By Paul Gotham
Here come the Irish
What was once thought to be an aberration is looking more and more like reality.
The Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish knocked out a pair of Big East contenders: Pittsburgh 68-53 and Georgetown 78-64. A quick look at the box scores shows that the Irish are doing more with less. Notre Dame shot 22 of 44 from the field, including 10 of 18 behind the three point arc to win at Pittsburgh. Against Georgetown, the Irish hit 28 of 49. In comparison ND shot 28 of 68 in a one-point loss at Rutgers earlier this year.
Notre Dame is taking fewer shots but increasing the scoring margin. The formula is not real complicated. The Irish are developing a rhythm on offense. Players moving off the ball create passing and driving lanes. The result is five players prepared when a shot goes up.
Not only is the Irish scoring margin increasing, so, too, is their rebound margin. There is no coincidence that Notre Dame out-rebounded both the Hoyas and Panthers. By the way, Rutgers out-rebounded the Irish 43-30. Teammates will give approval to a shot when they have faith in the shot selection. That means guys are more willing and able to crash the boards.
Meanwhile, former Big East Player-of-the-Year, Luke Harangody is on the bench with an injury. Reports have it that the power forward might be down longer than originally expected. His teammates have picked up the slack in his absence. Here’s hoping Harangody has learned to trust his teammates. Too often over the last year and a half, Harangody has made poor decisions on the court. He is taking shots that suggest a lack of confidence in his teammates. The recent winning streak should change that.
Of Notre Dame’s 10 losses this season, six have come by a combined total of 11 points. Under Mike Brey, the Irish have made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament, with a record of 5-5.
Life after Hummel
One week ago, Purdue’s Boilermakers looked prime to for a number one seed. Seven days later, the Boilermakers are circling the wagons.
With Robbie Hummel on the pine for the rest of the year with an ACL injury, Matt Painter and his Boilermakers will need to redefine themselves…quickly.
Hummel averaged just under 16 points and nearly eight rebounds for the Big Ten team. Hummel led the Boilermakers with 43 three-pointers. He hit 36 percent from long range.
Purdue is still a Sweet Sixteen team. They play stiff defense. In their last ten games, only two teams have scored 60 or more against them. Problem is that without Hummel they only scored 44 against Michigan State.
Mack gives power to the people
Xavier’s administration might need to reconsider the school calendar. Scheduling Spring Break during the final weeks of basketball season is questionable. With much off the student body away on vacation, head coach, Chris Mack, took matters into his hands. CBS’s Gary Parrish reported that Mack used the Musketeer message board to encourage enthusiasm at Sunday’s A10 first-place showdown with Richmond. Mack went so far as to impose a curfew on fans, so that the Musky faithful would bring plenty of energy to the Cintas center. Mack’s efforts paid off. Xavier won in double overtime, and Parrish called it the game of the weekend.
Temple wins the Big 5
With their 65-53 victory over LaSalle, the Temple Owls pitched a shutout in this season’s Philadelphia Big 5 city series.
Temple opened the series with a 75-65 triumph over Villanova. The Owls continued with victories over St. Joe’s (73-46 and 75-67) and Penn (60-45).
The Big 5 series began play in 1955 and has continued every year since. Until only recently, all the Big 5 games were played at the Palestra.
Player to watch-Willie Veasley, Butler
March is the time for heroes, and Willie Veasley has all the makings. The senior forward has one more go around and what better way to finish than taking the Bulldogs to the Final Four. Over the weekend, Butler played at Horizon League rival, Valparaiso. On the Butler bench with an injury was leading scorer, Gordon Hayward. No problem. Veasley picked up the slack with a 20-point, six-rebound performance. Veasley averages ten a game with nearly five rebounds and one steal.
Hazell reminds me of…
…Ray Allen. Seton Hall’s Jeremy Hazell might not garner many post-season awards. He probably won’t make any All-American teams. Hazell’s team might not get an invite to the Dance. But Hazell will eventually hear his name called in the NBA draft. If there is one player Hazell reminds me of, it is Ray Allen. Hazell moves without the ball as well as anyone in the country. When he gets the rock, he can square up and pull the trigger just like Allen. Another year in college could allow Hazell to improve his ability to go off the dribble.
1st Team All Casey
PG Jon Scheyer – Duke
SG Jordan Crawford – Xavier
SF Evan Turner – Ohio State
PF Damion James – Texas
C Greg Monroe – Georgetown
2nd Team All Casey
PG – Scottie Reynolds – Villanova
SG Andy Rautins – Syracuse
SF Wes Johnson – Syracuse
PF Patrick Patterson – Kentucky
C Cole Aldrich – Kansas
All-freshmen
John Wall – Kentucky
Xavier Henry – Kansas
DeMarcus Cousins – Kentucky
Dane Miller – Rutgers
Mason Plumlee – Duke
Got any college hoops splinters? Share them here.
It’s a shame that Purdue’s wonderful season will have to come to an end now short of the Final Four. Hummel meant so much to that team. I think a team to watch out for come Tourney time is Maryland. Vazquez came back to school for a reason and the Terps are hot right now. Look out for Gary Williams and company.
Also, it’s great to see Dane Miller having a solid season. Not only is he shooting nearly 43% and averaging 9.7 PPG (double figures last seven games) but he’s playing 27 Minutes per game! A well deserved spot on the All-Freshmen Casey Team indeed.
Reports yesterday suggested Harangody may be out for several more games … to the extent there are several more games. Maybe it’s a good thing he’s not quite ready to return. I believe the Irish MUST win at least one of these last two regular season games (UConn, @ Marquette) AND their first game in the BE Tournament to secure an invite to the Big Dance.
Doug, I share your disappointment at Hummel going down and jeopardizing Purdue’s fine season. I was really looking forward to them making the F4. I suppose it could still happen, but they need to figure out how.
Add to the Purdue misery that they graduate two guys (Grant and Kramer) who play 20+ minutes a game. The Boilermakers had the pieces of the puzzle in place. Hummel has another year of eligibility, but one has to wonder if E’twaun Moore and/or JaJuan Johnson might leave early. Hummel definitely needs another year to prove himself now.
Doug – agreed on your assessment of Maryland. They play without fear. Tomorrow night’s game at College Park against Duke should be a great one.
Predictions for Maryland vs. Duke?? Doug??
I’m not a big Harangody fan and I think I’ve made that clear here before. So consider that as I say this: does this recent ND turn around have to do with the Irish no longer having to pander to Harangody’s shot selection and obsession with an outside game? His shot selection, especially in transition seem very NBA-enthused to me. He takes way too many outside shots for his size, and I know, Wally, that he does not knock down a fair share. But you’re also taking the first shot in that secondary with your best rebounder 20 feet from the rim.
Maybe Brey is more guilty of not knowing how to handle an elite player within HIS system than coach up this team and getting them to execute what he wants. If you’re Luke, you have to be more than self-reflective right now and think about how your play may have hindered the progression of a pretty good Big East team.
Not too many that i disagree with on the All-Casey team, other than your constant homer pick of Crawford over Rautins there, Muskie dad. 🙂 Kidding – both shooting 40% from three but Crawford averaging nearly 20.
Who is the player of the year? Someone on ESPN was really pushing hard for Cole Aldrich. First time I heard that argument. If John Wall gets it, I will boycott college basketball until Calipari takes over the Nets and starts wearing white turtle necks with a gold chain and gray sport coat over it. But, I really can’t make a compelling argument for anyone else’s numbers and significance to a team than I can for Wall.
The Big 5 needs to go back to playing a majority of its games over a week and a half stretch at the Palestra.
“If John Wall gets it, I will boycott college basketball until Calipari takes over the Nets and starts wearing white turtle necks with a gold chain and gray sport coat over it.”
Helmet sticker!!!!!!!!
All of Wall’s number have gradually DECREASED over the season – especially since he is now in conference play. He plays at one speed – fast. Not all opponents will cooperate.
How many teams have gone zone on Kentucky this year? Wall gets to much space to work. His ball handling and change of speed in the half court is exceptional. Too many guys, it seems like to me, trying to match up one-on-one with him and make him look good.
Wall’s change of speed in the half-court is exceptional as long as the Wildcats are in transition. In a dead-ball situation, he is above average.
Not enough teams have played zone against Kentucky. Tennessee switched defenses. Vandy played a little zone but gagged up a huge hair ball late in that game. The ‘Dores should have had that game.
Patterson bailed out Wall and the ‘Cats against Vandy.
Rey —
On the analysis of Harangody, you must be channeling Crossword Pete. He feels exactly the same way and I’m right there with you guys. Casey has also pointed those things out on past replies. It appears that Gody has been a bit “selfish” with his style of play, and Brey allowed him to get away with the “NBA audition” at the expense of the team. It’s something he also allowed with another NBA wannabe … Chris Thomas.
On John Wall … he’s an exceptional talent and the engine behind Kentucky, but I agree that he’s not the POY. There are 4-6 players more deserving, IMO.
Yeah – I don’t have a great memory, but from what I do remember watching a Chris Thomas-led Notre Dame team was like watching a tryout for the And-1 tour.