We lose the winningest senior class in program history, but a lot of talent returns to propel the program forward to a new decade under Mike Brey. Obviously Luke Harangody's contributions will be missed. Though his style this season left a lot to be desired, no one should underestimate the effect of losing a 20 point, 10 rebound guy. There will be a large leadership gap with Tory Jackson graduating and the program will need a new point guard for the first time in four years. Walk-on Tim Andree always worked his butt off in practice for almost no reward. Non-scholarship players put in all the time and effort and receive no credit. Thanks, Tim. Jonathan Peoples... nevermind.
Backcourt-
Eric Atkins looks to start at the point as a freshman next season. He is a very talented guard from the Baltimore area. Given four-stars by Rivals (more than Tory Jackson as a high school senior), he seems to be as ready as anyone to take over his first year. Ben Hansbrough will be back and time will tell if he will match Atkins' style better than Jackson's. Though I do like to bash Peoples a lot, his experience as a backup guard who can play both positions will be missed. Look for Joey Brooks to get minutes off the bench at the 2 and for Hansbrough to slide over and play point from time to time. Freshman Alex Dragicevich or Jerian Grant may also see very limited action off the bench.
Frontcourt-
Scott Martin is the big question mark next season. He could play any frontcourt position or even shooting guard when the Irish go big. Think of him as a left-handed Abro. I think his role will start off as the sixth man off the bench, but should any of the starters falter he will be ready to fill in. Tim Abromaitis will return to play on the wing. Hopefully he can figure out whatever was dogging him at the end of the year to get back to his early season form. Adding Martin to the rotation may reduce Abro's minutes and keep him from getting dead legs down the stretch. Carleton Scott should get first crack at the 4 after he played so well at the end of the season. If he can develop better ball-handling skills to go with his athleticism and decent stroke, I see him as a potential breakout star. Ty Nash may be the weakest starter amongst the forwards, but his physical play and improving post game will be much needed. Jack Cooley will get time off the bench and could compete for a starting spot. Mike Broghammer and redshirt Tom Knight will most likely ride the pine all year.
Lineup-
PG- Atkins
SG- Hansbrough
SF- Abromaitis
PF- Scott
PF- Nash
Bench- Brooks
Bench- Martin
Bench- Cooley
Showing posts with label Season Preview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Season Preview. Show all posts
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Monday, December 28, 2009
Big East Preview: Part II
Big East Teams (By Pomeroy Ranking)-
Syracuse (4th)-
Jim Boeheim's squad hopped onto the national radar with a 16 point win over North Carolina back in November. Syracuse was ranked 24th at the time, the Tar Heels 4th in the nation. The Orange also boast wins over Cal and 11th-ranked Florida (starting the Gators three-game losing streak). The 2-3 zone has been strong this year, ranking 11th in the nation in defensive efficiency. On offense, Syracuse leads the country in effective field goal percentage. The top four scorers on the team have shot 60% or better on the year. It's hard to lose when a guy like Wesley Johnson (Iowa State transfer) has been unstoppable from all over the floor, including 52.4% from three-point range.
West Virginia (5th)-
The other unbeaten team in the Big East boasts a pair of nonconference victories over Texas A&M and Ole Miss, and now a victory over Seton Hall. Last year's edition of the Mountaineers finished the season ranked in the top ten by Ken Pomeroy, but the statistical dominance didn't exactly lead to the kind of success Bob Huggins wants to see in Morgantown. This season should be more successful in the win column. As the Irish learned last year, this program loves to dominate the offensive glass. They are ranked fourth in offensive rebounding percentage this season, led by Devin Ebanks (17 boards against Seton Hall) and Kevin Jones (14 in that game, as well).
Georgetown (18th)-
After a very disappointing 2009, the Hoyas are back near the top of the conference. Wins over Butler, Washington, and Temple have given this squad some credibility. The loss to Old Dominion was a bit disappointing, but the Monarchs are certainly a mid-major team to watch this year. Greg Monroe is starting to look like the player he was hyped to be out of high school, averaging a double-double, and a stable of good guards have the team playing great defense. They won't beat a lot of teams in a shootout, as evidenced by their 46-45 snorefest with Temple, but the Princeton offense does just enough to make this team a winner.
Villanova (30th)-
The preseason favorite has been less than impressive in stretches this year, but they still hold onto a top ten spot in the polls. Jay Wright has been compared to Mike Brey throughout their Big East careers and has taken the clear advantage over the last few seasons with his superb results in the postseason and recruiting. He entered this year with a fantastic opportunity to take the Big East title and mark himself as one of the elite coaches in college basketball. Now the Wildcats find themselves on a tier below looking up at the top two schools. Like ND, they have a very potent offense but struggle on the defensive end of the ball (92nd). The lone loss was to a talented Temple team.
Marquette (31st)-
Outplaying their expectations, the Golden Eagles boast a neutral-site win against Xavier and have performed better than expected in their three losses, including an away contest to intrastate rival Wisconsin. They have combined a top 25 offense with a workable D to leap from a probable NIT bid to competing for a Big East top four finish. Jimmy Butler has been fantastic, ranking 5th in the country with a 142.1 offensive rating.
Pittsburgh (36th)-
Bad loss to Indiana, blown out by Texas, and nothing too exciting the rest of the way. Bad offensively (109th) with a top 20 D. One of the slowest teams in the country, with just 63.3 possessions per game.
Seton Hall (39th)-
Jeremy Hazell is the big star here. He's the second highest scorer in the league with 21.9 points per game. They don't turn the ball over a lot and play pretty solid defense. Yet another Big East team that played Temple, losing 71-65.
Connecticut (41st)-
Lost their two games against good opponents (Duke and Kentucky). Gavin Edwards and Co. block a lot of shots on defense, even without Hasheem Thabeet.
Louisville (45th)-
Surpisingly weak defense so far for a Rick Pitino-coached team. Bad losses at home to Charlotte and Western Carolina. No real nonconference opponents of note.
South Florida (51st)-
Bad loss at home to Central Michigan with no really tough nonconference competition. Pretty much above average as a team across the board.
St. John's (59th)-
Beat Temple, making the Owls 2-2 against the Big East. Lost to Cornell and Duke. D.J. Kennedy has been very good so far this year (16.7 PPG).
Cincinnati (60th)-
Lost to good mid-majors Xavier, Gonzaga, and UAB. Boast a top-25 D but are pretty average scoring the ball.
Notre Dame (77th)-
And here we are. Easily the biggest differential between our strength (offense- 4th) and weakness (defense- 256th). Worst D in the conference, and it ain't even close.
Providence (86th)-
Lost to Iona and BC at home. Jamine Peterson scores 17.8 per game.
Rutgers (171st)-
Block a lot of shots and have held opponents to just 40.5% inside the arc (average nationwide is 47.7%). Mike Rosario is amongst the league's top scorers.
DePaul (188th)-
Just a hair better than last year's awful team. Lost to American and Florida Gulf Coast. Jerry Wainwright is on his way out.
Syracuse (4th)-
Jim Boeheim's squad hopped onto the national radar with a 16 point win over North Carolina back in November. Syracuse was ranked 24th at the time, the Tar Heels 4th in the nation. The Orange also boast wins over Cal and 11th-ranked Florida (starting the Gators three-game losing streak). The 2-3 zone has been strong this year, ranking 11th in the nation in defensive efficiency. On offense, Syracuse leads the country in effective field goal percentage. The top four scorers on the team have shot 60% or better on the year. It's hard to lose when a guy like Wesley Johnson (Iowa State transfer) has been unstoppable from all over the floor, including 52.4% from three-point range.
West Virginia (5th)-
The other unbeaten team in the Big East boasts a pair of nonconference victories over Texas A&M and Ole Miss, and now a victory over Seton Hall. Last year's edition of the Mountaineers finished the season ranked in the top ten by Ken Pomeroy, but the statistical dominance didn't exactly lead to the kind of success Bob Huggins wants to see in Morgantown. This season should be more successful in the win column. As the Irish learned last year, this program loves to dominate the offensive glass. They are ranked fourth in offensive rebounding percentage this season, led by Devin Ebanks (17 boards against Seton Hall) and Kevin Jones (14 in that game, as well).
Georgetown (18th)-
After a very disappointing 2009, the Hoyas are back near the top of the conference. Wins over Butler, Washington, and Temple have given this squad some credibility. The loss to Old Dominion was a bit disappointing, but the Monarchs are certainly a mid-major team to watch this year. Greg Monroe is starting to look like the player he was hyped to be out of high school, averaging a double-double, and a stable of good guards have the team playing great defense. They won't beat a lot of teams in a shootout, as evidenced by their 46-45 snorefest with Temple, but the Princeton offense does just enough to make this team a winner.
Villanova (30th)-
The preseason favorite has been less than impressive in stretches this year, but they still hold onto a top ten spot in the polls. Jay Wright has been compared to Mike Brey throughout their Big East careers and has taken the clear advantage over the last few seasons with his superb results in the postseason and recruiting. He entered this year with a fantastic opportunity to take the Big East title and mark himself as one of the elite coaches in college basketball. Now the Wildcats find themselves on a tier below looking up at the top two schools. Like ND, they have a very potent offense but struggle on the defensive end of the ball (92nd). The lone loss was to a talented Temple team.
Marquette (31st)-
Outplaying their expectations, the Golden Eagles boast a neutral-site win against Xavier and have performed better than expected in their three losses, including an away contest to intrastate rival Wisconsin. They have combined a top 25 offense with a workable D to leap from a probable NIT bid to competing for a Big East top four finish. Jimmy Butler has been fantastic, ranking 5th in the country with a 142.1 offensive rating.
Pittsburgh (36th)-
Bad loss to Indiana, blown out by Texas, and nothing too exciting the rest of the way. Bad offensively (109th) with a top 20 D. One of the slowest teams in the country, with just 63.3 possessions per game.
Seton Hall (39th)-
Jeremy Hazell is the big star here. He's the second highest scorer in the league with 21.9 points per game. They don't turn the ball over a lot and play pretty solid defense. Yet another Big East team that played Temple, losing 71-65.
Connecticut (41st)-
Lost their two games against good opponents (Duke and Kentucky). Gavin Edwards and Co. block a lot of shots on defense, even without Hasheem Thabeet.
Louisville (45th)-
Surpisingly weak defense so far for a Rick Pitino-coached team. Bad losses at home to Charlotte and Western Carolina. No real nonconference opponents of note.
South Florida (51st)-
Bad loss at home to Central Michigan with no really tough nonconference competition. Pretty much above average as a team across the board.
St. John's (59th)-
Beat Temple, making the Owls 2-2 against the Big East. Lost to Cornell and Duke. D.J. Kennedy has been very good so far this year (16.7 PPG).
Cincinnati (60th)-
Lost to good mid-majors Xavier, Gonzaga, and UAB. Boast a top-25 D but are pretty average scoring the ball.
Notre Dame (77th)-
And here we are. Easily the biggest differential between our strength (offense- 4th) and weakness (defense- 256th). Worst D in the conference, and it ain't even close.
Providence (86th)-
Lost to Iona and BC at home. Jamine Peterson scores 17.8 per game.
Rutgers (171st)-
Block a lot of shots and have held opponents to just 40.5% inside the arc (average nationwide is 47.7%). Mike Rosario is amongst the league's top scorers.
DePaul (188th)-
Just a hair better than last year's awful team. Lost to American and Florida Gulf Coast. Jerry Wainwright is on his way out.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Big East Preview
West Virginia takes the early lead in the Big East after an overtime win against Seton Hall. The Irish kick off their conference slate on Wednesday.
Once again, the preseason coaches poll from October:
Once again, the preseason coaches poll from October:
| Pts. | |
| 1. Villanova (10) | 218 |
| 2. West Virginia (5) | 215 |
| 3. Connecticut (1) | 185 |
| 4. Louisville | 179 |
| 5. Georgetown | 161 |
| 6. Syracuse | 152 |
| 7. Cincinnati | 135 |
| 8. Notre Dame | 132 |
| 9. Pittsburgh | 119 |
| 10. Seton Hall | 110 |
| 11. St. John's | 82 |
| 12. Marquette | 78 |
| 13. Providence | 52 |
| 14. USF | 44 |
| 15. Rutgers | 43 |
| 16. DePaul | 15 |
*First-place votes in parentheses
2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Player of the Year
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame
2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Rookie of the Year
Lance Stephenson, Cincinnati
2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST First Team
Luke Harangody, Notre Dame (Player of the Year), F, Sr., 6-8, 255, Schererville, Ind.
Deonta Vaughn, Cincinnati, G, Sr., 6-1, 190, Indianapolis, Ind.
Greg Monroe, Georgetown, C, So., 6-11, 247, New Orleans, La.
Lazar Hayward, Marquette, F, Sr., 6-6, 225, Buffalo, N.Y.
Scottie Reynolds, Villanova, G, Sr., 6-2, 195, Herndon, Va.
Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia, F, Sr., 6-7, 225, Newark, N.J.
2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST Second Team
Jerome Dyson, Connecticut, G, Sr., 6-3, 190, Potomac, Md.
Kemba Walker, Connecticut, G, So., 6-1, 172, Bronx, N.Y.
Samardo Samuels, Louisville, F, So., 6-9, 260, Trelawny, Jamaica
Jeremy Hazell, Seton Hall, G, Jr., 6-5, 185, Bronx, N.Y.
Dominique Jones, USF, G, Jr., 6-4, 205, Lake Wales, Fla.
Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, F, So., 6-9, 210, Long Island City, N.Y.
- a tie in the balloting created six positions
2009-10 Preseason All-BIG EAST Honorable Mention
Stanley Robinson, Connecticut, F, Sr., 6-9, 210, Birmingham, Ala.
Arinze Onuaku, Syracuse, C, Sr., 6-9, 275, Lanham, MdNon-Conference Scoring Leader-
Luke Harangody- ND- 24.2 PPG
Non-Conference Rebounding Leader-
Herb Pope- Seton Hall- 11.8 RPG
Non-Conference Assists Leader-
Kemba Walker- Connecticut- 6.3 APG
Non-Conference Steals Leader-
Andy Rautins- Syracuse- 2.7 SPG
Non-Conference Three Point Percentage Leader-
Darius Johnson-Odom- Marquette- 55.6%
Notre Dame Statistical Leaders-
- Tory Jackson/Ben Hansbrough- 1st and 2nd in Assist to Turnover Ratio
- Luke Harangody- 1st in Defensive Rebounds
- Tim Abromaitis- 1st in Free Throw Percentage
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Harangody on the Radar
Luke Harangody has been receiving some very well deserved preseason hype so far this year, being named the Big East Preseason Player of the Year and a first team All-American by several publications. On Monday, he received the most votes on the AP All-America Team.
Great news for our star senior. When he won Big East Player of the Year two seasons ago, Luke really came out of nowhere to surprise people. Even last year, he was overshadowed most of the season by guys in his own conference like Hasheem Thabeet, to say nothing of the Tyler Hansbroughs of the world. This year, he is one of the biggest names in college basketball. That's great to see.
Great news for our star senior. When he won Big East Player of the Year two seasons ago, Luke really came out of nowhere to surprise people. Even last year, he was overshadowed most of the season by guys in his own conference like Hasheem Thabeet, to say nothing of the Tyler Hansbroughs of the world. This year, he is one of the biggest names in college basketball. That's great to see.
Monday, November 02, 2009
Season Preview
Time to get this thing rolling. After last night's contest, it looks like the Irish will be relying on an even shorter bench than in year's past with Jonathan Peoples having the inside track at the final starting position. With one exhibition game left, some things are still subject to change before the official start of the year, but I will work with what we know right now.
Schedule-
Predicted Wins in Bold
N14 North Florida 7pm
N16 St. Francis(PA) 7:30pm
N19 Long Beach State 7:30pm
Three cupcakes to start the year. North Florida and St. Francis both finished last season ranked over 300 by Ken Pomeroy. Long Beach State should provide a slightly more strenuous challenge, but should also be a comfortable double-digit win. If the Irish struggle against any of these opponents, it could be a long season.
N22 Liberty (CIT) 7pm
N24 Kennesaw State (CIT) 7:30pm
N27 vs. Northwestern (CIT) 8:30pm
N28 vs. STL/IA State (CIT) TBA
The Chicago Invitational Challenge comprises four rounds, two of which will be held at the Joyce Center followed by Thanksgiving weekend matchups at the Sears Centre in Chicago. The first matchup with Liberty would have been much more interesting last season, but Seth Curry has since transferred to Duke, leaving the Flames with a little less firepower and a lot less name recognition. Kennesaw State can make a strong case for being the worst team we play all year.
In Chicago, Northwestern will pose the first real test for the Irish. The Wildcats are gunning for an NCAA tournament bid this time around and proved to be a pretty solid team last season with wins over Michigan State and Purude. Even though most of those players return, I expect the Irish to get in a tough semi-road win and handle either Rick Majerus' Saint Louis squad or Iowa State and remain unbeaten.
D01 Idaho State 7:30pm
D06 Central Florida Noon
D09 IUPUI 7:30pm
D12 Loyola Marymount 7pm
When you schedule a bunch of cupcakes, you better take care of business. This stretch of opponents is the most difficult so far, but every one of these games should be won if Notre Dame seriously considers itself an NCAA Tournament team.
D19 UCLA 2pm CBS
More than one nonconference loss against this easy schedule will be unacceptable. Unfortunately for the Irish, that loss will come at the hands of a Bruin team that pasted them on the road a year ago, 89-63. While UCLA is much younger and ND will get a boost from playing at home, that will only serve to make the margin a little closer.
D22 Bucknell 7pm
The Bison have made a name for themselves the last several years by upsetting high-major programs in March. In 2006, they defeated 8 seed Arkansas. A year before, it was 3 seed Kansas. More recently, it has been a struggle to make the Tournament. Irish win.
D30 Providence 9pm BE
Keno Davis coached a veteran Friar team to a solid season a year ago. Season two will be more difficult with just one starter returning.
J02 @ Connecticut (Hartford) Noon ESPNU
No Thabeet this year for UCONN, but the Irish won't have enough to overcome a Husky team on the road that is just a year removed from the Final Four.
J05 @ South Florida 7pm ESPNU
J09 West Virginia 8pm ESPNU
Pretty basic split here. The Bulls are very bad, the Mountaineers very good. Homecourt will not have too much of an effect on who prevails.
J16 @ Cincinnati 4pm ESPNU
J18 Syracuse 7pm ESPN
Finally the Irish face two opponents of pretty similar ability. Both will compete for those final NCAA Tournament at-large bids. I'll pick a loss to Deonta Vaughn and the Bearcats on the road, but predict we get them on the second time around. As for the Orange, it will be nice to not have to watch Eric Devendorf and Johnny Flynn on the opposing bench.
J23 DePaul 2pm BE
J27 @ Villanova 7pm ESPN
Much like the South Florida/West Virginia pairing, we play the worst team in the league and the best team back to back.
J30 @ Rutgers 6pm ESPN2
F04 Cincinnati 9pm ESPN/2
F07 South Florida Noon BE
A trip to the RAC starts off a nice three-game winning streak. Both Rutgers and South Florida are perennial celar dwellars and should be solid wins. I'd take a season split against Mick Cronin's squad as well.
F11 @ Seton Hall 7pm ESPNU
F14 St. John's 7:30pm BE
A year ago, Jeremy Hazell only managed 12 points as the Pirates fell to Notre Dame on the road. This season, we won't get so lucky. We should have enough to get by St. John's the following Sunday, however.
F17 @ Louisville 7pm ESPN2
F24 Pittsburgh 7pm ESPN2
F27 @ Georgetown Noon CBS
M03 Connecticut 7pm ESPN
M06 @ Marquette 2pm BE
Five games against big-name programs finish out the year. We will be lucky to get two of these, which will lead to an uncomfortable feeling on Selection Sunday. Louisville should reload enough to handle us at home and Georgetown will be much improved this season. Pitt has always proven to be a difficult opponent but the loss of three stars will really put Jamie Dixon's coaching skill to the test. Marquette, the closest thing we have to a true basketball rival, is also low on experience but could have improved enough by the end of the year to pick up a home win. 2-3 to end the season will be a blessing.
Predicted Record- 22-9 (10-8)
The Irish will benefit from a very weak nonconference schedule, but reality will set in once Big East play starts. If things go according to plan, the Irish will finish in the top eight and lock up an at-large bid with a win or two in the Big East Tournament. However, loads of questions remain about how this team will fare. With three new starters added to a squad that failed to make the Big Dance last year, even this prediction could be a bit optimistic.
Schedule-
Predicted Wins in Bold
N14 North Florida 7pm
N16 St. Francis(PA) 7:30pm
N19 Long Beach State 7:30pm
Three cupcakes to start the year. North Florida and St. Francis both finished last season ranked over 300 by Ken Pomeroy. Long Beach State should provide a slightly more strenuous challenge, but should also be a comfortable double-digit win. If the Irish struggle against any of these opponents, it could be a long season.
N22 Liberty (CIT) 7pm
N24 Kennesaw State (CIT) 7:30pm
N27 vs. Northwestern (CIT) 8:30pm
N28 vs. STL/IA State (CIT) TBA
The Chicago Invitational Challenge comprises four rounds, two of which will be held at the Joyce Center followed by Thanksgiving weekend matchups at the Sears Centre in Chicago. The first matchup with Liberty would have been much more interesting last season, but Seth Curry has since transferred to Duke, leaving the Flames with a little less firepower and a lot less name recognition. Kennesaw State can make a strong case for being the worst team we play all year.
In Chicago, Northwestern will pose the first real test for the Irish. The Wildcats are gunning for an NCAA tournament bid this time around and proved to be a pretty solid team last season with wins over Michigan State and Purude. Even though most of those players return, I expect the Irish to get in a tough semi-road win and handle either Rick Majerus' Saint Louis squad or Iowa State and remain unbeaten.
D01 Idaho State 7:30pm
D06 Central Florida Noon
D09 IUPUI 7:30pm
D12 Loyola Marymount 7pm
When you schedule a bunch of cupcakes, you better take care of business. This stretch of opponents is the most difficult so far, but every one of these games should be won if Notre Dame seriously considers itself an NCAA Tournament team.
D19 UCLA 2pm CBS
More than one nonconference loss against this easy schedule will be unacceptable. Unfortunately for the Irish, that loss will come at the hands of a Bruin team that pasted them on the road a year ago, 89-63. While UCLA is much younger and ND will get a boost from playing at home, that will only serve to make the margin a little closer.
D22 Bucknell 7pm
The Bison have made a name for themselves the last several years by upsetting high-major programs in March. In 2006, they defeated 8 seed Arkansas. A year before, it was 3 seed Kansas. More recently, it has been a struggle to make the Tournament. Irish win.
D30 Providence 9pm BE
Keno Davis coached a veteran Friar team to a solid season a year ago. Season two will be more difficult with just one starter returning.
J02 @ Connecticut (Hartford) Noon ESPNU
No Thabeet this year for UCONN, but the Irish won't have enough to overcome a Husky team on the road that is just a year removed from the Final Four.
J05 @ South Florida 7pm ESPNU
J09 West Virginia 8pm ESPNU
Pretty basic split here. The Bulls are very bad, the Mountaineers very good. Homecourt will not have too much of an effect on who prevails.
J16 @ Cincinnati 4pm ESPNU
J18 Syracuse 7pm ESPN
Finally the Irish face two opponents of pretty similar ability. Both will compete for those final NCAA Tournament at-large bids. I'll pick a loss to Deonta Vaughn and the Bearcats on the road, but predict we get them on the second time around. As for the Orange, it will be nice to not have to watch Eric Devendorf and Johnny Flynn on the opposing bench.
J23 DePaul 2pm BE
J27 @ Villanova 7pm ESPN
Much like the South Florida/West Virginia pairing, we play the worst team in the league and the best team back to back.
J30 @ Rutgers 6pm ESPN2
F04 Cincinnati 9pm ESPN/2
F07 South Florida Noon BE
A trip to the RAC starts off a nice three-game winning streak. Both Rutgers and South Florida are perennial celar dwellars and should be solid wins. I'd take a season split against Mick Cronin's squad as well.
F11 @ Seton Hall 7pm ESPNU
F14 St. John's 7:30pm BE
A year ago, Jeremy Hazell only managed 12 points as the Pirates fell to Notre Dame on the road. This season, we won't get so lucky. We should have enough to get by St. John's the following Sunday, however.
F17 @ Louisville 7pm ESPN2
F24 Pittsburgh 7pm ESPN2
F27 @ Georgetown Noon CBS
M03 Connecticut 7pm ESPN
M06 @ Marquette 2pm BE
Five games against big-name programs finish out the year. We will be lucky to get two of these, which will lead to an uncomfortable feeling on Selection Sunday. Louisville should reload enough to handle us at home and Georgetown will be much improved this season. Pitt has always proven to be a difficult opponent but the loss of three stars will really put Jamie Dixon's coaching skill to the test. Marquette, the closest thing we have to a true basketball rival, is also low on experience but could have improved enough by the end of the year to pick up a home win. 2-3 to end the season will be a blessing.
Predicted Record- 22-9 (10-8)
The Irish will benefit from a very weak nonconference schedule, but reality will set in once Big East play starts. If things go according to plan, the Irish will finish in the top eight and lock up an at-large bid with a win or two in the Big East Tournament. However, loads of questions remain about how this team will fare. With three new starters added to a squad that failed to make the Big Dance last year, even this prediction could be a bit optimistic.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Taking a Peak at the Big East
We won't face these guys until January (ok, late December), but here are a few things to watch from the other teams in the league.
Is Villanova a legitimate frontrunner? They should be favored in every nonconference game, but a slip-up in Puerto Rico (a three-game tournament with only one other NCAA tournament team, Dayton) could spell trouble. they lose Dante Cunningham, but Scottie Reynolds, Corey Stokes, and Corey Fisher are all back to lead a three-guard offense.
How will Marquette handle the loss of three stars? Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal are all gone, making the Golden Eagles one of the few programs to lose more production through graduation than Notre Dame. The Big East coaches rank Marquette twelfth, but it is hard to see them falling that far. We will really see how good a coach Buzz Williams is in his second campaign as the head man.
How many Big East teams will make the tournament this year? Five are ranked in the AP poll, compared with seven a year ago in the preseason. Seven Big East teams ended up making the NCAA tournament as well last season. If the Irish play to their preseason ranking, they will be right on the bubble come Selection Sunday. Finishing at least in the top six of the conference should be expected for a comfortable automatic bid.
I am travelling down to San Antonio for the football game tomorrow and may not be able to post during the trip, but will definitely get out a full season preview by the end of the weekend. Have a good Friday, everyone.
Is Villanova a legitimate frontrunner? They should be favored in every nonconference game, but a slip-up in Puerto Rico (a three-game tournament with only one other NCAA tournament team, Dayton) could spell trouble. they lose Dante Cunningham, but Scottie Reynolds, Corey Stokes, and Corey Fisher are all back to lead a three-guard offense.
How will Marquette handle the loss of three stars? Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, and Jerel McNeal are all gone, making the Golden Eagles one of the few programs to lose more production through graduation than Notre Dame. The Big East coaches rank Marquette twelfth, but it is hard to see them falling that far. We will really see how good a coach Buzz Williams is in his second campaign as the head man.
How many Big East teams will make the tournament this year? Five are ranked in the AP poll, compared with seven a year ago in the preseason. Seven Big East teams ended up making the NCAA tournament as well last season. If the Irish play to their preseason ranking, they will be right on the bubble come Selection Sunday. Finishing at least in the top six of the conference should be expected for a comfortable automatic bid.
I am travelling down to San Antonio for the football game tomorrow and may not be able to post during the trip, but will definitely get out a full season preview by the end of the weekend. Have a good Friday, everyone.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Scheduling
After the Maui Invitational, Ohio State, and UCLA last year, Coach Brey has lightened the load for the nonconference schedule a bit this season. The results aren't too pretty.
2009 Pomeroy Rankings of Non-Conference Opponents-
North Florida- 335
St. Francis- 319
Long Beach St.- 174
Liberty- 210
Kennesaw St.- 338
Northwestern- 70 (Chicago Invitational Challenge)
Idaho St.- 190
Central Florida- 136
IUPUI- 178
Loyola Marymount- 320
UCLA- 12
Bucknell- 291
With the exceptions of UCLA, Northwestern, and Central Florida (a solid but beatable mid-major) this schedule will lead the team to a low RPI for little reason. Good RPI-conscious programs have learned to walk the line between scheduling good competition and avoiding an embarrassing early loss.
Take a peak at Gonzaga, a program that has lifted itself out of the mid-major range through intelligent scheduling.
2009 Non-Conference Opponent Rankings-
1-50- 8
51-100- 1
101-200- 2
200-300- 2
300+- 2
While a major conference team like Notre Dame does not necessarily need to schedule as many top 50 programs as Gonzaga, we really should avoid playing the dregs of the world.
Instead of playing upwards of nine teams who will fail to make a remotely competitive go of things in the Pavilion, Coach Brey should be lining up a handful of midlevel Missouri Valley or Horizon League teams. Even a home-and-home with a good midwestern Catholic school such as Dayton would be nice to see. Any game against these teams should be a win in almost every circumstance, but would ensure that the Irish keep a high RPI and the strongest tournament resume possible.
2009 Pomeroy Rankings of Non-Conference Opponents-
North Florida- 335
St. Francis- 319
Long Beach St.- 174
Liberty- 210
Kennesaw St.- 338
Northwestern- 70 (Chicago Invitational Challenge)
Idaho St.- 190
Central Florida- 136
IUPUI- 178
Loyola Marymount- 320
UCLA- 12
Bucknell- 291
With the exceptions of UCLA, Northwestern, and Central Florida (a solid but beatable mid-major) this schedule will lead the team to a low RPI for little reason. Good RPI-conscious programs have learned to walk the line between scheduling good competition and avoiding an embarrassing early loss.
Take a peak at Gonzaga, a program that has lifted itself out of the mid-major range through intelligent scheduling.
2009 Non-Conference Opponent Rankings-
1-50- 8
51-100- 1
101-200- 2
200-300- 2
300+- 2
While a major conference team like Notre Dame does not necessarily need to schedule as many top 50 programs as Gonzaga, we really should avoid playing the dregs of the world.
Instead of playing upwards of nine teams who will fail to make a remotely competitive go of things in the Pavilion, Coach Brey should be lining up a handful of midlevel Missouri Valley or Horizon League teams. Even a home-and-home with a good midwestern Catholic school such as Dayton would be nice to see. Any game against these teams should be a win in almost every circumstance, but would ensure that the Irish keep a high RPI and the strongest tournament resume possible.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Frontcourt Preview
Luke Harangody is back for one last campaign and figures to finish his career at or near the leader for total points and rebounds in a Notre Dame jersey.
Starters-
Tim Abromaitis- LaPhonso Ellis has been high on this guy since he stepped on campus, but Irish fans have yet to see much have him just yet. After redshirting last season, the twenty-year-old junior has grown up a bit and seems to have passed Carleton Scott for the starting position. Either way, look for both guys to get twenty minutes a game, a la Hillesland and Ayers. I haven't heard anything confirmed about Abro sitting out six games, can anyone support this rumor?
Ty Nash- This 6'8" bruiser impressed in limited action last year with his hustle. He isn't the most polished player, but should provide good rebounding numbers alongside Harangody. He better improve that awful free throw percentage (54% last year), because he could be an offensive weapon with the ability to draw contact under the hoop.
Luke Harangody- The odds-on favorite to win his second conference player of the year trophy, Harangody struggled a bit last season when his senior-laded supporting cast failed to pull through during conference action. Though his shooting percentage was down, he notched career highs in points and rebounds and developed a very scary knack for hitting open three pointers. Though he gave the NBA a good look, Luke returned and should perform just as well against college opponents this season. If he can repeat his stats, win some more individual hardware, and bring the team back to the NCAA Tournament, he will not only complete his journey into the ranks of greatest Notre Dame players ever but should earn some solid dough in the pros next season.
Bench-
Carleton Scott- With transfer Scott Martin out for the year, this Scott will figure into playing time left in the injured junior's wake. Like Tim Abromaitis, Carleton has three years of eligibility remaining. While Abro is the better shooter of the two, Scott has the most athleticism of anyone on the team and will likely be a difference maker in good minutes off the bench.
Mike Broghammer, Tom Knight, Jack Cooley- The three freshman have received solid reviews from Coach Brey, but will not get a ton of playing time this year. Cooley is the best of the bunch, ranked 26th among power forwards by Scout.com. He could earn seven or eight minutes a game spelling Nash and Harangody. One of the other two may redshirt.
Scott Martin- Most highly recruited player on the roster out of high school, Martin was expected to make a big impact before tearing his ACL. He will have two more years of eligibility at Notre Dame.
Starters-
Tim Abromaitis- LaPhonso Ellis has been high on this guy since he stepped on campus, but Irish fans have yet to see much have him just yet. After redshirting last season, the twenty-year-old junior has grown up a bit and seems to have passed Carleton Scott for the starting position. Either way, look for both guys to get twenty minutes a game, a la Hillesland and Ayers. I haven't heard anything confirmed about Abro sitting out six games, can anyone support this rumor?
Ty Nash- This 6'8" bruiser impressed in limited action last year with his hustle. He isn't the most polished player, but should provide good rebounding numbers alongside Harangody. He better improve that awful free throw percentage (54% last year), because he could be an offensive weapon with the ability to draw contact under the hoop.
Luke Harangody- The odds-on favorite to win his second conference player of the year trophy, Harangody struggled a bit last season when his senior-laded supporting cast failed to pull through during conference action. Though his shooting percentage was down, he notched career highs in points and rebounds and developed a very scary knack for hitting open three pointers. Though he gave the NBA a good look, Luke returned and should perform just as well against college opponents this season. If he can repeat his stats, win some more individual hardware, and bring the team back to the NCAA Tournament, he will not only complete his journey into the ranks of greatest Notre Dame players ever but should earn some solid dough in the pros next season.
Bench-
Carleton Scott- With transfer Scott Martin out for the year, this Scott will figure into playing time left in the injured junior's wake. Like Tim Abromaitis, Carleton has three years of eligibility remaining. While Abro is the better shooter of the two, Scott has the most athleticism of anyone on the team and will likely be a difference maker in good minutes off the bench.
Mike Broghammer, Tom Knight, Jack Cooley- The three freshman have received solid reviews from Coach Brey, but will not get a ton of playing time this year. Cooley is the best of the bunch, ranked 26th among power forwards by Scout.com. He could earn seven or eight minutes a game spelling Nash and Harangody. One of the other two may redshirt.
Scott Martin- Most highly recruited player on the roster out of high school, Martin was expected to make a big impact before tearing his ACL. He will have two more years of eligibility at Notre Dame.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Backcourt Preview
Let's take another look at how the Irish stack up this season. First, the guards. Tory Jackson returns for his senior campaign and will be joined by a newcomer with some postseason experience in Ben Hansbrough. Jonathan Peoples should figure in for his usual ten to fifteen minutes per game, while freshman Joey Brooks could see a little playing time on the wing.
Starters-
Tory Jackson- The flashy veteran ballhandler from Saginaw, Michigan is back for one last run at the NCAA Tournament. Since taking over at the point for a suspended Kyle McAlarney freshman year, Jackson has grown into the heart and soul of the program. Always fun to watch on and off the court, Coach Brey and Co. will hope that Tory is able to show enough maturity as an upperclassman to avoid the mental mistakes that have sometimes plagued his career. A little too small to routinely be a threat at driving to the basket, Jackson nonetheless has had his moments as a legitimate scoring threat while wearing an Irish jersey. His freshman year performance against Georgetown in the Big East Tournament (20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) nearly single-handedly put Notre Dame in the finals. He improved his three-point shooting a lot last season and could help out in that category again this year, though the losses of Kyle McAlarney and Ryan Ayers will allow opposing defenses to key in on him more this season.
Ben Hansbrough- A slightly more athletic, better defending version of Kyle McAlarney, Hansbrough brings a slightly different look to the shooting guard slot for the Irish. The younger brother of Tyler Hansbrough, Ben doesn't have quite the hardware (and refuses to save puppies on cell phone commercials) but does have a little NCAA experience of his own. Made 41% of three pointers as a freshman at Mississippi State and 36% as a sophomore. 10.5 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per contest his sophomore season. Has two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out last season due to transfer regulations.
Bench-
Jonathan Peoples- A career backup, Johnny Peeps should serve the same role this year. He did get a little action in a three-guard look last season, but failed to impress enough to merit a starting nod this year. Shooting percentages were way down a year ago, but hopefully he can return to his underclassman role of knocking down timely three point attempts off the bench while providing a firm hand on the steering wheel when Jackson is on the bench. Not that I expect Tory to see a whole lot of relaxation time this year. Expect Peoples' playing time to decline as the season wears on and Jackson is called on for fourty minute nights.
Joey Brooks- A slasher and good defender, Brooks could be a young Russell Carter. However, he may miss serious playing time this season as Coach Brey looks to an experienced core of players to eat up playing time. Definitely a guy to watch who could make an impact in the future on the Irish wing.
Starters-
Tory Jackson- The flashy veteran ballhandler from Saginaw, Michigan is back for one last run at the NCAA Tournament. Since taking over at the point for a suspended Kyle McAlarney freshman year, Jackson has grown into the heart and soul of the program. Always fun to watch on and off the court, Coach Brey and Co. will hope that Tory is able to show enough maturity as an upperclassman to avoid the mental mistakes that have sometimes plagued his career. A little too small to routinely be a threat at driving to the basket, Jackson nonetheless has had his moments as a legitimate scoring threat while wearing an Irish jersey. His freshman year performance against Georgetown in the Big East Tournament (20 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) nearly single-handedly put Notre Dame in the finals. He improved his three-point shooting a lot last season and could help out in that category again this year, though the losses of Kyle McAlarney and Ryan Ayers will allow opposing defenses to key in on him more this season.
Ben Hansbrough- A slightly more athletic, better defending version of Kyle McAlarney, Hansbrough brings a slightly different look to the shooting guard slot for the Irish. The younger brother of Tyler Hansbrough, Ben doesn't have quite the hardware (and refuses to save puppies on cell phone commercials) but does have a little NCAA experience of his own. Made 41% of three pointers as a freshman at Mississippi State and 36% as a sophomore. 10.5 points per game and 3.8 rebounds per contest his sophomore season. Has two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out last season due to transfer regulations.
Bench-
Jonathan Peoples- A career backup, Johnny Peeps should serve the same role this year. He did get a little action in a three-guard look last season, but failed to impress enough to merit a starting nod this year. Shooting percentages were way down a year ago, but hopefully he can return to his underclassman role of knocking down timely three point attempts off the bench while providing a firm hand on the steering wheel when Jackson is on the bench. Not that I expect Tory to see a whole lot of relaxation time this year. Expect Peoples' playing time to decline as the season wears on and Jackson is called on for fourty minute nights.
Joey Brooks- A slasher and good defender, Brooks could be a young Russell Carter. However, he may miss serious playing time this season as Coach Brey looks to an experienced core of players to eat up playing time. Definitely a guy to watch who could make an impact in the future on the Irish wing.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
New Season
Alright, time to get this thing off the ground. With the first exhibition game in a week, look for posts previewing the season over the next several days.
The biggest news this season?
New Lineup- Alumni Dawg Tim Abromaitis holds the inside track to replace Scott Martin at small forward this year. He will face some competition from Carleton Scott, who has seen more recent playing time with Abro redshirting last year. Throw in transfer Ben Hansbrough at shooting guard and Ty Nash taking the start at power forward to help out Tory Jackson and Luke Harangody.
New Home- Check out this Chicago Tribune article on the Purcell Pavilion. More on that after the first game.
New Number- Jackson is #3 this year after wearing #2 for his first three seasons. Interesting.
The biggest news this season?
New Lineup- Alumni Dawg Tim Abromaitis holds the inside track to replace Scott Martin at small forward this year. He will face some competition from Carleton Scott, who has seen more recent playing time with Abro redshirting last year. Throw in transfer Ben Hansbrough at shooting guard and Ty Nash taking the start at power forward to help out Tory Jackson and Luke Harangody.
New Home- Check out this Chicago Tribune article on the Purcell Pavilion. More on that after the first game.
New Number- Jackson is #3 this year after wearing #2 for his first three seasons. Interesting.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Irish 8th in Preseason Conference Poll
http://www.bigeast.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19400&ATCLID=204816815
And Harangody is preseason Player of the Year. Can't put too much stock into these polls, but good to see Luke get some credit. The Irish typically outperform predictions of mid-conference finishes under Coach Brey, so let's hope this year is no exception.
2009-10 BIG EAST Preseason Coaches' Poll
| | Pts. |
| 1. Villanova (10) | 218 |
| 2. West Virginia (5) | 215 |
| 3. Connecticut (1) | 185 |
| 4. Louisville | 179 |
| 5. Georgetown | 161 |
| 6. Syracuse | 152 |
| 7. Cincinnati | 135 |
| 8. Notre Dame | 132 |
| 9. Pittsburgh | 119 |
| 10. Seton Hall | 110 |
| 11. St. John's | 82 |
| 12. Marquette | 78 |
| 13. Providence | 52 |
| 14. USF | 44 |
| 15. Rutgers | 43 |
| 16. DePaul | 15 |
And Harangody is preseason Player of the Year. Can't put too much stock into these polls, but good to see Luke get some credit. The Irish typically outperform predictions of mid-conference finishes under Coach Brey, so let's hope this year is no exception.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Big East Roundtable Questions
Pico Dulce does his usual good work with hosting a Big East round table discussion.
Questions:
2. Cash or Clunker: Name the teams that you think will be the top 3 squads next season in the Big East (the Cash)... and the bottom 3 (Clunkers). Bonus: which team's finish in the league is most difficult to predict?
2. Cash- Everyone has question marks, but I think UCONN stay near the top this year. 'Nova could really break through with Jay Wright's first team that can contend for the league title. After that, maybe West Virginia or somebody else, but I think there's a big drop from the top two.
Clunkers- Rutgers/South Florida/DePaul. You pick the order. That's all the time I'll devote to that.
Unpredictable- I'll put the Irish here. This program just never finishes where they are expected. With such low expectations, we could make a run for the top 4 if everything falls in place. Of course, a complete disaster (10-12 in the league) is very well within the range of possibility.
3. The Big East enters the season without a lot of players who have carryover buzz from last season - Luke Harangody and perhaps Scottie Reynolds are the names a casual fan might be most familiar with. Which players will step up and be the “face of the league”?
3. Again, I'll pick the easiest choice for an ND blogger and say Harangody will be the face of the league. He's already well-known enough around the country and has to carry this team if the Irish want to get back to the top four. If things fall in place, it's going to say big things about his leadership.
4. Before practice starts, who would you say is the most pivotal player on your team? Who is your candidate for breakout player in the Big East (and please state how the player will be better than last year)?
4. Again, Harangody is the most pivotal player for the Irish, but Scott Martin could be a breakout star. The Irish need a small forward who can contribute on both ends to be competitive. We didn't get that last year with Ayers and Hillesland, but Martin has all the talent to be a household name. No one really knows how he will perform in a starting role, but I'm hopeful.
5. Twitter has become influential in broadcasting basketball/ sports information. What's your opinion of the service? Have you adopted Twitter for your blog? What have been the plusses and minuses?
5. Twitter is decent for sports reporting, but I've had such an aversion to it due to its usage as a tool for reporting every aspect of one's rather uninteresting life. I don't have an account and likely never will.
6. What have you been doing with your time without basketball games?
6. Fall at ND is football season. Needless to say, it's a bit difficult to think about a winter sport with such nice weather in South Bend and a team on the gridiron that isn't completely disappointing.
7. The summer is slow; so when Pitino's "mistake" is made public, or when Calipari's former team is penalized, or when someone posits a way for the Big East Conference to pick up new football members, the story tends to stick around a little longer than it would during the season. What college basketball story are you tired of this offseason?
7. Pitino. He sure seems like a scumbag now, but I really don't need to know the details of his bad decisions. The woman involved is certainly no victim either, but Pitino has further to fall. I'm ready for this to go away.
Questions:
1. What's new with your team since the end of last season?
1. A lot. Harangody is back, a surprise to few, but the four seniors need to be replaced. At shooting guard enters Ben Hansbrough, a transfer from Mississippi State who made a name for himself in 2008 in a losing effort to Memphis in the second round of the NCAAs. Highly recruited Purdue transfer Scott Martin will start at small forward. Both guys have big upside but are big question marks. Sparingly-used junior Ty Nash will most likely be the other new starter, playing next to Harangody in the post.
1. A lot. Harangody is back, a surprise to few, but the four seniors need to be replaced. At shooting guard enters Ben Hansbrough, a transfer from Mississippi State who made a name for himself in 2008 in a losing effort to Memphis in the second round of the NCAAs. Highly recruited Purdue transfer Scott Martin will start at small forward. Both guys have big upside but are big question marks. Sparingly-used junior Ty Nash will most likely be the other new starter, playing next to Harangody in the post.
2. Cash or Clunker: Name the teams that you think will be the top 3 squads next season in the Big East (the Cash)... and the bottom 3 (Clunkers). Bonus: which team's finish in the league is most difficult to predict?
2. Cash- Everyone has question marks, but I think UCONN stay near the top this year. 'Nova could really break through with Jay Wright's first team that can contend for the league title. After that, maybe West Virginia or somebody else, but I think there's a big drop from the top two.
Clunkers- Rutgers/South Florida/DePaul. You pick the order. That's all the time I'll devote to that.
Unpredictable- I'll put the Irish here. This program just never finishes where they are expected. With such low expectations, we could make a run for the top 4 if everything falls in place. Of course, a complete disaster (10-12 in the league) is very well within the range of possibility.
3. The Big East enters the season without a lot of players who have carryover buzz from last season - Luke Harangody and perhaps Scottie Reynolds are the names a casual fan might be most familiar with. Which players will step up and be the “face of the league”?
3. Again, I'll pick the easiest choice for an ND blogger and say Harangody will be the face of the league. He's already well-known enough around the country and has to carry this team if the Irish want to get back to the top four. If things fall in place, it's going to say big things about his leadership.
4. Before practice starts, who would you say is the most pivotal player on your team? Who is your candidate for breakout player in the Big East (and please state how the player will be better than last year)?
4. Again, Harangody is the most pivotal player for the Irish, but Scott Martin could be a breakout star. The Irish need a small forward who can contribute on both ends to be competitive. We didn't get that last year with Ayers and Hillesland, but Martin has all the talent to be a household name. No one really knows how he will perform in a starting role, but I'm hopeful.
5. Twitter has become influential in broadcasting basketball/ sports information. What's your opinion of the service? Have you adopted Twitter for your blog? What have been the plusses and minuses?
5. Twitter is decent for sports reporting, but I've had such an aversion to it due to its usage as a tool for reporting every aspect of one's rather uninteresting life. I don't have an account and likely never will.
6. What have you been doing with your time without basketball games?
6. Fall at ND is football season. Needless to say, it's a bit difficult to think about a winter sport with such nice weather in South Bend and a team on the gridiron that isn't completely disappointing.
7. The summer is slow; so when Pitino's "mistake" is made public, or when Calipari's former team is penalized, or when someone posits a way for the Big East Conference to pick up new football members, the story tends to stick around a little longer than it would during the season. What college basketball story are you tired of this offseason?
7. Pitino. He sure seems like a scumbag now, but I really don't need to know the details of his bad decisions. The woman involved is certainly no victim either, but Pitino has further to fall. I'm ready for this to go away.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Looking Forward to 2010
Last season's preview is here.
We didn't get the production expected from this year's senior class, so it's back to the drawing board. Luke Harangody has hinted in interviews that he will be back (I'd be shocked if he wasn't) and Tory Jackson returns to run an offense that sees some talented newcomers.
Projected Starting Lineup-
PG- Tory Jackson
SG- Ben Hansbrough
SF- Scott Martin
PF- Ty Nash
PF- Luke Harangody
Sixth Man- Carleton Scott
Question Mark- Joey Brooks
Backcourt-
Tory returns to lead the team one final season. Ben Hansbrough should fill Kyle McAlarney's shoes nicely. A pretty good shooter (41% from beyond the arc as a freshman, 36% sophomore year at Mississippi State), Hansbrough will also add bring a little more athleticism and defense, two things Kyle lacked. He will get more shots than McAlarney as well, who was shut down most of the season. Jonathan Peoples will be a backup once again.
Wings-
Scott Martin, the fourth best small forward recruit in the country a couple years ago, should get first crack at starting small forward. He played pretty well as a freshman at Purdue and I really like his upside. Carelton Scott should finally get some playing time and it will be interesting to see how he performs. He is the best athlete on the team and could be a big difference maker on both ends of the floor.
I put incoming freshman Joey Brooks as the question mark. He led Strake Jesuit to a very impressive run in the Texas state playoffs this season and has mentioned in interviews his willingness to be a lockdown defender next year. We certainly need that. If he can devote all his energy to being the defensive stopper, he has a chance of cracking the rotation.
Frontcourt-
With Hasheem Thabeet probably leaving for the NBA and possibly DeJuan Blair as well, Luke Harangody has a very good chance of getting back to being the best player in the Big East next season. He should benefit with more playing time for Ty Nash. Nash is a much better rebounder than was Zach Hillesland and can help out on the offensive glass when Harangody steps back to hit those 10-15 footers. I think this year's team would have been much better with Nash in the starting lineup, but we'll get a good chance to watch the pairing next season.
Jack Cooley and Tom Knight could help out right away in the post and Mike Broghammer may turn into a pretty good player as well. All reports are that the four recruits are a little undervalued by the scouting services and should be good fits for the program. Harangody really needs some help in the paint, so one of these guys could see some playing time next season.
All in all, I think we'll be better next season. At the very least, I'm willing to try the unknown after the disappointments of the past six months. Our best player returns, we get a bit of a boost in athleticism, and more toughness on the boards. Mike Brey teams have consistently outperformed low expectations while caving to big hopes. Hopefully next year will be a return to the NCAA and an overall improvement in the basketball program.
Thanks to everyone for your support and loyalty this year. It has been a very long and difficult road and I, for one, am ready for a break. While the season has been a rather negative one, things never got too out of hand here. I'll be back in October for regular posting, perhaps sooner should anything unexpected pop up. Enjoy the break from Irish basketball and let's see a resurgent football team lead the way for Notre Dame athletics in the near future.
We didn't get the production expected from this year's senior class, so it's back to the drawing board. Luke Harangody has hinted in interviews that he will be back (I'd be shocked if he wasn't) and Tory Jackson returns to run an offense that sees some talented newcomers.
Projected Starting Lineup-
PG- Tory Jackson
SG- Ben Hansbrough
SF- Scott Martin
PF- Ty Nash
PF- Luke Harangody
Sixth Man- Carleton Scott
Question Mark- Joey Brooks
Backcourt-
Tory returns to lead the team one final season. Ben Hansbrough should fill Kyle McAlarney's shoes nicely. A pretty good shooter (41% from beyond the arc as a freshman, 36% sophomore year at Mississippi State), Hansbrough will also add bring a little more athleticism and defense, two things Kyle lacked. He will get more shots than McAlarney as well, who was shut down most of the season. Jonathan Peoples will be a backup once again.
Wings-
Scott Martin, the fourth best small forward recruit in the country a couple years ago, should get first crack at starting small forward. He played pretty well as a freshman at Purdue and I really like his upside. Carelton Scott should finally get some playing time and it will be interesting to see how he performs. He is the best athlete on the team and could be a big difference maker on both ends of the floor.
I put incoming freshman Joey Brooks as the question mark. He led Strake Jesuit to a very impressive run in the Texas state playoffs this season and has mentioned in interviews his willingness to be a lockdown defender next year. We certainly need that. If he can devote all his energy to being the defensive stopper, he has a chance of cracking the rotation.
Frontcourt-
With Hasheem Thabeet probably leaving for the NBA and possibly DeJuan Blair as well, Luke Harangody has a very good chance of getting back to being the best player in the Big East next season. He should benefit with more playing time for Ty Nash. Nash is a much better rebounder than was Zach Hillesland and can help out on the offensive glass when Harangody steps back to hit those 10-15 footers. I think this year's team would have been much better with Nash in the starting lineup, but we'll get a good chance to watch the pairing next season.
Jack Cooley and Tom Knight could help out right away in the post and Mike Broghammer may turn into a pretty good player as well. All reports are that the four recruits are a little undervalued by the scouting services and should be good fits for the program. Harangody really needs some help in the paint, so one of these guys could see some playing time next season.
All in all, I think we'll be better next season. At the very least, I'm willing to try the unknown after the disappointments of the past six months. Our best player returns, we get a bit of a boost in athleticism, and more toughness on the boards. Mike Brey teams have consistently outperformed low expectations while caving to big hopes. Hopefully next year will be a return to the NCAA and an overall improvement in the basketball program.
Thanks to everyone for your support and loyalty this year. It has been a very long and difficult road and I, for one, am ready for a break. While the season has been a rather negative one, things never got too out of hand here. I'll be back in October for regular posting, perhaps sooner should anything unexpected pop up. Enjoy the break from Irish basketball and let's see a resurgent football team lead the way for Notre Dame athletics in the near future.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A Look at the Future
With this season's recruiting class in, I'll take a peek at lineups down the road. While obviously this is subject to change, it may be interesting to see how the team will stack up in the future.
Starters are listed first, with reserves in the rotation also being mentioned (I'll use the eight-man rotation as a rule of thumb for the inclusion of backups).
2008-09-
PG- Jackson- JR (Peoples- JR)
SG- McAlarney- SR
SF- Ayers- SR
PF- Hillesland- SR (Nash- SO)
C- Harangody- JR (Zeller- SR)
This season's lineup is talented and experienced, but not deep. With three senior starters, the team will be forced to fill the experience gap in 2009 with a number of players who will not see sizable minutes this year. Transfers Hansbrough, Martin, and rising redshirt sophomores Abromaitis and Scott should make an impact.
2009-10-
PG- Jackson- SR (Peoples- SR)
SG- Hansbrough- RS JR
SF- Scott- RS SO (Abromaitis- RS SO)
PF- Nash- JR (Martin- RS SO)
C- Harangody- SR
The biggest question mark for next year's team is the return of Harangody. If Luke stays for his senior year, the squad should continue to be a solid team. Jackson gives experience at the point, but is the only other definite starter. From 2-4, as many as six players will fight for playing time. Hansbrough, a transfer from Mississippi State, has the most experience at shooting guard and should fill the role of three point specialist well. He is also a very good defender and will team up well with Jackson. Peoples has grown some and could compete for that starting spot, but will probably keep his job as first guard off the bench.
The forward positions are the most volatile. Scott's athleticism and ability to stretch the defense should fit in well. He will play the role of Russell Carter at the 3, though Tim Abromaitis might contend with his shooting ability as a cross between Ryan Ayers and Zach Hillesland. Ty Nash is the expected starter at power forward having earned a slot in the rotation this season, though Scott Martin will give him a serious run. Martin or one of the incoming freshmen could take Haragody's starting spot if the big man goes pro.
2010-11-
PG- Hansbrough- RS SR
SG- Scott- RS JR (Brooks SO)
SF- Abromaitis- RS JR
PF- Nash- SR (Martin- RS JR)
C- Cooley- SO (Knight- SO)
This is getting a little tougher to project. Hansbrough at the point might be a stretch, but he is the most qualified player currently on scholarship. If the Irish add a good enough point guard to the 2010 recruiting class (Ray McCallum anyone?), we might have a freshman starting. With Hansbrough at the 1, Scott slides to shooting guard creating room for Abromaitis. Abro and Scott can play both wing positions, so the shooting guard/small forward distinction is unimportant. Joey Brooks steps into the rotation as a capable backup at four positions.
Nash and Martin keep their PF tandem. Both could start if Nash demonstrates the ability play strong enough post defense against Big East centers. Until then, I'll project that a beefed-up Jack Cooley will win the job with Tom Knight backing him up. If some combination of Nash/Martin/Cooley can hold down the 4-5, I'll be happy.
2011-12-
PG- ________
SG- Scott- RS SR (Brooks- JR)
SF- Abromaitis- RS SR
PF- Martin- RS SR (Broghammer- JR)
C- Cooley- JR (Knight- JR)
The point guard spot that was a stretch in 2010 becomes a problem in 2011. If Hansbrough does play point guard in his last season with the Irish, a big hole will be left at the top. Best case scenario is for a talented true point guard to enter the scene in 2010 and take over full time by now. Joey Brooks can play point in a pinch, but is not a natural fit. He will continue to back up Scott, Abro, and Martin, provided each stays five years. Also behind Martin is Mike Broghammer, another big man recruit in the current class. Cooley and Knight play the same roles as the previous year.
The team is pretty well constructed for the future, though clear hole exists for a future point guard. Coach Brey has indicated that filling that position will be priority #1 in the next recruiting class. One possibility for 2010-11 could be Tom Kopko, a talented walk-on who will be the only true point guard on the roster. Most likely Kopko's ceiling is a Peoples-like backup spot.
It will be nice to see how guys like Scott, Abromaitis, and Nash progress. Each will play an important role in seasons to come. Additionally, Hansbrough and Martin will be expected to step into the rotation right away. All five should become solid starters and if one or two reaches the level of McAlarney or Harangody, this program should be solid for quite a while into the future.
Starters are listed first, with reserves in the rotation also being mentioned (I'll use the eight-man rotation as a rule of thumb for the inclusion of backups).
2008-09-
PG- Jackson- JR (Peoples- JR)
SG- McAlarney- SR
SF- Ayers- SR
PF- Hillesland- SR (Nash- SO)
C- Harangody- JR (Zeller- SR)
This season's lineup is talented and experienced, but not deep. With three senior starters, the team will be forced to fill the experience gap in 2009 with a number of players who will not see sizable minutes this year. Transfers Hansbrough, Martin, and rising redshirt sophomores Abromaitis and Scott should make an impact.
2009-10-
PG- Jackson- SR (Peoples- SR)
SG- Hansbrough- RS JR
SF- Scott- RS SO (Abromaitis- RS SO)
PF- Nash- JR (Martin- RS SO)
C- Harangody- SR
The biggest question mark for next year's team is the return of Harangody. If Luke stays for his senior year, the squad should continue to be a solid team. Jackson gives experience at the point, but is the only other definite starter. From 2-4, as many as six players will fight for playing time. Hansbrough, a transfer from Mississippi State, has the most experience at shooting guard and should fill the role of three point specialist well. He is also a very good defender and will team up well with Jackson. Peoples has grown some and could compete for that starting spot, but will probably keep his job as first guard off the bench.
The forward positions are the most volatile. Scott's athleticism and ability to stretch the defense should fit in well. He will play the role of Russell Carter at the 3, though Tim Abromaitis might contend with his shooting ability as a cross between Ryan Ayers and Zach Hillesland. Ty Nash is the expected starter at power forward having earned a slot in the rotation this season, though Scott Martin will give him a serious run. Martin or one of the incoming freshmen could take Haragody's starting spot if the big man goes pro.
2010-11-
PG- Hansbrough- RS SR
SG- Scott- RS JR (Brooks SO)
SF- Abromaitis- RS JR
PF- Nash- SR (Martin- RS JR)
C- Cooley- SO (Knight- SO)
This is getting a little tougher to project. Hansbrough at the point might be a stretch, but he is the most qualified player currently on scholarship. If the Irish add a good enough point guard to the 2010 recruiting class (Ray McCallum anyone?), we might have a freshman starting. With Hansbrough at the 1, Scott slides to shooting guard creating room for Abromaitis. Abro and Scott can play both wing positions, so the shooting guard/small forward distinction is unimportant. Joey Brooks steps into the rotation as a capable backup at four positions.
Nash and Martin keep their PF tandem. Both could start if Nash demonstrates the ability play strong enough post defense against Big East centers. Until then, I'll project that a beefed-up Jack Cooley will win the job with Tom Knight backing him up. If some combination of Nash/Martin/Cooley can hold down the 4-5, I'll be happy.
2011-12-
PG- ________
SG- Scott- RS SR (Brooks- JR)
SF- Abromaitis- RS SR
PF- Martin- RS SR (Broghammer- JR)
C- Cooley- JR (Knight- JR)
The point guard spot that was a stretch in 2010 becomes a problem in 2011. If Hansbrough does play point guard in his last season with the Irish, a big hole will be left at the top. Best case scenario is for a talented true point guard to enter the scene in 2010 and take over full time by now. Joey Brooks can play point in a pinch, but is not a natural fit. He will continue to back up Scott, Abro, and Martin, provided each stays five years. Also behind Martin is Mike Broghammer, another big man recruit in the current class. Cooley and Knight play the same roles as the previous year.
The team is pretty well constructed for the future, though clear hole exists for a future point guard. Coach Brey has indicated that filling that position will be priority #1 in the next recruiting class. One possibility for 2010-11 could be Tom Kopko, a talented walk-on who will be the only true point guard on the roster. Most likely Kopko's ceiling is a Peoples-like backup spot.
It will be nice to see how guys like Scott, Abromaitis, and Nash progress. Each will play an important role in seasons to come. Additionally, Hansbrough and Martin will be expected to step into the rotation right away. All five should become solid starters and if one or two reaches the level of McAlarney or Harangody, this program should be solid for quite a while into the future.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Previewing the Irish
Our friend Chaz Rich from AOL Fanhouse and PittBlather.com has asked me to do a write-up for the Irish. They are putting together previews for the top 25 teams. The Irish are ranked 15th in their poll. Check the Fanhouse later to see the other team previews.
The Irish enter the 2008-09 season with their highest expectations since Digger Phelps roamed the Joyce Center sidelines. With an offensive juggernaut led by All-American Luke Harangody and sweet shooting Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame can outscore just about every team in the country. Supremely talented point guard Tory Jackson grows into an upperclassman with the expectation that he will keep the scoring machine running smoothly. Wings Ryan Ayers and Zach Hillesland enter the starting lineup to make up for the loss of last year's lone senior Rob Kurz.
Notre Dame can score from all over the hardwood, with McAlarney and Ayers knocking down threes and Harangody getting 20 points a game in the paint. The big question mark is how the team will defend. Last year ended in disappointment when Washington State was able to limit the amount of possessions in ND's second round tourney defeat. In such a low scoring game, lackluster defense shone through. Coach Mike Brey hopes that defensive stoppers Jackson and Ayers will be able to shut down the opposing team's top scorers and Harangody will develop into a better post defender.
Why they are ranked here:
Returning Big East Player of the Year Harangody can carry the team in spurts and some young athletic players in Carleton Scott and Ty Nash enter the lineup to give some more spunk to an overall very talented team. They have gone unbeaten at home the last two years and have finished in the top 4 two years in a row in a scary-good Big East. They will get beaten up a few times with a strong nonconference schedule and lots of competition within the league, but should be battle hardened once May comes along.
Why they should be ranked higher:
On a good night, this team can beat any team in the country. Both Harangody and McAlarney can drop 20 a night, with as many as five or six others contributing double digits from time to time. The balance on offense, with Harangody on the inside and Mac on the wing, is very difficult to stop. Often teams have to focus on one and pray that the other just has a cold night. Jackson's ability to break down a defense adds another deminsion to the Irish attack. With everything running well, Notre Dame is an 80 point team even against good opponents.
Why they should be ranked lower-
Harangody can be stopped with double and triple teams. This places an emphasis on shooters like McAlarney and Ayers who will be given open looks. Kyle has a streaky history and can go 1-9 if he does not find his stroke early. Ayers has a similar problem if he does not get enough looks to find his rythm. Defensive problems in last year's NCAA Tournament are a worry if Irish shooters cannot get going early. They will need to prove an added emphasis on D in the Maui Invitational to relieve those fears.
The Irish enter the 2008-09 season with their highest expectations since Digger Phelps roamed the Joyce Center sidelines. With an offensive juggernaut led by All-American Luke Harangody and sweet shooting Kyle McAlarney, Notre Dame can outscore just about every team in the country. Supremely talented point guard Tory Jackson grows into an upperclassman with the expectation that he will keep the scoring machine running smoothly. Wings Ryan Ayers and Zach Hillesland enter the starting lineup to make up for the loss of last year's lone senior Rob Kurz.
Notre Dame can score from all over the hardwood, with McAlarney and Ayers knocking down threes and Harangody getting 20 points a game in the paint. The big question mark is how the team will defend. Last year ended in disappointment when Washington State was able to limit the amount of possessions in ND's second round tourney defeat. In such a low scoring game, lackluster defense shone through. Coach Mike Brey hopes that defensive stoppers Jackson and Ayers will be able to shut down the opposing team's top scorers and Harangody will develop into a better post defender.
Why they are ranked here:
Returning Big East Player of the Year Harangody can carry the team in spurts and some young athletic players in Carleton Scott and Ty Nash enter the lineup to give some more spunk to an overall very talented team. They have gone unbeaten at home the last two years and have finished in the top 4 two years in a row in a scary-good Big East. They will get beaten up a few times with a strong nonconference schedule and lots of competition within the league, but should be battle hardened once May comes along.
Why they should be ranked higher:
On a good night, this team can beat any team in the country. Both Harangody and McAlarney can drop 20 a night, with as many as five or six others contributing double digits from time to time. The balance on offense, with Harangody on the inside and Mac on the wing, is very difficult to stop. Often teams have to focus on one and pray that the other just has a cold night. Jackson's ability to break down a defense adds another deminsion to the Irish attack. With everything running well, Notre Dame is an 80 point team even against good opponents.
Why they should be ranked lower-
Harangody can be stopped with double and triple teams. This places an emphasis on shooters like McAlarney and Ayers who will be given open looks. Kyle has a streaky history and can go 1-9 if he does not find his stroke early. Ayers has a similar problem if he does not get enough looks to find his rythm. Defensive problems in last year's NCAA Tournament are a worry if Irish shooters cannot get going early. They will need to prove an added emphasis on D in the Maui Invitational to relieve those fears.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Jerseys
Something I failed to mention previously, the home jerseys are much improved this year. Reverting to the script "Irish" instead of the block "Notre Dame" on the front was a very good idea. Check out the photo gallery and interviews here. The old jersey is shown in a picture on that page.
Before:
After:
Before:
After:
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Season Preview
The students received their tickets today, so that makes it official: basketball season is back in South Bend.
Black and Green returns for its third year. I am certainly looking forward to joining you for the ride over the next five months. With a much improved football team this season, the hoops squad will stay under the radar until January, but that's not the end of the world. A trip to Maui will make this nonconference schedule rather interesting before the normal December lull. The new year brings Big East action and all the excitement that comes with it.
Its good to be back.
Schedule-
Predicted wins in BOLD
O31 BRIAR CLIFF (Ex.) 9pm
N09 STONEHILL (Ex.) 2pm
Exhibition games are good for playing with lineups and giving redshirts and transfers a chance to play (Carleton Scott got some action last year and I believe Scott Martin and Ben Hansbrough will be eligible for these games, not certain on that though), but don't make for exciting basketball.
N16 USC UPSTATE 7:30pm
N21 at Loyola Marymount
Raise your hand if you had heard of USC Upstate. Raise both if you knew they played D1 basketball. Now, stop lying. That's South Carolina Upstate, the team that only beat dreadful North Florida (a Notre Dame opponent last year) by one. Loyola Marymount is even worse.
N24 vs Indiana (Maui) 5:30pm ESPN2
N25 TBA (Maui)
N26 TBA (Maui)
This will be tough to predict. Tom Crean is a very good coach who we know well and might start playing every year in a nonconference series. Fortunately, IU is so decimated by Kelvin Sampson's departure that they return one varsity player. The Hoosiers are expected to finish last in the Big Ten. If we win, it'll probably mean a date with Texas. I'll give us a loss there or against North Carolina in the final, finishing 2-1 on the trip.
N30 FURMAN 2pm
D02 SOUTH DAKOTA 7:30pm
A team in the upper 200s and a squad entering D1 hoops. Two wins.
D06 vs Ohio State (Indy) 4pm ESPNU
Like Kansas State last year, the team has to show it can win against a solid, if not great, opponent on a neutral court. Good practice for the Tournament.
D13 BOSTON U 7pm
D20 DELAWARE STATE 7pm
D22 SAVANNAH STATE 7pm
Quick sidenote, I've won multiple national championships playing as Boston U. in EA Sports' NCAA March Madness series. This isn't a video game. Irish win all three easily to get ready for conference play.
D31 at DePaul 8pm
J03 at St. John's
J05 GEORGETOWN 7pm ESPN
J10 SETON HALL
J12 at Louisville 7pm ESPN
J17 at Syracuse Noon ESPN
J24 CONNECTICUT 7pm ESPN
J26 MARQUETTE 7pm ESPN
J31 at Pittsburgh 7pm ESPN
F04 at Cincinnati
F07 at UCLA 1pm CBS
F12 LOUISVILLE 7pm ESPN/2
F15 SOUTH FLORIDA
F18 at West Virginia 7:30pm ESPN2
F21 at Providence
F25 RUTGERS
F28 at Connecticut 4pm CBS
M02 VILLANOVA 7pm ESPN
M06 ST. JOHN'S
I'll break down the individual Big East games in my conference preview before that part of the season starts.
Predicted Record- 25-5 (15-3)
I have the Irish undefeated at home again this year, but that could easily change with Louisville and Connecticut visiting. For now, I'll say we get the split in both of those home-and-home series.
Overall, I would be extremely happy with 25 wins. More realistically, the team trips up a couple more times but still secures one of the top four spots in the Big East. Lots of difficult opponents are padded by cupcakes (what's wrong with just playing a few decent mid-majors each year?), which will provide tests away from the JACC, but not much excitement at home until the Big East starts. Nonetheless, it should be a lot of fun to follow this team.
Also, an interesting article on the new three point line. A few people have asked about how it will impact the Irish. Tom Crean says it will be beneficial for Notre Dame.
Black and Green returns for its third year. I am certainly looking forward to joining you for the ride over the next five months. With a much improved football team this season, the hoops squad will stay under the radar until January, but that's not the end of the world. A trip to Maui will make this nonconference schedule rather interesting before the normal December lull. The new year brings Big East action and all the excitement that comes with it.
Its good to be back.
Schedule-
Predicted wins in BOLD
O31 BRIAR CLIFF (Ex.) 9pm
N09 STONEHILL (Ex.) 2pm
Exhibition games are good for playing with lineups and giving redshirts and transfers a chance to play (Carleton Scott got some action last year and I believe Scott Martin and Ben Hansbrough will be eligible for these games, not certain on that though), but don't make for exciting basketball.
N16 USC UPSTATE 7:30pm
N21 at Loyola Marymount
Raise your hand if you had heard of USC Upstate. Raise both if you knew they played D1 basketball. Now, stop lying. That's South Carolina Upstate, the team that only beat dreadful North Florida (a Notre Dame opponent last year) by one. Loyola Marymount is even worse.
N24 vs Indiana (Maui) 5:30pm ESPN2
N25 TBA (Maui)
N26 TBA (Maui)
This will be tough to predict. Tom Crean is a very good coach who we know well and might start playing every year in a nonconference series. Fortunately, IU is so decimated by Kelvin Sampson's departure that they return one varsity player. The Hoosiers are expected to finish last in the Big Ten. If we win, it'll probably mean a date with Texas. I'll give us a loss there or against North Carolina in the final, finishing 2-1 on the trip.
N30 FURMAN 2pm
D02 SOUTH DAKOTA 7:30pm
A team in the upper 200s and a squad entering D1 hoops. Two wins.
D06 vs Ohio State (Indy) 4pm ESPNU
Like Kansas State last year, the team has to show it can win against a solid, if not great, opponent on a neutral court. Good practice for the Tournament.
D13 BOSTON U 7pm
D20 DELAWARE STATE 7pm
D22 SAVANNAH STATE 7pm
Quick sidenote, I've won multiple national championships playing as Boston U. in EA Sports' NCAA March Madness series. This isn't a video game. Irish win all three easily to get ready for conference play.
D31 at DePaul 8pm
J03 at St. John's
J05 GEORGETOWN 7pm ESPN
J10 SETON HALL
J12 at Louisville 7pm ESPN
J17 at Syracuse Noon ESPN
J24 CONNECTICUT 7pm ESPN
J26 MARQUETTE 7pm ESPN
J31 at Pittsburgh 7pm ESPN
F04 at Cincinnati
F07 at UCLA 1pm CBS
F12 LOUISVILLE 7pm ESPN/2
F15 SOUTH FLORIDA
F18 at West Virginia 7:30pm ESPN2
F21 at Providence
F25 RUTGERS
F28 at Connecticut 4pm CBS
M02 VILLANOVA 7pm ESPN
M06 ST. JOHN'S
I'll break down the individual Big East games in my conference preview before that part of the season starts.
Predicted Record- 25-5 (15-3)
I have the Irish undefeated at home again this year, but that could easily change with Louisville and Connecticut visiting. For now, I'll say we get the split in both of those home-and-home series.
Overall, I would be extremely happy with 25 wins. More realistically, the team trips up a couple more times but still secures one of the top four spots in the Big East. Lots of difficult opponents are padded by cupcakes (what's wrong with just playing a few decent mid-majors each year?), which will provide tests away from the JACC, but not much excitement at home until the Big East starts. Nonetheless, it should be a lot of fun to follow this team.
Also, an interesting article on the new three point line. A few people have asked about how it will impact the Irish. Tom Crean says it will be beneficial for Notre Dame.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Luke Harangody
Now to our All-American. Your Big East Player of the Year, Luke Harangody. Averaging 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds in 29 minutes a game last year, Luke was the clear MVP of the team. The fear this season is that teams will learn how to stop the big fella like Big East squads did a few times at the end of the year. His improved shot will hopefully keep teams from crashing inside and taking away the post. Without Rob Kurz helping out on the boards, Harangody will need to be especially efficient rebounding this season.
Overall, give me another year like last season and stay fresh down the stretch. We will see if LH can take the next step and take over tournament games like a true star forward. If he can continue to develop, a top-10 NBA pick and big money awaits. Or an even better senior year (we can hope, right?).
Overall, give me another year like last season and stay fresh down the stretch. We will see if LH can take the next step and take over tournament games like a true star forward. If he can continue to develop, a top-10 NBA pick and big money awaits. Or an even better senior year (we can hope, right?).
Sunday, October 26, 2008
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.
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.
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