College Hoops Countdown | #25 Notre Dame

Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.

By Paul Gotham

08-09 Results: 21 -15 (8-10 Big East). Lost in the NIT semi-final round to Penn State, 67-59.

Coach: Mike Brey 188 – 101 / 9 years at Notre Dame. 287 – 153 overall.

Key Returners: Luke Harangody  – 23.3 ppg., 11.8 rpg.

Tory Jackson – 10.6 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 4.9 apg.

Tyrone Nash – 3.0 ppg., 3.6 rpg.

Jonathan Peoples – 3.2 ppg., 2.3 ppg.

Carleton Scott – 2.5 ppg., 1.2 rpg.

Notable Non-Conference Tilts: 11/27 vs. Northwestern, 12/19 vs. UCLA

Stat of Identity: 1.75 – The Irish led the nation in assist / turnover ratio last season.

Mike Brey’s 2009 -10 version of the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish might prove that less can actually be more.  The previous may not seem a likely basis for a firm game plan, but patience and potential have worn themselves out in the halls of  the Joyce Athletic and Convocation Center on the campus at the University of Notre Dame. Each of the previous nine seasons, Brey has heard pundits and prognosticators talk of how his Irish might have a break through campaign. Each time to fall short of expectations.

The Irish lost 36 points and 14 rebounds per game when Ryan Ayers, Zach Hillesland, Kyle McAlarney, and Luke Zeller graduated. Those losses could help the Irish create a new identity – one that the Irish faithful hope will prove successful in March.

Notre Dame appeared to have the right mix last season with the inside game of Big East Player-of-the-Year, Luke Harangody, the perimeter threat of McAlarney, and the play-making of Tory Jackson. The Irish sprinted to a record of 10-2 before Big East play slowed down the Irish offense. What started as McAlarney spreading the floor with a three-point attack and Harangody finishing inside, ended with ND struggling to generate points consistently.

Have the Irish learned their lesson?

Brey’s clubs have played finesse basketball. When it works, Brey’s system is successful. When met with resistance, Irish teams of the past nine seasons lack the ability to adapt to differing situations.

Harangody amassed gaudy individual numbers in the past, but the senior has never shown a penchant for making his teammates better. Last season when opposing defenses denied Jackson the opportunity to feed McAlarney the ball, the point guard chose to enter to Harangody. Defenses collapsed on the power forward.  Harangody rarely recognized the defense. What should have been opportunities to use inside / out passes, instead became Harangody forcing too many shots.

Can Harangody learn to be more effective by taking less shots?  Think of Blake Griffin making scorers out of lesser shooters last year.

Jonathan Peoples, Tyrone Nash, and transfer, Ben Hansbrough will provide plenty of firepower if given the opportunity. Brey may have a versatile lineup that allows him to employ a three-guard system when the situation warrants. None of those three can takeover a game like McAlarney. They won’t need to.

People won’t confuse Hansbrough with his brother, but at 6’3″ and 206 pounds watch for the Poplar Bluff native to pull down plenty of long rebounds – something the Irish have drastically missed in the past.

Jackson’s assist to turnovers of 2.1 was impressive, but he needs to improve his aggressiveness. More turnovers might prove better in the long run if the miscues are sins of aggression. Too often last season Jackson committed sins of omission by not attacking and missing possible scoring opportunities.

Side note: The Irish took a pre-season hit when junior Scott Martin went down with a torn ACL. The transfer will be lost for the season.

Tim Abromaitis, who sat out last year with an injury, could supply depth to the Irish bench.

Accepting less early in the season might result in the Irish playing more games come March.