While I have been enjoying some time off from the hectic sports-writing experience that is this blog, I received some news yesterday that deserved comment.
Joe Harden is set to transfer to another school, citing playing time as a concern. He does however say he will miss what has been his home for a year, "I've only been here for one year, but it feels like I've got roots here."
He will be missed, but hopefully freshmen Ty Nash and Carleton Scott will be able to successfully make the move to college ball and take up his lost minutes.
That's it for now, most of the boys are on campus and enjoying the beautiful South bend weather. Let's hope these summer sessions don't go to waste.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Gators/Buckeyes
Just when you thought the postseason couldn't get any more boring from a Notre Dame perspective, a rematch happened. Not only is Florida a win away from back-to-back championships, but it could win an unprecedented basketball-football-basketball three-peat over the course of 16 months.
Throw in Ohio State, who came into this year's BCS Championship game as the heavy favorite before falling to whom? Florida. ESPN will certainly break down every corner of this historical significance over the next two days.
While the game has many great historical reasons to watch, I will be hard-pressed to view a minute of it. Both teams are techically sound and it should be 40 minutes of solid basketball. However, with both being gigantic powers on the national athletic scale, it's very hard to pull for either of them. I'll predict that tOSU will pull it out in their LeBron jerseys (maybe the nation's most famous non-alum will even be on hand).
Greg Oden and Mike Conley are the real deal, but I wouldn't waste a scholarship on either of them at Notre Dame. While I would love to see a great big man like Oden stay in college, it's only a matter of time before the pull of the NBA is too much. No matter if they stay one year or two or three, I would much rather have a team of future college graduates grace the court of the Joyce Center for years to come.
Congrats to G'Town for a great season. Did not see a Final Four run in them even after our big loss in D.C. Great to see the program be revived. Until tomorrow, have a good April Fool's Day.
Throw in Ohio State, who came into this year's BCS Championship game as the heavy favorite before falling to whom? Florida. ESPN will certainly break down every corner of this historical significance over the next two days.
While the game has many great historical reasons to watch, I will be hard-pressed to view a minute of it. Both teams are techically sound and it should be 40 minutes of solid basketball. However, with both being gigantic powers on the national athletic scale, it's very hard to pull for either of them. I'll predict that tOSU will pull it out in their LeBron jerseys (maybe the nation's most famous non-alum will even be on hand).
Greg Oden and Mike Conley are the real deal, but I wouldn't waste a scholarship on either of them at Notre Dame. While I would love to see a great big man like Oden stay in college, it's only a matter of time before the pull of the NBA is too much. No matter if they stay one year or two or three, I would much rather have a team of future college graduates grace the court of the Joyce Center for years to come.
Congrats to G'Town for a great season. Did not see a Final Four run in them even after our big loss in D.C. Great to see the program be revived. Until tomorrow, have a good April Fool's Day.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Second Weekend
Yawn. Is it over yet? A lack of upsets has turned this year's March Madness into the most predictable thing since... the women's tournament. To be fair, the ladies from Marist and Florida State have made watching ESPN much less predictable (and sometimes more interesting) than CBS.
So, Ohio State and UCLA ( a two-seed!) have made it to Atlanta. Florida beat Oregon today to advance. Pony Tail had 14 points and rebounds. Georgetown matches up against UNC right now to represent the Big East, but things are not going well at the 7:00 mark in the 1st half.
Good luck to those still competiting. Hopefully the high level of play will continue to somewhat offset the lack of mystery this year.
EDIT: Georgetown does pull off the semi-upset. The Hoyas come back from 10 down with 7 minutes to go and dominate the overtime period. Great to see a Big East team in the Final Four, especially one we came so close to beating in New York.
So, Ohio State and UCLA ( a two-seed!) have made it to Atlanta. Florida beat Oregon today to advance. Pony Tail had 14 points and rebounds. Georgetown matches up against UNC right now to represent the Big East, but things are not going well at the 7:00 mark in the 1st half.
Good luck to those still competiting. Hopefully the high level of play will continue to somewhat offset the lack of mystery this year.
EDIT: Georgetown does pull off the semi-upset. The Hoyas come back from 10 down with 7 minutes to go and dominate the overtime period. Great to see a Big East team in the Final Four, especially one we came so close to beating in New York.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Congratulations to the Women
I would be remiss if I did not point out what a great season Muffet and the team had this year. Fell just ten points short of beating 1 seed UNC and advancing to the Sweet 16. Great season, perhaps more surprising than the men. Should be fun to watch the next couple of years as that young team develops.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Looking Ahead
With the 06-07 season now in the rearview mirror, how will the team perform next season? Obviously seniors Carter and Falls will be missed. However, with four starters returning (including Kyle McAlarney) and three others with starting experience (Zeller, Ayers, and Hillesland) there is plenty of experience left on the Irish team. As it stands, here is how the lineup should turn out.
PG- Kyle McAlarney
SG- Tory Jackson
SF- Zach Hillesland
PF- Luke Harangody
PF- Rob Kurz
Key Reserves- Ryan Ayers and Luke Zeller
Backcourt-
K-Mac returns to find his job in serious jeopardy. Tory Jackson impressed in Big East play and makes a good argument for the starting PG spot. However, the team loses two shooting guards in Falls and Carter, leaving an opportunity to play both Jackson and McAlarney together in the backcourt. Jonathan Peoples will fill the backup point guard role again next year. However, he will struggle to find playing time as both Mac and Jackson can play 40 minutes. The last guard listed on the current Irish roster is Joe Harden. The infrequently used sub is known more for his curvy hair and surfer dude looks than his jump shot. However, Sunshine poses a great matchup threat at 6-7 and can play small forward. Look for him to make great strides next season.
The lone backcourt recuit for the Irish is Kentucky point guard Ty Proffitt. A two-star recruit on Scout.com, Proffitt received some interest from Tubby Smith. However, the prevailing theory regarding Proffitt's recruiting is that the London, KY native was not expected to be an integral part of the Wildcat team. Expect Proffitt to see very little action off the bench next season (a la Peoples pre-McAlarney suspension).
Frontcourt-
The small forward position is very open in the Mike Brey scheme. Zach Hillesland may have the inside track as a tall athletic forward, but Ryan Ayers should also challenge as a good three-point shooter. For now, Hillesland gets the final starting spot following a great season off the bench. Ayers can play 2 or 3 with a sweet stroke and great wingspan. He also doubles as one of the best post defenders on the team. Rob Kurz and Luke Harangody have locked up both post positions. There is very little difference between the 4 and 5, as neither is taller than 6'9". Luke Zeller is the only true center on the roster at almost seven feet, but lacks the strength to play the post. He will be needed to give the starters rest and help if either gets in foul trouble.
Notre Dame recruited 3 forwards for next year's freshman class. Unfortunately, none is taller than 6'8". The star of the class is Tyrone Nash. Either a small forward or power forward, Notre Dame beat out 5 Big East teams plus IU and Kentucky to get him. When he signed his LOI, Nash said "The books and the ball, that's what it was all about for me." Good for him. He won't be needed as much as Harangody was this year, but anything will help. Next is 3 star recruit Carlton Scott. He is smallish at 200 pounds, but has great athleticism and a solid perimeter shot. Tim Abromaitis rounds out the freshman class. A very intelligent small forward, Abromaitis was pursued by Penn, Princeton, and Yale. He can also play some ball, averaging 26 points and 10 boards as junior.
Coaching Staff-
Mike Brey secured his job for another season or two with a great year. Winning the Big East Coach of the Year award, Brey performed far above expectations. However, the Winthrop loss leaves some to be desired. Assistant Gene Cross will be in a lot of head coaching job searches this summer. I would hate tosee him go. Cross was always the first guy off the bench and had a lot to do with keeping emotional players like Carter and Jackson in check. If Coach Cross does leave for a much deserved head coaching slot, a name that will pop up is Tommy Amaker. A fellow assistant with Mike Brey at Duke, Amaker was fired after a disappointing tenure at Michigan. We will end up at another school soon, but to use his defensive knowledge for a year would be very beneficial.
That's it. Should be interesting to see how the team plays next season. The Paradise Jam will be an early test next season. We could very well end up facing a rematch with Winthrop.
Thanks to everyone for reading this blog. I hope you enjoyed it. It was a blast writing for you all. There will be a few updates on the NCAA Tournament the next two weekends, but for the most part today begins the offseason. If anything big pops up before the start of practice, I will comment on it. Other than that, enjoy the hockey and baseball seasons. Until next time, goodbye.
-Black and Green
PG- Kyle McAlarney
SG- Tory Jackson
SF- Zach Hillesland
PF- Luke Harangody
PF- Rob Kurz
Key Reserves- Ryan Ayers and Luke Zeller
Backcourt-
K-Mac returns to find his job in serious jeopardy. Tory Jackson impressed in Big East play and makes a good argument for the starting PG spot. However, the team loses two shooting guards in Falls and Carter, leaving an opportunity to play both Jackson and McAlarney together in the backcourt. Jonathan Peoples will fill the backup point guard role again next year. However, he will struggle to find playing time as both Mac and Jackson can play 40 minutes. The last guard listed on the current Irish roster is Joe Harden. The infrequently used sub is known more for his curvy hair and surfer dude looks than his jump shot. However, Sunshine poses a great matchup threat at 6-7 and can play small forward. Look for him to make great strides next season.
The lone backcourt recuit for the Irish is Kentucky point guard Ty Proffitt. A two-star recruit on Scout.com, Proffitt received some interest from Tubby Smith. However, the prevailing theory regarding Proffitt's recruiting is that the London, KY native was not expected to be an integral part of the Wildcat team. Expect Proffitt to see very little action off the bench next season (a la Peoples pre-McAlarney suspension).
Frontcourt-
The small forward position is very open in the Mike Brey scheme. Zach Hillesland may have the inside track as a tall athletic forward, but Ryan Ayers should also challenge as a good three-point shooter. For now, Hillesland gets the final starting spot following a great season off the bench. Ayers can play 2 or 3 with a sweet stroke and great wingspan. He also doubles as one of the best post defenders on the team. Rob Kurz and Luke Harangody have locked up both post positions. There is very little difference between the 4 and 5, as neither is taller than 6'9". Luke Zeller is the only true center on the roster at almost seven feet, but lacks the strength to play the post. He will be needed to give the starters rest and help if either gets in foul trouble.
Notre Dame recruited 3 forwards for next year's freshman class. Unfortunately, none is taller than 6'8". The star of the class is Tyrone Nash. Either a small forward or power forward, Notre Dame beat out 5 Big East teams plus IU and Kentucky to get him. When he signed his LOI, Nash said "The books and the ball, that's what it was all about for me." Good for him. He won't be needed as much as Harangody was this year, but anything will help. Next is 3 star recruit Carlton Scott. He is smallish at 200 pounds, but has great athleticism and a solid perimeter shot. Tim Abromaitis rounds out the freshman class. A very intelligent small forward, Abromaitis was pursued by Penn, Princeton, and Yale. He can also play some ball, averaging 26 points and 10 boards as junior.
Coaching Staff-
Mike Brey secured his job for another season or two with a great year. Winning the Big East Coach of the Year award, Brey performed far above expectations. However, the Winthrop loss leaves some to be desired. Assistant Gene Cross will be in a lot of head coaching job searches this summer. I would hate tosee him go. Cross was always the first guy off the bench and had a lot to do with keeping emotional players like Carter and Jackson in check. If Coach Cross does leave for a much deserved head coaching slot, a name that will pop up is Tommy Amaker. A fellow assistant with Mike Brey at Duke, Amaker was fired after a disappointing tenure at Michigan. We will end up at another school soon, but to use his defensive knowledge for a year would be very beneficial.
That's it. Should be interesting to see how the team plays next season. The Paradise Jam will be an early test next season. We could very well end up facing a rematch with Winthrop.
Thanks to everyone for reading this blog. I hope you enjoyed it. It was a blast writing for you all. There will be a few updates on the NCAA Tournament the next two weekends, but for the most part today begins the offseason. If anything big pops up before the start of practice, I will comment on it. Other than that, enjoy the hockey and baseball seasons. Until next time, goodbye.
-Black and Green
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