Slightly dated news, but I'm still struggling a bit to find solid news stories before the season officially starts. Rob Kurz, the Cavaliers' final cut of the summer, will start his second professional season trying out for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, an NBDL squad that has also invited Kyle McAlarney and Rob Kurz to training camp. The final roster should be ten men out of the seventeen in camp. Good luck to all three making the squad.
Chris Quinn is still in the NBA, but has yet to play a game this year for the Heat following a sprained ankle in the preseason.
Showing posts with label McAlarney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label McAlarney. Show all posts
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Senior Week- Kyle McAlarney
I was going to save K-Mac for Thursday, but we'll talk about him today. Full disclosure: I got some help with this article, but the co-author doesn't want any credit (so I'll take it all).
One of the things that some people who watch Kyle McAlarney may not know is how great a teammate he really is. Dating back to High School, Kyle was a team-first player who always treated players like they were the best on the court. Kyle's HS team was not anywhere the top of any national rankings, and not even near the top of their own league's standings, and the other players on the team lacked any real athleticism. Despite the other players dropping passes, and missing shots in games Kyle was never seen belittling a team, on the contrary building them up. This can be backed up by the fact that Kyle chose to speak about each of his teammates one by one, and saved a team manager who stayed to rebound after practice for last. Kyle simply stated that, "he makes me better."
While a great jumper, deep range, and nice plays catch the eye of a casual hoops fan, it's the deeper things that make Kyle such a popular player to fans back home, and basketball purists. It's things about his character that some will tell you are far better than his jumper:
Dedication to hardwork- began in HS when he would shoot at 4am before 6am practices.After his freshman season Kyle's coach grew tired of trying to beat him to the gym and gave him the key. A feature of Kyle's early morning workouts was on MSG's High School Weekly during 2005.
Loyalty to all his past coaches and teammates- After games in the local area of his hometown on SI, nearly 200 fans wait to say hello or ask for autographs. Kyle talks to nearly all who attend, and signs every request.
Friendship- Kyle's two best friends are in military services. Stories like this and this have been published in the last year that talk about just how much they mean to him.
Kyle was a kid who some said would never make a D1 roster, and wouldn't be able to succeed in The Big East, so for the people who believed in him, and enjoy everything about the way he carries himself and how much he honors the game, it's a joy to watch him succeed in something he loves so much.
Mac was the first recruit I really heard about well before he stepped on campus. With the departure of Chris Quinn, there was some fear that the point guard position would take a big hit. Kyle was recruited as a point guard and played alongside CQ for a season before taking over point guard duties his sophomore year. More on that later.
A four star recruit, Mac gained some renown as a pretty talented kid from Staten Island with solid ball-handling skills and a sweet shot. His freshman year, Kyle shot 43% from beyond the arc and averaged 1.53 assists per turnover in 22.4 minutes per game (a huge number for a Notre Dame frosh). Sophomore year, Kyle took over the reigns and really looked great in twelve games. 10.3 PPG, 5.4 APG, 46% on his three pointers. Great stuff.
Then the pot arrest. You know the story, you know the eventual punishment. While the University was harsh with Kyle, it was certainly fair. A semester suspension would be the penalty for any other student in his position. There was no special treatment in this case, nor should there have been (we can argue about the school's drug policy another time). Kyle was understandably upset and considered transferring. In a move that demonstrated his maturity (and Coach Brey's strong relationship with his players), Mac returned in the fall of 2007 to play shooting guard alongside Tory Jackson.
He really made the transition back to the 2 well. 15.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 44% from three as a junior. This year he started even hotter. In Maui, Kyle made a name for himself and probably earned a spot on an NBA summer league roster in front of the pro scouts. 39 points against #1 North Carolina, breaking his own school record with ten three pointers. Unfortunately, Ohio State laid out a blueprint for stopping Kyle a couple weeks later by blanketing him and not allowing any open looks. The rest of the season has been a struggle with Mac's three-point shooting percentage dipping to a still-impressive 43%.
He has been hurt by a lack of athleticism and ability to create his own shot. The open shots are no longer coming, and Kyle has been shut down on multiple occasions. His floater, a reliable part of the arsenal before his suspension, has been iffy at best the last two years. No longer able to fire away with impunity, Mac has been limited drastically in play. He's not a great defender and will need to prove an ability to run the point at the next level to earn Chris Quinn-type minutes in the NBA.
For his return from the suspension and gym rat mentality, K-Mac will always be one of my favorite Notre Dame players of all time. He is the best pure shooter I have ever seen live, a guy who can knock down 75% of practice shots from literally anywhere across the midcourt stripe.
Kyle, thanks for your hard work and maturity in returning to Notre Dame. You will be missed. Best of luck with your attempt to make an NBA roster. Though I doubt you will be drafted, the success of guys like Quinn and Rob Kurz leaves plenty of room for you.
One of the things that some people who watch Kyle McAlarney may not know is how great a teammate he really is. Dating back to High School, Kyle was a team-first player who always treated players like they were the best on the court. Kyle's HS team was not anywhere the top of any national rankings, and not even near the top of their own league's standings, and the other players on the team lacked any real athleticism. Despite the other players dropping passes, and missing shots in games Kyle was never seen belittling a team, on the contrary building them up. This can be backed up by the fact that Kyle chose to speak about each of his teammates one by one, and saved a team manager who stayed to rebound after practice for last. Kyle simply stated that, "he makes me better."
While a great jumper, deep range, and nice plays catch the eye of a casual hoops fan, it's the deeper things that make Kyle such a popular player to fans back home, and basketball purists. It's things about his character that some will tell you are far better than his jumper:
Dedication to hardwork- began in HS when he would shoot at 4am before 6am practices.After his freshman season Kyle's coach grew tired of trying to beat him to the gym and gave him the key. A feature of Kyle's early morning workouts was on MSG's High School Weekly during 2005.
Loyalty to all his past coaches and teammates- After games in the local area of his hometown on SI, nearly 200 fans wait to say hello or ask for autographs. Kyle talks to nearly all who attend, and signs every request.
Friendship- Kyle's two best friends are in military services. Stories like this and this have been published in the last year that talk about just how much they mean to him.
Kyle was a kid who some said would never make a D1 roster, and wouldn't be able to succeed in The Big East, so for the people who believed in him, and enjoy everything about the way he carries himself and how much he honors the game, it's a joy to watch him succeed in something he loves so much.
Mac was the first recruit I really heard about well before he stepped on campus. With the departure of Chris Quinn, there was some fear that the point guard position would take a big hit. Kyle was recruited as a point guard and played alongside CQ for a season before taking over point guard duties his sophomore year. More on that later.
A four star recruit, Mac gained some renown as a pretty talented kid from Staten Island with solid ball-handling skills and a sweet shot. His freshman year, Kyle shot 43% from beyond the arc and averaged 1.53 assists per turnover in 22.4 minutes per game (a huge number for a Notre Dame frosh). Sophomore year, Kyle took over the reigns and really looked great in twelve games. 10.3 PPG, 5.4 APG, 46% on his three pointers. Great stuff.
Then the pot arrest. You know the story, you know the eventual punishment. While the University was harsh with Kyle, it was certainly fair. A semester suspension would be the penalty for any other student in his position. There was no special treatment in this case, nor should there have been (we can argue about the school's drug policy another time). Kyle was understandably upset and considered transferring. In a move that demonstrated his maturity (and Coach Brey's strong relationship with his players), Mac returned in the fall of 2007 to play shooting guard alongside Tory Jackson.
He really made the transition back to the 2 well. 15.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 44% from three as a junior. This year he started even hotter. In Maui, Kyle made a name for himself and probably earned a spot on an NBA summer league roster in front of the pro scouts. 39 points against #1 North Carolina, breaking his own school record with ten three pointers. Unfortunately, Ohio State laid out a blueprint for stopping Kyle a couple weeks later by blanketing him and not allowing any open looks. The rest of the season has been a struggle with Mac's three-point shooting percentage dipping to a still-impressive 43%.
He has been hurt by a lack of athleticism and ability to create his own shot. The open shots are no longer coming, and Kyle has been shut down on multiple occasions. His floater, a reliable part of the arsenal before his suspension, has been iffy at best the last two years. No longer able to fire away with impunity, Mac has been limited drastically in play. He's not a great defender and will need to prove an ability to run the point at the next level to earn Chris Quinn-type minutes in the NBA.
For his return from the suspension and gym rat mentality, K-Mac will always be one of my favorite Notre Dame players of all time. He is the best pure shooter I have ever seen live, a guy who can knock down 75% of practice shots from literally anywhere across the midcourt stripe.
Kyle, thanks for your hard work and maturity in returning to Notre Dame. You will be missed. Best of luck with your attempt to make an NBA roster. Though I doubt you will be drafted, the success of guys like Quinn and Rob Kurz leaves plenty of room for you.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
K-Mac Interview
Thanks to nyhoops.com for forwarding a link to this interview that will be played Saturday on a Syracuse radio station.
The interview's pretty interesting and it is always nice to hear the players speak for themselves. Once again, a plug for nyhoops.com. They always pass along good stuff to me and should have a thorough recap of the Cuse/G'town game sometime today.
The interview's pretty interesting and it is always nice to hear the players speak for themselves. Once again, a plug for nyhoops.com. They always pass along good stuff to me and should have a thorough recap of the Cuse/G'town game sometime today.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Naismith Watch List
Luke Harangody and Kyle McAlarney have been named among the 50 best players in college basketball due to their inclusion in the watch list for the Naismith player of the year award. Congratulations to both of them.
Mac and 'Gody were among eleven Big East players mentioned. The others being:
Obviously its still early and watch lists don't really mean a whole lot in the end. However, good to see our players and conference get the respect they deserve.
Mac and 'Gody were among eleven Big East players mentioned. The others being:
- Jeff Adrien- Connecticut
- DeJuan Blair- Pittsburgh
- Earl Clark- Louisville
- Dominic James- Marquette
- Jerel McNeal- Marquette
- A.J. Price- Connecticut
- Scottie Reynolds- Villanova
- Hasheem Thabeet- Connecticut
- Sam Young- Pittsburgh
Obviously its still early and watch lists don't really mean a whole lot in the end. However, good to see our players and conference get the respect they deserve.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Mac in the Staten Island Paper
http://www.silive.com/sports/index.ssf/2008/12/mcalarney_puts_on_another_shoo.html
Great article on Mac's shooting lately and video of the Carolina game.
Great article on Mac's shooting lately and video of the Carolina game.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Contributing Site Moving
The old NY/NJ high school hoops site with great information about McAlarney can now be found here. They will send us some information about an upcoming interview with Kyle and I will be sure to link to it.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Kyle McAlarney
Missed the post last night, so you get a bonus today.
Kyle McAlarney was superb last season. Returning from suspension, K-Mac played last season primarily as the shooting guard for the first time in his career. His ability to make any shot from any distance more than made up for the loss of Colin Falls' long range shooting. 15.1 points and 3.5 assists in 35.7 minutes per game. He can shoot from the outside (44% from three) or drive the line and finish with a floater. Should be every bit as good in his senior year. Enjoy watching him because he will be missed once he leaves.
Kyle McAlarney was superb last season. Returning from suspension, K-Mac played last season primarily as the shooting guard for the first time in his career. His ability to make any shot from any distance more than made up for the loss of Colin Falls' long range shooting. 15.1 points and 3.5 assists in 35.7 minutes per game. He can shoot from the outside (44% from three) or drive the line and finish with a floater. Should be every bit as good in his senior year. Enjoy watching him because he will be missed once he leaves.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Irish Trip Coming to a Close
Kyle McAlarney has been blogging about Notre Dame's trip to Ireland. The team gets back Monday.
A few notes from yesterday's blog... Kyle scored 32 on ten three pointers against Poland. Very impressive to see him knocking down shots with ease in the offseason, particularly in transition and off the dribble. As he said, "This wasn't similar at all to the Syracuse game. That day, I did it against the 2-3 zone." Certainly the ability to create good looks is a must-have for a wannabe-NBA player.
Good information in there about the team's defensive mentality. The lineup Friday could continue into the regular season with Kyle and Tory in the backcourt playing with Harangody, Ayers, and Zeller.
On a personal level, Kyle writes about his Army buddy and finishes every post "Love you, Mom." Classy stuff, that.
A few notes from yesterday's blog... Kyle scored 32 on ten three pointers against Poland. Very impressive to see him knocking down shots with ease in the offseason, particularly in transition and off the dribble. As he said, "This wasn't similar at all to the Syracuse game. That day, I did it against the 2-3 zone." Certainly the ability to create good looks is a must-have for a wannabe-NBA player.
Good information in there about the team's defensive mentality. The lineup Friday could continue into the regular season with Kyle and Tory in the backcourt playing with Harangody, Ayers, and Zeller.
On a personal level, Kyle writes about his Army buddy and finishes every post "Love you, Mom." Classy stuff, that.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Irish in Ireland
The season is finally here (almost). The men's basketball team has landed on the Emerald Isle for a series of preseason games. Should be fun to follow, though the outcomes are not terribly important.
I will keep tabs on the trip and post from time to time. In between, check out Kyle McAlarney's daily diary in the South Bend Tribune.
I will keep tabs on the trip and post from time to time. In between, check out Kyle McAlarney's daily diary in the South Bend Tribune.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Kyle McAlarney gets some more press today. Pot sure does wonders for your fame, doesn't it?
Game is at 9:50 Eastern on Thursday (30 minutes following the conclusion of WSU/Winthrop, a 7:20 tip). Win, and the Irish play at 6:40 or 9:10 on Saturday.
Game is at 9:50 Eastern on Thursday (30 minutes following the conclusion of WSU/Winthrop, a 7:20 tip). Win, and the Irish play at 6:40 or 9:10 on Saturday.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Happy Luke Harangody Day
Remember the date: March 13, 2008. That's when Luke Harangody officially became a household name.
Sports Illustrated's Luke Winn wrote a couple good pieces on the big man. Here's his magazine article. Also, a blog post online with more tidbits on what it is like to be a Harangody.
Adding to this year's awards, Harangody picked up an honorable mention slot in ESPN's All-American team. That makes him one of the ten best players in the nation.
What's that? Yes, even more. This time from ESPN's Adam Rittenberg on Kyle McAlarney's return to the team after last season.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Stats for You to Chew On
First 10 Minutes- Louisville 34, Notre Dame 16
Last 30 Minutes- Notre Dame 69, Louisville 56
6 Losses-
McAlarney- 7.8 PPG, 9-37, 24% from three
Harangody- 26.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG
Wins Over Top 25 RPI Teams-
AP #17 Notre Dame- 3 (Connecticut, Marquette, and Pittsburgh)
#1 Tennessee- 3
#2 Memphis- 3
#3 North Carolina- 3
#5 Texas- 3
#6 Kansas- 1
#8 Stanford- 3
#9 Xavier- 1
#10 Wisconsin- 3
You get the picture...
Last 30 Minutes- Notre Dame 69, Louisville 56
6 Losses-
McAlarney- 7.8 PPG, 9-37, 24% from three
Harangody- 26.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG
Wins Over Top 25 RPI Teams-
AP #17 Notre Dame- 3 (Connecticut, Marquette, and Pittsburgh)
#1 Tennessee- 3
#2 Memphis- 3
#3 North Carolina- 3
#5 Texas- 3
#6 Kansas- 1
#8 Stanford- 3
#9 Xavier- 1
#10 Wisconsin- 3
You get the picture...
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Kyle McAlarney Interview
Great interview with Kyle McAlarney at the BoxScore Banter podcast.
It's great to hear a Notre Dame player being interviewed. Kyle is very knowledgable and articulate, providing well-developed responses to every question. His breakdown of Syracuse in preparation for tomorrow's game shows a great awareness of college basketball and a high hoops IQ.
Around the country, we have a great matchup with #1 Memphis and #2 Tennessee playing at 9 tonight on ESPN. Should be a very good game and I'm looking forward to seeing this Tiger team for the first time.
College Gameday was on hand today, of course. It was interesting to hear Digger, Hubert Davis, and Jay Bilas discuss the events at Indiana. Hubert doesn't do a lot for me, but Bilas is one of the best analysts in the sport. Digger took a huge swipe at the players for skipping Dakich's first practice, epsecially captain DJ White. He mentioned that Dakich should sit all six guys in the Northwestern game as punishment for skipping out on their team. I am inclined to agree with that, especially regarding White. I would understand a Sampson recruit like Eric Gordon having emotional ties to the coach, but a captain is held to a higher standard.
That's it for today. Cheer for Cincinnati and Villanova upsets to clear the logjam at the top of the conference. Irish need to win tomorrow and keep the streak alive.
It's great to hear a Notre Dame player being interviewed. Kyle is very knowledgable and articulate, providing well-developed responses to every question. His breakdown of Syracuse in preparation for tomorrow's game shows a great awareness of college basketball and a high hoops IQ.
Around the country, we have a great matchup with #1 Memphis and #2 Tennessee playing at 9 tonight on ESPN. Should be a very good game and I'm looking forward to seeing this Tiger team for the first time.
College Gameday was on hand today, of course. It was interesting to hear Digger, Hubert Davis, and Jay Bilas discuss the events at Indiana. Hubert doesn't do a lot for me, but Bilas is one of the best analysts in the sport. Digger took a huge swipe at the players for skipping Dakich's first practice, epsecially captain DJ White. He mentioned that Dakich should sit all six guys in the Northwestern game as punishment for skipping out on their team. I am inclined to agree with that, especially regarding White. I would understand a Sampson recruit like Eric Gordon having emotional ties to the coach, but a captain is held to a higher standard.
That's it for today. Cheer for Cincinnati and Villanova upsets to clear the logjam at the top of the conference. Irish need to win tomorrow and keep the streak alive.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Harangody and McAlarney Getting Some Love
On Monday, Luke Harangody was named to the Big East Honor Roll for the 2nd time this year. He averaged 16.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in wins over Kansas State and Northern Illinois.
The Irish big man has been getting some national press lately. Clark Kellogg listed Bamm-Bamm as one of his top 9 sophomores on December 6th. Luke was the only Big East player broken down, though Syracuse's Paul Harris and Villanova's Scottie Reynolds were listed as honorable mentions. He's also gotten some play on national blogs, including being called the "Dancing Bear."
Luke is not the only Notre Dame player who is quickly becoming famous. NYCNJhoops.com ran a nice long article on the Staten Island native after the Kansas State game. K-Mac was on the Big East Honor Roll last week following wins over Colgate and Eastern Michigan.
There are two games including the Big East tonight. So far (13 min left in the 2nd half), 4-4 Cincinnati is playing #17 Xavier tough. The Musketeers are up a basket. 2-3 DePaul has a home game against #21 Vanderbilt. Two of the worst teams in the Big East playing top 25 squads. If one or both of those teams can pull of the upset, it would go a long way to make up for a disappointing nonconference season so far.
The Irish big man has been getting some national press lately. Clark Kellogg listed Bamm-Bamm as one of his top 9 sophomores on December 6th. Luke was the only Big East player broken down, though Syracuse's Paul Harris and Villanova's Scottie Reynolds were listed as honorable mentions. He's also gotten some play on national blogs, including being called the "Dancing Bear."
Luke is not the only Notre Dame player who is quickly becoming famous. NYCNJhoops.com ran a nice long article on the Staten Island native after the Kansas State game. K-Mac was on the Big East Honor Roll last week following wins over Colgate and Eastern Michigan.
There are two games including the Big East tonight. So far (13 min left in the 2nd half), 4-4 Cincinnati is playing #17 Xavier tough. The Musketeers are up a basket. 2-3 DePaul has a home game against #21 Vanderbilt. Two of the worst teams in the Big East playing top 25 squads. If one or both of those teams can pull of the upset, it would go a long way to make up for a disappointing nonconference season so far.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Kyle McAlarney
#23 Kyle McAlarney- 6-0 / 196, Staten Island, NY-
2006 was a year to forget for K-Mac, and it had little to do with his actual performance on the basketball court. Marijuana charges and a University suspension cost him half his season. Before leaving the team, Kyle averaged 10.3 points and 5.4 assists in 29.8 minutes per game while starting the first 12 contests. Perhaps his brightest moment was scoring 20 points in leading the Irish to their best nonconference win of the year against Alabama.
What's next? Now that Mac has returned, he has competition for the starting point guard spot in superb sophomore Tory Jackson. Thankfully, Coach Brey has shown the willingness to pair two natural point guards together in the backcourt. While a Jackson-McAlarney pairing matches the two most talented guards on the team, previous combos of PGs have produced mixed results. Jackson and McAlarney must be able to share the spotlight in order for the team to perform at its best.
Kyle might be sharing ball control responsibilities with Jackson, but he brings much of his own talents to the floor as well. Hitting 46.4 % of his shots from three-point range last year showed his immense shooting ability. He must be able to convert his outside shots to make up for the loss of Colin Falls' 15.3 PPG. If McAlarney stays humble, makes his shots, and keeps away from jail, he will pick up right where he left off and lead the team to many wins this season.
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