January 30, 20187 yr Author Irish lose 6th straight Duke 88 - ND 66 Irish shot 36% FG and 28% 3PT Gibbs: 22 points Mooney 14 points (none in the 2nd half I believe) Djogo: 10 points
January 30, 20187 yr Overmatched...Not much more you can say about that game. I almost feel bad for Pflueger. His offensive game right now is laughable.
January 30, 20187 yr This team is terrible without Colson and Farrell but that is understandable. The question now is can this team even win another game? I've been busy with school so I haven't had time to watch for a little while. Then my next question is if we don't win another game do we even get an NIT invite? And is there another tourney? I'm not sure if we would make the NIT in that scenario based on our reputation alone. I'm not sure how the resume stacks up, I don't remember anything of note since we beat Wichita to win the Maui but we have bad losses like the Miami of Ohio game at home. Tough luck with injuries, excited to see the freshman class next year and let's hope Farrell can get back soon to fix this mess.
January 30, 20187 yr Author This team is terrible without Colson and Farrell but that is understandable. The question now is can this team even win another game? I've been busy with school so I haven't had time to watch for a little while. Then my next question is if we don't win another game do we even get an NIT invite? And is there another tourney? I'm not sure if we would make the NIT in that scenario based on our reputation alone. I'm not sure how the resume stacks up, I don't remember anything of note since we beat Wichita to win the Maui but we have bad losses like the Miami of Ohio game at home. Tough luck with injuries, excited to see the freshman class next year and let's hope Farrell can get back soon to fix this mess. The other tournament is the College Basketball Invitational. Despite the current state of things, I still fully believe ND will make the NIT. The remaining schedule isn't too bad. I know they have lost their last 6 games, but Farrell should return on Saturday and Brey is too good of a coach to let the slide continue. The rest of the schedule: @ NC State, BC, FSU, @ #19 UNC, @ BC, Miami, @ Wake, Pitt, @ #2 UVA ND could go 6-3 the rest of the way and finish 19-12. Also, Colson will come back for the ACC Tournament (how effective he will be is obviously a major question), and ND could win some games with a fully healthy lineup. But winning the Maui Invitational will get ND into the NIT as long as they don't completely collapse the rest of the way (more than they already have). This is really a tough season. ND lost an All American and Wooden Award Finalist, their best leader and second best player, as well as their best option off the bench. This season could have been special with the play of Gibbs and Geben. Geben is a completely different player this season - one of only 5 players to average a double-double in ACC play. Mooney has also played really well lately and would have been a great player off the bench. ND had a ton of success the last three seasons - back-to-back Elite Eight appearances and a loss in the Second Round last year to a good West Virginia team. Recruiting has dramatically improved as well, with a Top 10 class coming next year. Brey is a truly great coach and ND should be back in the Top 25 next season.
January 30, 20187 yr The positive with this team is the experience the young guys are getting. Even in these losses, Gibbs has really stepped as a lead man. There is simply just not enough around him currently to win. Djogo looks the part of a potential star. Pflueger will be Pflueger (elite defense, good rebounding and passing, but always a below average streaky shooter). Mooney looks like a valuable upperclassmen piece. Burns can bang and get rebounds, but I don't see him as a true offensive threat. Obviously, we know about Harvey's potential when he is back. If they had him the past few games, I bet they at least pull one out. I still really like a starting lineup next year of Gibbs, Pflueger, Harvey, Mooney/Djogo and Durham. Plus the four freshman and Burns. The rebounding should continue to be a strength, and the offense will be much better than we are seeing right now.
February 3, 20187 yr I still really like a starting lineup next year of Gibbs, Pflueger, Harvey, Mooney/Djogo and Durham. Plus the four freshman and Burns. I don't as of now. This team is just bad. This is the worst shooting team of Brey's Notre Dame career by far! He knew it when the season started. He said this team was not going to be a traditional ND shooting team. Code for we suck as shooters! I have been a Pflueger fan, but if he can't start hitting 3's consistently and scoring he can't start next year. He Djogo and Harvey have to become better shooters and scorers or they won't be great. They won't even be good. Now we know why burns has not been playing much to this point. He is bad. I'm crossing my fingers that they can improve offensively over the summer, but I'm not convinced at this point.
February 3, 20187 yr I still really like a starting lineup next year of Gibbs, Pflueger, Harvey, Mooney/Djogo and Durham. Plus the four freshman and Burns. I don't as of now. This team is just bad. This is the worst shooting team of Brey's Notre Dame career by far! He knew it when the season started. He said this team was not going to be a traditional ND shooting team. Code for we suck as shooters! I have been a Pflueger fan, but if he can't start hitting 3's consistently and scoring he can't start next year. He Djogo and Harvey have to become better shooters and scorers or they won't be great. They won't even be good. Now we know why burns has not been playing much to this point. He is bad. I'm crossing my fingers that they can improve offensively over the summer, but I'm not convinced at this point. I agree it is not good at the moment, but ND Brey teams consistently get better with experience and age. Gibbs/Mooney will be an upperclassmen, Djogo will have a full season under him, Harvey will be another year in. I'm sure at least one of the four top 100 freshman will be solid enough as a first year guy, and then you have Durham. I'm not counting on Pflueger to be a scorer, but he does plenty of other things well that noticeable when the team is good. When the team is bad, people only see the inconsistent shooting. Guys definitely need to step up and make big leaps next year, but I don't see anything to believe that they won't. Brey will have the guys prepared.
February 3, 20187 yr I agree it is not good at the moment, but ND Brey teams consistently get better with experience and age. Gibbs/Mooney will be an upperclassmen, Djogo will have a full season under him, Harvey will be another year in. I'm sure at least one of the four top 100 freshman will be solid enough as a first year guy, and then you have Durham. I'm not counting on Pflueger to be a scorer, but he does plenty of other things well that noticeable when the team is good. When the team is bad, people only see the inconsistent shooting. Guys definitely need to step up and make big leaps next year, but I don't see anything to believe that they won't. Brey will have the guys prepared. Yes, he does have his teams prepared well, but those players that have improved had always been able to shoot. They needed experience and needed to get better at other things. This team can't shoot! That is an incredibly huge problem. Especially with the offense they run. They count on moving the ball around and getting open 3's. Hopefully they improve as shooters. I'm just not as confident about that right now. I completely agree with you. Pflueger does many things well and that is why I have been in his camp, but you simply can not have a 2 guard playing 35 min. a game that can't shoot the 3 or score consistently. His shot does not look bad. It's just not going in. I hope he can improve it because I like the rest of his game. Yes, I hope one or 2 of the freshman can play and can shoot, however, it would be unprecedented for Brey to sit one of his jr's or sr's that he loves for a younger player to get more min.
February 4, 20187 yr Yes, he does have his teams prepared well, but those players that have improved had always been able to shoot. They needed experience and needed to get better at other things. This team can't shoot! That is an incredibly huge problem. Especially with the offense they run. They count on moving the ball around and getting open 3's. Hopefully they improve as shooters. I'm just not as confident about that right now. I completely agree with you. Pflueger does many things well and that is why I have been in his camp, but you simply can not have a 2 guard playing 35 min. a game that can't shoot the 3 or score consistently. His shot does not look bad. It's just not going in. I hope he can improve it because I like the rest of his game. Yes, I hope one or 2 of the freshman can play and can shoot, however, it would be unprecedented for Brey to sit one of his jr's or sr's that he loves for a younger player to get more min. The one thing he did well was bring in a really good “shooting” four man class. Las and Goodwin specifically are top notch shooters in the 2018 class. I have full confidence in Gibbs/Harvey ability. I also believe Djogo to be a good shooter. I just think the game is too much for him right now, and he was thrust into a prominent role too early due to injury. You’ll see a much better shooting team next year imo. Edited February 4, 20187 yr by LasVegasIrish
February 4, 20187 yr The one thing he did well was bring in a really good “shooting” for man class. Las and Goodwin specifically are top notch shooters in the 2018 class. I have full confidence in Gibbs/Harvey ability. I also believe Djogo to be a good shooter. I just think the game is too much for him right now, and he was thrust into a prominent role too early due to injury. You’ll see a much better shooting team next year imo. I know the freshman can shoot. They are going to have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball to work their way into the rotation. I hope you are right, but I don't see this mix as a final 4 team, Which should be ND's goal every year now. I hope I'm wrong though. Missing open 3's has nothing to do with "the game being too much for you". We shall see with Djogo. I see possibly good role player not featured player that will warrant over 30 min. a game. I'm just not as optimistic about this team next year.
February 4, 20187 yr The positive with this team is the experience the young guys are getting. Even in these losses, Gibbs has really stepped as a lead man. There is simply just not enough around him currently to win. Djogo looks the part of a potential star. Pflueger will be Pflueger (elite defense, good rebounding and passing, but always a below average streaky shooter). Mooney looks like a valuable upperclassmen piece. Burns can bang and get rebounds, but I don't see him as a true offensive threat. Obviously, we know about Harvey's potential when he is back. If they had him the past few games, I bet they at least pull one out. I still really like a starting lineup next year of Gibbs, Pflueger, Harvey, Mooney/Djogo and Durham. Plus the four freshman and Burns. The rebounding should continue to be a strength, and the offense will be much better than we are seeing right now. I like the experience factor for Gibbs and Harvey. I think at least one freshman starts maybe 2 next year.
February 4, 20187 yr I like the experience factor for Gibbs and Harvey. I think at least one freshman starts maybe 2 next year. Next’s year team will certainly be one of Brey’s youngest, which bodes really well for the year after.
February 4, 20187 yr I like the experience factor for Gibbs and Harvey. I think at least one freshman starts maybe 2 next year. He rarely starts freshmen. Brey is pretty predictable. He already knows who the starting lineup will be next year. It will be Gibbs, Pflueger, Harvey, Durham, and Mooney. Hubb might start over Mooney. There is no way the other 3 will start. The 2019-20 season looks to me to be the one that they realistically have a shot at being a great team that rivals brey’s 1st elite 8 team as long as the main pieces stay and they develop the way we think they will. Hubb, Gibbs, Harvey, Mooney, Durham. Bench - Diogo, carmody, laszewski, and Goodwin. Plus they have a shot at 1 or 2 stud freshmen.
February 4, 20187 yr He rarely starts freshmen. Brey is pretty predictable. He already knows who the starting lineup will be next year. It will be Gibbs, Pflueger, Harvey, Durham, and Mooney. Hubb might start over Mooney. There is no way the other 3 will start. The 2019-20 season looks to me to be the one that they realistically have a shot at being a great team that rivals brey’s 1st elite 8 team as long as the main pieces stay and they develop the way we think they will. Hubb, Gibbs, Harvey, Mooney, Durham. Bench - Diogo, carmody, laszewski, and Goodwin. Plus they have a shot at 1 or 2 stud freshmen. Hubb is recovering from an ACL right now. Really like him, could see him playing quality minutes mid next season, but probably not early. I think you’ll see Las in the rotation early tho. His height and shooting ability will be welcomed early. Carmody is the next Connaughton/Vasturia type, but which one will he be closer too? I guess we will find out. Not sure I see him him playing next head unless out of necessity. Goodwin will be a lights out shooter in due time, but like Carmody, not sure I see it next year. Hubb (assuming health) and Las should get time though. The foreign tour should help a lot too.
February 4, 20187 yr Hubb is recovering from an ACL right now. Really like him, could see him playing quality minutes mid next season, but probably not early. I think you’ll see Las in the rotation early tho. His height and shooting ability will be welcomed early. Carmody is the next Connaughton/Vasturia type, but which one will he be closer too? I guess we will find out. Not sure I see him him playing next head unless out of necessity. Goodwin will be a lights out shooter in due time, but like Carmody, not sure I see it next year. Hubb (assuming health) and Las should get time though. The foreign tour should help a lot too. The line up I put in my last post is what I see for the 19-20 season. How quickly carmody(looks to be more athletic than vasturia) and Goodwin adapt to def and the little things will go a long way in determining when they get on the court. Las may get in the rotation next year. He def. won’t start. He will need to bulk up some. Hubb should be full go when he steps on campus this summer.
Irish hanging tough. Down 58-52 with 12 minutes left.