hones Leadership Skills With Steph Curry - UND.COM - University of Notre Dame Official Athletic Site


One quotation about him of note by Fran Fraschilla, who helped run the camp:

"I had a good talk with Demetrius before the camp, and spelled out what we needed him to do," Fraschilla said. "I told him, I know you're going to go hard in these drills. Take these young guys under your wing and be a leader. Treat them like the freshmen you're going to be leading at Notre Dame this year. He embraced that. He was not only impressive with his basketball ability, he was the quickest guy in the camp. His speed and athleticism and quickness were evident, but beyond that his leadership was outstanding. That's what we were looking for out of him."

 

[Blaise]

He is going to be a big reason we won't slip much in the ACC

 

[Irish Insanity]

Preseason rankings

https://trove.com/a/ESPN-College-Ba...1438816946&utm_source=sns&utm_campaign=hosted

1. Maryland Terrapins
2. North Carolina Tarheels
3. Kentucky Wildcats
4. Virginia Cavaliers
5. Kansas Jayhawks
6. Duke Blue Devils
7. Iowa State Cyclones
8. Oklahoma Sooners
9. Wichita State Shockers
10. Villanova Wildcats
11. Gonzaga Bulldogs
12. California Golden Bears
13. Utah Utes
14. Indiana Hoosiers
15. Arizona Wildcats
16. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
17. Baylor Bears
18. Vanderbilt Commodores
19. Michigan State Spartans
20. West Virginia Mountaineers
21. SMU Mustangs
22. LSU Tigers
23. Butler Bulldogs
24. Wisconsin Badgers
25. Texas A&M; Aggies

 

[texbender]

Brey really has done a pretty good job given the constraints he works under at ND. Does more with less, and fared pretty well in arguably the best BB conference Big East and ACC.
Hope he hangs in with program.

 

[FearTheBeard]

Does everyone think that ranking is fitting?? Jackson is a beast and Auguste can be a real solid player, could use to work on rebounds and defense a little though. Whats the rest of our roster looking like?

 

[ShawneeIrish]

In addition to DJ and Auguste we have a lock down perimeter defender in Vasturia and I think Beachem will step up and be a nice player this season. Bonzie will need to build on last season and be a major contributor. For the team to be really special I think we will need to get something from the incoming frosh.

 

[Henges24]

People don't realize it yet but Rex Pfleuger is going to be a special player for us this year. I'm predicting one of the best freshman seasons at ND in a very long time for this guy.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

Hope youre right. Freshman usually have to bide their time with Brey. Of course Bonzie saw some action as a frosh as did Eric Atkins and Pat a few years ago.

 

[RDU Irish]

Frosh usually only play out of necessity with Brey, traditionally very tight with minutes outside of a core 6 players.

I like our odds with Vasturia, Jackson and August leading the way.

VJ will be starting, hope he is ready to make a big improvement in production, has all the skills IMO to be a monster. Bonzi is a gamer, ridiculous wing span on that kid makes him play much bigger than he is. Austin Torres will get his chance this year to contribute.

With Torres as the sixth man right now, it opens up room for a frosh guard to have an obvious opening in a 7 man rotation. Pflueger as a four star 6'4" shooting guard with ball skills sounds like just the guy to work step into some serious minutes and become the fourth small in our fast lineup (Jackson, Pflueger, Vasturia, Beachum, Colson).

 

[arrowryan]

If VJ and Geben got bigger physically this summer and the game can slow down for them, I think this could be a 24-7 or 25-6 basketball team. If Brey is forced to rely on Jackson, Auguste, and Vasturia the whole season, I think this is a 20-11 team and will be on the bubble in March.

Outside of Jackson, Auguste, Vasturia, and maybe Colson this is a team with a roster full of unproven players

 

[RDU Irish]

Colson as a 4th or 5th option is plenty good. VJ has shown plenty of promise to expect he will contribute plenty as a 4th or 5th starter.

Beyond those five, yeah very unproven. I give Torres a better shot at PT than Geben, I think he can contribute on a decent level but not so sure he can be a #6 or #7 in a Mike Brey rotation. Pflueger has a great shot at huge minutes as a main cog in the rotation. Between Geben, Torres and Burgett we will surely see one of the three rise to the challenge and be the rotational big and fall back #7 in Brey's standard 10 minutes to two subs rotation.

 

[RDU Irish]

Doesn't Geben slow us down? Torres can get up and down the floor which is why I see him being the primary back up big.

It will be interesting having "only" three dead eye shooters behind the arc (VJ, DJ and Steve). I know nothing of Pflueger's game but if he is good shooter he will have every opportunity to take down big minutes as Brey loves going fast and small with 4 three ball shooters on the floor.

Brey has done well with a lot less talent than this. Ending up on the bubble would be a hugely disappointing season and I don't see it happening unless one of the top three get hurt (yes include Vasturia in that key man category).

 

[Henges24]

Doesn't Geben slow us down? Torres can get up and down the floor which is why I see him being the primary back up big.

It will be interesting having "only" three dead eye shooters behind the arc (VJ, DJ and Steve). I know nothing of Pflueger's game but if he is good shooter he will have every opportunity to take down big minutes as Brey loves going fast and small with 4 three ball shooters on the floor.

Brey has done well with a lot less talent than this. Ending up on the bubble would be a hugely disappointing season and I don't see it happening unless one of the top three get hurt (yes include Vasturia in that key man category).

Another freshman, Matt Ryan, who was a 3/4 star is a big time 3-point shooter. He's a tall SF, but sure if he will get PT this year or not but I know he can have Ice in his veins from beyond the arc.

Pun intended, btw.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Patty Ice's flow is serious

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Winners. Class acts. Graduates. Draft Picks. Above all else, Notre Dame men.

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NDinNBA?src=hash">#NDinNBA</a> <a href="http://t.co/V39VFSYq1A">pic.twitter.com/V39VFSYq1A</a></p>— Mike Brey (@NDMikeBrey) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDMikeBrey/status/630405806350028804">August 9, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[irishandy]

Geben & VJ need to step up for us big this year. I think Colson builds on his solid season that he had last year. I think Pflueger & Burns find a way to come off the bench and contribute.

Mr. Marian Demetrius Jackson needs to take over this team and be prepared to lead.

 

[BeauBenken]

Patty Ice's flow is serious

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Connaughton looks to have taken his hair from Swayze.

<iframe style="display: none;" allowtransparency="true" scrolling="no" id="rufous-sandbox" frameborder="0"></iframe>

 

[Redbar]

Mike Brey is three of those things, too!

 

[irishff1014]

TJ Gibbs on an unofficial Sept 5th. Javin DeLaurier will be here on an official visit along with John Mooney.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Apparently we are getting involved in the recruitment of Thon Maker. Blue and Gold has an article up but I'm not a subscriber.

 

[Henges24]

Apparently we are getting involved in the recruitment of Thon Maker. Blue and Gold has an article up but I'm not a subscriber.

Notre Dame Now Involved for Thon Maker | ZagsBlog.com

 

[jerboski]

Notre Dame Now Involved for Thon Maker | ZagsBlog.com

Wow would be huge for our program to pull this kid, doubtful but hopefully we will get an official

 

[Henges24]

Wow would be huge for our program to pull this kid, doubtful but hopefully we will get an official

If ND can put together another Sweet 16 run I expect them to start pulling some big time recruits every year. A big guy like this would be huge no matter how many ppg he can put up.

Edit: Wow he looks insanely athletic, would be HUGE.

 

[jerboski]

If ND can put together another Sweet 16 run I expect them to start pulling some big time recruits every year. A big guy like this would be huge no matter how many ppg he can put up.

Edit: Wow he looks insanely athletic, would be HUGE.

Agreed... I can't wait for both football and basketball. Big expectations for both!

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">See the next generation of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DunksDuLac?src=hash">#DunksDuLac</a> ...

... meet freshman Rex Pflueger (<a href="https://twitter.com/rexpflueger_1">@rexpflueger_1</a>)

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HopsForDays?src=hash">#HopsForDays</a>

<a href="http://t.co/9rbEKjf4Mk">pic.twitter.com/9rbEKjf4Mk</a></p>— Notre Dame MBB (@NDmbb) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDmbb/status/638030458161397761">August 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[RDU Irish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">See the next generation of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DunksDuLac?src=hash">#DunksDuLac</a> ...

... meet freshman Rex Pflueger (<a href="https://twitter.com/rexpflueger_1">@rexpflueger_1</a>)

<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HopsForDays?src=hash">#HopsForDays</a>

<a href="http://t.co/9rbEKjf4Mk">pic.twitter.com/9rbEKjf4Mk</a></p>— Notre Dame MBB (@NDmbb) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDmbb/status/638030458161397761">August 30, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I love Luatua ribbing Pflueger, Pflueger says just get wins.

 

[NDPhilly]

Then Maker's teammate SG Nikola Djogo is visiting for the Navy game. Other teams who have offered include UNLV, North Florida, Penn, and Northeastern. Other major programs interested and he has time since he's signing in the spring.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notre Dame basketball is built to do three things this year: score, and score, and score. <a href="https://t.co/Ub4OW9vHaI">https://t.co/Ub4OW9vHaI</a> <a href="https://t.co/KPjHzi6j3i">pic.twitter.com/KPjHzi6j3i</a></p>— SB Nation (@SBNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/649660996915621888">October 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our student body has helped us win a ton of games in my 15 years at ND.

We think this is a great way to thank them. <a href="http://t.co/OsQgMCSfQ8">pic.twitter.com/OsQgMCSfQ8</a></p>— Mike Brey (@NDMikeBrey) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDMikeBrey/status/651473145648545793">October 6, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[arrowryan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Irish starting lineup: Demetrius Jackson, Steve Vasturia, VJ Beachem, Bonzie Colson, Zach Auguste.

Brey likes the wingspan & size of lineup</p>— Angelo Di Carlo (@angdicarlowndu) <a href="https://twitter.com/angdicarlowndu/status/654032753378222080">October 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Not surprised. Kinda expected this line up

 

[RDU Irish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Notre Dame basketball is built to do three things this year: score, and score, and score. <a href="https://t.co/Ub4OW9vHaI">https://t.co/Ub4OW9vHaI</a> <a href="https://t.co/KPjHzi6j3i">pic.twitter.com/KPjHzi6j3i</a></p>— SB Nation (@SBNation) <a href="https://twitter.com/SBNation/status/649660996915621888">October 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Am I alone in being disappointed they didn't throw a "Defend" in there?

Note, I didn't say surprised.