Senior Week- Zach Hillesland

Of the four seniors, Zach Hillesland had the most disappointing final year.

Brought on as a three star recruit, Zach was known as a point forward with good ball handling skills and above average athleticism. A true small forward, he quickly become a fan favorite during his sophomore year.

After playing only 2.2 minutes per game as a freshman, Zach quickly achieved sixth man status in 2007 with 19.6 minutes per game. He scored 5.8 points and grabbed 4.8 rebounds a contest and nearly became the second Irish player to earn a triple double with his effort against Seton Hall (12 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists). Needless to say, great expectations were set for Hillesland's remaining two seasons.

Junior year Zach regressed a bit, but the overall success of the team overshadowed his falling stats. After the Georgetown game, Hillesland was placed into the starting lineup in place of Ryan Ayers and the team finished the season 11-3. Hillesland played the small forward position reasonably well and led the Irish in rebounding in a Big East Tournament loss to Marquette.

This season, Zach moved to the power forward slot, a position for which he clearly was not suited. In spite of a two minute per game rise in playing time, Hillesland's average points and rebounds per contest have decreased. He has managed more than 6 rebounds just once in conference play and has not demonstrated the improved jumper that was shown in Ireland before the season. His ability as a ballhandler has decreased, resulting in multiple possessions in which his dribbling has killed the flow of the offense. Never a good free throw shooter, Hillesland has dipped to 55% from the line (a year ago it was 69%).

The Irish clearly miss Rob Kurz in the high post this season and Hillesland's inability to adjust to the new position exemplifies Notre Dame's struggle. He is clearly out of position and playing more minutes than he has earned. Best case scenario for the individual and the team would be a return to the sixth man role of two years ago with Hillesland coming off the bench to play small forward.

It's a shame. Zach was one of my favorite players two years ago, but has quite obviously regressed as a result of additional playing time and playing out of position. His tempo-free points per shot (1.52, 1.35, 1.14) has significantly declined since sophomore year and he has never developed the ability to play down low.

Though, like Zeller, he has not been able to develop as hoped, I want to thank Zach for the time and effort he has put into the program. Best wishes after graduation.

Stats Per 40 Minutes

If every player in the eight man rotation played the same amount of minutes, how would they stack up? If every guy had the chance to play a whole game, what would their stats look like? Take a peek:

Assuming 40 Minutes Per Game (ex: PPG/MPG*40)-

Tory Jackson- 12.3 PPG, 6.2 APG, 5.5 RPG
Kyle McAlarney- 17.7 PPG, 3.8 APG
Ryan Ayers- 14.6 PPG, 4.3 RPG
Zach Hillesland- 8.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG
Luke Harangody- 28.2 PPG, 14.6 RPG

Luke Zeller- 13.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG
Jonathan Peoples- 9.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG
Ty Nash- 12.9 PPG, 11.8 RPG

Exhibit A in the "Zach Hillesland plays too much" argument. Obviously, these averages can't be taken as gospel truth. Ty Nash plays 8.4 minutes a game, so it is possible (though rather unlikely) that his high averages are mere statistical noise, the result of a small sample size and the street ball nature of the last few minutes of a game. What gives makes these numbers relevant is how well they pass the "eye-test," the subjective grader within each of us.

If Zach Hillesland and Ty Nash played every second of a 40 minute game, Nash would dramatically outperform our current starting power forward. 4.5 extra points and 3.2 extra rebounds per contest would be a big help. It's not just Nash either. Slow footed seven footer Luke Zeller would provide five-and-a-half more points per game over Hillesland with no sizable drop off in rebounding.

Upon further review, Ryan Ayers seems like a pretty solid starter. He doesn't take enough shots some days and can hang out on the perimeter too much, but he clearly provides more offense than the alternatives. His offensive rating (points per possesion), rates highest on the team and in the top 50 nationwide.

With Hillesland eating floor time and having Zeller and Nash compete for minutes off the bench, the Irish are wasting an opportunity to improve an already offense that is already 5th in the country. Though Zach's athleticism makes him a decent defender, both Nash and Zeller have shown the ability to match up well enough most of the time. If Hillesland is not clearly the best option at power forward at either end of the floor, you have to wonder why he is earning so much playing time over two more productive post men.

EDIT: Zach Hillesland's Career Stats Per 40 Minutes:

2005-2006- 10.9 PPG, 3.6 RPG
2006-2007- 11.8 PPG, 9.8 RPG
2007-2008- 10.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG
2008-2009- 8.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG

I wondered why my support of Zach has waned so much recently. It's pretty clear his production has actually decreased over the course of his career. As a sophomore, he was a pretty solid 6th man (his best role). In a little over one full season as a starter, his stats have dropped dramatically. More time, less production, not good.

Hillesland Back in the Starting Lineup

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/aroundthebend/2009/02/brey-to-switch-starters-again.html

Probably the best case scenario. Zach is awful as a power forward, but can be a pretty solid small forward. Zeller isn't the best 4 in the world, but he is the one we've got. Ayers was better off the bench anyways last season.

Addition by Subtraction

The more we seem to struggle this season, the more my hopes rise for next year. At the moment, we seem to have earned a back-of-the-top-25 spot. We look very good at times and very poor at others.

Take a look at the problem areas. Two seniors, Zach Hillesland and Ryan Ayers, seem to be the weakest links on both offense and defense. Most people who observe the program express an interest in seeing more playing time for Ty Nash and Carleton Scott, most likely at the expense of Hillesland and Ayers.

Next season we lose the two biggest problem areas in the starting rotation and seemingly add athleticism (currently missing from the rotation) and a true power forward in Nash (though transfer Scott Martin is an interesting X-factor... he was the most highly recruited prep player currently on the ND roster). If Ben Hansbrough can replace a fraction of Kyle McAlarney's outside shot and Luke Harangody continues his development, our drop next year will not be as bad as originally feared.

Hey, it's something positive to think about as this season has hit a depressing stretch of mediocrity.

Post Between Games

Zach Hillesland is blogging for the New York Times. Quite a step up from Kyle McAlarney's South Bend Tribune blog this summer. His first "Dispatch From a Domer" is here.

If you want to go to Saturday's game against Ohio State, tickets are now 20% off. Unfortunately I will not be able to make it, but watching Gonzaga in the first contest followed by the Irish should be pretty interesting.

Polls are not out yet, but I will try to announce those when they are updated.

Tomorrow's opponent is first year D1 team South Dakota. They are not very good and Notre Dame is the only high-major school on their schedule. Should be another opportunity for Nash and Scott to log serious minutes.

Zach Hillesland

The other starting small forward last season, Hillesland has more athleticism and strength than Ayers. While he showed little ability to step outside and make the jump shot last season, he has reportedly improved his shooting ability dramatically over the summer. As Lucid reported in one of the comments further down, a 21 point game in Ireland reinforces the belief that he will be a much improved offensive force this season.

Hillesland will take Rob Kurz's high post position in the offense and will hopefully grab Kurz-like numbers in rebounds this year (adding two a game from 5.2 last year). In 07-08, he also averaged 6.1 points per game in 22.4 minutes. Somewhat of a point forward last year, Hillesland has the ability to run the offense from the perimeter. His overall play has made him one of Coach Brey's favorite players. Look for Zach to make some big strides from contributing a little in each category to becoming an overall force.

6th Man

Zach Hillesland- 6-9 / 233, Toledo, OH-

Our energy guy. Mr. Everything. Hillesland looks to be a force off the bench once again this year. Averaging 19.6 minutes a game last season with 5.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, he played in all 32 games and started four times.

A three-star recruit out of high school, he also attracted some interest from Michigan, Stanford, Northwestern, and N.C. State. He could be a starter next season with two of the other three members of what is shaping up to be the best recruiting class in recent memory for the Irish. Fellow juniors McAlarney and Ayers have already claimed starting positions, while Zeller and Hillesland will likely take over after Rob Kurz graduates.

Until then, Hillesland will continue to see extended minutes off the bench for the Irish. His best attribute is his energy, on both ends of the floor. Some of Notre Dame's best possessions will come with Zach subbing for any one of the starting five. Can play both forward spots and be squeezed into the 2 role if Coach Brey wishes to go big. A fan favorite for his teamwork work ethic, Hillesland certainly is one of the most famous and feared bench players in the conference.