Thomas Noie: Don't look now, but what Notre Dame men's basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry promised (hoped) way back when this all started it starting to happen - March is right there within reach and the Irish are playing their best basketball. Winners of four of five following Tuesday's gut-check success against Wake Forest, Notre Dame (11-17; 6-11 ACC) feels good about itself as the season winds down. Feels good about its culture. Feels good about the future. Feels good. It feels good, doesn't it? To join in today's session, be sure to include your name and hometown with your question or comment. With that, you know the rest. Let's light this chat candle...
Andrew from Plymouth: What's going on with JR's development?He started out well but his minutes have decreased over the course of the season, which doesn't speak well to his impact for next season when the roster becomes much more talented than it is this year.Thomas Noie: Andrew: The development of J.R. Konieczny is right on track, well, on track as well it could be before JRK missed his first game of the season Tuesday with a sore right foot, a foot that has been giving him some issues for an extended period, which might be the reason his minutes have dipped. Since playing 30 at Pittsburgh, JRK has logged 17, 11, 16, 10 and 6. Still, he was really, really good at Louisville last week with nine points and five rebound sin 10 minutes. At one point, his plus/minus rating was at (+21). We need to keep in mind that Konieczny really is a freshman. He sat out last season and didn't play much at all as a true freshman. This is his first true look at college basketball. He entered Tuesday as the third-leading scorer (8.6) and rebounder (5.0). It's been a good first step. What he needs to learn is to pace himself. There have been games where he's sooooo wound up and running all over the place and making plays that he tends to burn out in the second half. That will come as he gets older
Kevin, Chicago: I believe you predicted the # of wins we are likely to have. Do you get senseMicah style of play works for ACC? Seems ACC poor this year so that 7Thomas Noie: Kevin: It's a little of everything that has allowed Notre Dame to run off wins in four of its last five ACC games, but a big dose of it has been Micah Shrewsberry. My prediction of at least six league wins this year after going 3-17 last year was based a lot on how Shrewsberry would just out-scheme other coaches and get a win or two that the Irish had no business getting. They'd also be better because they'd compete their you-know-whats off. That's what we've seen. Looking at this roster in November, it had no business winning six league games. But you put this group together, give it some confidence, get them to play hard and believe and no matter what, keep fighting, and you get to where the Irish are. And you get a sense that they're not done.
Dave from Alpha, NJ: Hi Tom. Thanks for always doing the chats.Have a general question. Will the 24–25 season be the last of “the extra year for Covid” scenario.Thomas Noie: Dave: Yes. Thankfully, the COVID year ends after 2024-25. The last group at Notre Dame that has that bonus year of eligibility is current seniors Tony Sanders and Matt Zona. It remains to be determined how they use it. Might be time for one, and maybe both, to either move on to a place where they will play more (if that's what they want) or start the next phase of their lives that doesn't include basketball. Both will graduate this spring.
Dennis Huyvaert Osceola, IN: Hi Tom , with senior day coming up do you see either Matt Zona or Tony Sanders Jr . coming back next year ? Thank you for your great work .Thomas Noie: Dennis: I don't see Matt Zona or Tony Sanders coming back next season, and it has nothing to do with what they've done or haven't done on the court in their Notre Dame careers. Notre Dame needs some roster flexibility heading into the offseason. If both returned, and one-time walk-on Alex Wade remained on scholarship, coupled with the incoming recruiting class of Cole Certa, SIr Mohammed and Garrett Sundra, that would be 14 scholarships - one over the NCAA maximum. Notre Dame could use a veteran big and another scoring guard/wing from the portal if that opportunity presents itself. It's more a numbers game moving forward.
Sam from Norfolk, VA: Hello, I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the gradual, albeit slow, improvements through the season, but I’m worried about transfer portal attrition and having to re-start from almost square 1 next year. Is this something I should be worried about?Thomas Noie: Sam: I don't know if "worried" is the right word. Maybe cognizant or slightly concerned becausethis is 2024 and guys can leave at any time for any reason. Say Team A, B or C looks at Notre Dame's roster and sees a player it believes it can fit with its roster. That school's NIL collective gets together and says to the current Irish player, hey, you come play for us, we'll give you x amount of dollars - far more than Notre Dame might offer. Say $750,000 or a $1 million. What would you do? Outside of that, I tend to believe that the current Irish roster is pretty solid in terms of being all in with Micah Shrewsberry. The majority chose Notre Dame because of Shrewsberry. Tae Davis said after The Citadel game, when Shrewsberry said he'd help anyone who wanted to go into the portal to go that night, that everyone on the roster was there for the right reason - for Shrewsberry. Still, everything is on the table and nothing about it should be a surprise. This is 2024. Players leave to do what's best for them.
Guest: What grade would you give this season? Way early,I know, but best guess on starting 5 next November?Thomas Noie: Still too early, but building toward a solid B. That's not reflective in the record or the league work or the (slim) chance to play in postseason. Rather, it's rooted in what we mentioned earlier - Micah Shrewsberry vowed for this team to be playing its best basketball at the end of the season. November and December and January saw its share of rough waters, but it seems this team has navigated them and continue trending upward as March nears. Down by 29 in the first half and nearly win at Syracuse? Teased Digger Phelps that it would've been the greatest comeback in program history after that one. He nearly hung up on me.Thomas Noie: A way-too-early starting five next season? That seems pretty easy, at least in February. Markus Burton, Sir Mohammed and Braeden Shrewsberry at the guards, Tae Davis at the Swiss Army-knife swingman spot and Kebba Njie in the low post. Subject to change of course, based on the next question...😁
Guest: does ND expect to use portal for scorers after season for 2024-2025 team?Guest: bob cary, estero, flThomas Noie: Bob: If you're serious about your college basketball program, you always have to be ready to tap the portal for talent. And you better. Look at Wake Forest. Similar school to Notre Dame in terms of academics, but waymore serious about being a serious player in the ACC. Wake's roster carries seven transfers. Notre Dame will never get to that many, but it has, has, has to go into the portal in the spring and summer for a possible scoring wing and a scoring big man. If Notre Dame can do that, it accelerates the three-year timetable of getting back to the NCAA tournament. If the academic side raises a red flag on the portal, winning becomes that much more difficult. Really difficult.
Terry - Highland, IL: Why is there never a discussion here about the Irish women’s team?They are far better than the men’s team!!Things like:why is Jenna Brown not playing?Why is Becky Obinma rarely playing and what’s the status on Prosper?Thomas Noie: Terry: Thanks for finding your way over here. All questions that have been asked by our women's basketball beat writer, Anthony Anderson, and answered by Irish coach Niele Ivey, who is a little less forthcoming on discussing injuries than Micah Shrewsberry or even Marcus Freeman. Brown has a knee issue that prevents her from playing at the level she needs to play at to be an effective ACC-level guard. Prosper has been out with some sort of leg/foot issue while Obinma is not in a position to help. If she could, she would. Right?😄
Todd, Charlotte: What is the reasoning behind getting Kebba Njie the ball at the top of the key to swing it on offense? He is not decisive with it, and it often leads to him sailing balls out of bounds.Thomas Noie: Todd: Kebba Njie remains the proverbial work in progress, especially on the offensive end. It rarely looks fluid, but when you play in a conference like the ACC, you better at least pretend you have an option of going to a serviceable big man to keep the defenses relatively honest. Throw the ball to Njie, it gives the defense something to think about and, in a perfect offensive world, it collapses the defense off shooters so Braeden Shrewsberry and Carey Booth can get a sliver of daylight to do what they do. Njie does need to be more decisive from a Basketball IQ standout. If anyone ever needed a summer of big man camp, it's Njie. Too bad they don't do that anymore.
The Jet from Evansville: How are next season’s recruits doing this year?Thomas Noie: Jet: Is that your real name? Really?✈ Jet? 😄 From a 35,000-foot view of Cole Certa, Sir Mohammed and Garrett Sundra, they've been good, but not great. Well, outside of Mohammed, who seems primed to drive Myers Park in Charlotte to another state championship. Certa has come off the bench at IMG, which seems more an AAU team where everybody has to get theirs and there's not always enough to go around. Sundra plays on one of the most talented high school teams in the country in Paul VI in suburban D.C. We'll circle back around in the spring with a deeper dive on how all three fared in their senior seasons, but all look to be good, solid foundational pieces to this Irish program.
Aaron Bourbon, IN: As poorly as they've played at times this season, the Irish have been very close in several of their losses. Georgetown, NC State, Syracuse, both BC games all come to mind. Games they should have won. There are several other games where the final score doesn't indicate how close the contest really was and where the Irish would have been in a position to win, even with their offensive limitations, if they had only taken better care of the ball and not had so many unnecessary turnovers. What's your opinion on what the ceiling could have been for this year's team?Thomas Noie: Aaron: It was going to be really low. You don't start over from basically nothing having lost 98 percent of this and 99 percent of that and bring in an entire new roster, new coaching staff, freshmen who aren't wise to the world of college basketball and NOT struggle. The struggle was going to be real. You mentioned the turnovers, they happened and had to happened and frustrating as it was to watch and cover for this team to figure it out and do what it's doing now. Good teams, old teams, spend hundreds of hours in the offseason playing pickup together. Getting into a rhythm. Understanding what other guys are going to do before they do it. This team had none of that, which is why we saw what we saw the first three months. Could have beens? Those are for next year when there's a foundation and an expectation and a reference point for this team to be better. The ceiling will be higher, and, honestly, within reach. This year was just hold on for your ACC lives and hope for the best.
Andrew from Plymouth: Your interaction with Micah at the conclusion of the presser last night about his kid driving now was pretty cool.I know this is a new relationship and the one with the old coaching staff soured a bit at the end, but has the coaching change also been beneficial for you in your job covering the team?I'm sure it became a bit stale before just because of how long the previous staff was in place.Thomas Noie: Andrew: Great question/observation. It's been fun/scary/interesting/intimidating (in some ways) trying to figure out what makes Micah Shrewsberry tick. Who he is as a person beyond being the head coach. Covering Mike Brey for 23 years, you knew what he was thinking. You knew what questions you could ask. With Shrewsberry, there's still a feeling out/figuring out process. What worked with Brey might not fly with Shrewsberry. But you can still get there. Mike Brey was great, but you're so right, it all got stale from every angle. You know who would be the first to admit that? Mike Brey.
Ryan Mars Pa: Tom What do you think about the play recently Of Braden Shrewsberry and Markus Bruton go Irish ☘️☘️🏀🏀Thomas Noie: Ryan: First thought walking out into the gale-forced winds outside Purcell Pavilion after midnight this morning? How does Markus Burton NOT win Atlantic Coast Conference rookie of the year? Seriously. Braeden Shrewsberry has been solid, though he struggled last night. Probably not enough room for both of them on the ACC all-rookie team, but a lot to like moving forward. From both.
Johnny: What are the honest odds Burton or shrewsberry leaves in the next couple of years. I know they are both Indiana guys but what if a school like Indiana university, or even the nba poached them. A clearly great coach and what seems to be an elite college point guard.Thomas Noie: Johnny: The odds are off the board (i.e. there are none) on Micah Shrewsberry. At least, not yet. He's 48-48 as a college coach. Let's get down that road with a string of NCAA appearances and big wins and big visibility in Notre Dame men's basketball before we worry about what might be his next move. Shrewsberry said this is a destination job, but every coach, in every sport, always believes he has that one last move in him, one that no one sees coming. As for Burton, as we mentioned earlier in the chat, the transfer portal and NIL is always lurking. You can never say never. Not in college athletics in 2024
Luke S: While not much is at stake, where does this recent run rank on the unlikeliest of late season runs you have covered on the beat? The Burn offense Sans Gody to clinch a tourney berth comes to mind. Just incredible how much better this team has gotten since December, and after being left for dead in January.Thomas Noie: Luke: Not on the radar just yet, but hovering within similar air space. We're waiting for that Holy $%^#$ moment. The Burn Year had the overtime win at Marquette. In 2011, it was the win on Senior Day in Storrs. This team has a chance to join that select company with a certain game against a certain league cornerstone in a certain arena where everything is a specific color of blue next week. Win that one, and we've got something. 😃
Ken Woodworth-South Bend: What a great win last night, especially considering that we only had a "half-full" arena supporting our home team!Great to see more students out last night, but still not as many as should be there.What do they have to do besides winning their last 4 of 5 ACC games to get more butts in the seats at the Joyce?Thomas Noie: Ken: We've hoops chatted now for about 75 minutes, so I guess that was a good warmup to go there. Everything has to be couched with "I know it was a 9 p.m. tip and late tips are awful for attendance..." but that student attendance, not only last night but really the last month has been beyond disappointing. The SBT beat guy bashing students again? Hardly. They were really good early in the year, and they were acknowledged. But they always have a reason to NOT go. Wonder what the reason was last night? Too warm outside? That walk over to the arena on a 70-degree night too challenging? I've been down this road so often with the student body. They're the first to complain about the product, and the last to embrace the product. Great for the group that bothers to show up, but man, you want to be elite, how about acting like it. To get 4,698 (and that's being generous) out for a team that had just beaten Duke is unacceptable. Does anyone on campus even care? More excuses to start in three, two, one...
Ken Woodworth-South Bend: Also, any update on JR's status?Thomas Noie: I'd say a cautious maybe for Saturday. We might hear something more from Micah Shrewsberry later this week, but the fact that JRK wasn't in a walking boot would indicate that it's more maintenance than a long-term issue.
Tony: Tom, how many recruits do you think Coach Shrews brings in? It seems they have a lot of offers out? Are they out in front on any?Thomas Noie: Tony: In this new era of college basketball (transfer portal, NIL, etc.) there's no way to really know - or even guess - at how many recruits a certain school may or may not bring in for a recruiting class who are still high school juniors. What does Notre Dame do this offseason in the transfer portal? Is there a current college player who will enter the portal who will better fill a position/area of need than a high school senior? While the transfer portal might be relatively quiet this offseason from an outgoing process, will it remain that way a year from now? All of it impacts your traditional recruiting class. Notre Dame seems to be in on the right kind of kids in the junior class. Of the top seven prep juniors in Indiana, five have serious interest in Notre Dame. So there's that. Anything beyond that would be a guess, and a guess that likely would be wrong.
Tom, Bergen County, NJ: Hello Tom. In regard to your earlier reply, I heard that Matt Zona graduated last summer and is now working on his MBAThomas Noie: Awesome. Great to hear. Even more reason to take that COVID freebie year and go somewhere where he would play major minutes. Talk about maximizing your opportunity. Matt Zona has done that.
Dennis Edwardsburg MI: At he game last night and am very impressed how this group has grown in different areas this year. We look like we have an offence now. At the beginning of season we were robotic. Not there yet but much better. Defensively we understand theplan better every game. We are tough underneath, compared to last year.Thomas Noie: Dennis: Agree. This was going to be a process, and a sometimes painful one. It has been. Marquette. The Citadel. But these guys have grown from those tough nights. Less robotic and more free flow where it's not a root canal to get to 70 points. Again, 11-17, 6-11 isn't anything for anybody to beat their chests about, it feels more like 17-11 and 9-8, doesn't it? That's because there's been progress mixed in with the potential.
San Diego Mike: Is Sir Mohammed ready to come in as a Freshman and put up double digits points a la Braedon and MB? Would help a lot to have a bigger wing who can score itThomas Noie: Mike: I don't know if that's who Sir Mohammed is. He's more a facilitator, someone who's going to get the ball to the right guy at the right time for the right shot. If he has a good shot, he's going to find someone for a great one, then sprinkle in some stuff for himself when warranted. He's really someone who makes everything go. He's different than Markus Burton in that regard. Burton's been more of a scoring guard. Mohammed seems more like a guard's guard. Notre Dame placed so much on Burton's shoulders this season, and credit to the kid, he's more than delivered. I don't know if Micah Shrewsberry wants to do that again with Mohammed. Get a veteran scoring guard/wing from the portal and give Mohammed more options where to move the ball.
Justin, Ft. Wayne: What has been your thoughts on Kebba and his play this year? Maybe my expectations for him were to high or safe to say he’s been a little disappointing? Really hoping he develops more of a low post game for his last couple of years.Thomas Noie: Justin: I'd say more frustrating than disappointing when it comes to Kebba Njie, who is still trying to figure it out on the fly as a post player in the ACC. Might be able to get away with that in the Big Ten. In the ACC, though, you get exposed, and he's been exposed. Honestly, he might be better served as the second big, someone who doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting he's required to do as the main low-post threat. There's some stuff there where you say, OK, maybe...and then there are other times where it looks like he needs another two years of big-man seasoning. Let's remember, though, he was brought in to help preach the message of Micah, not be the next impact big. Give him time. He may get there.
Jason: Are there any rumblings that any of the rotational 9 will transfer? Going back to a previous question, I’d have to think 1 or 2 will need to move on in order to get some portal talent.Thomas Noie: Jason: None, and honestly, just don't see it. Mentioned earlier that with Zona and Sanders and Alex Wade all back next year (unlikely), Notre Dame would be at 14 scholarships - one over the limit. Should Sanders and Zona move on and Alex Wade goes back to walk-on status, that gives Notre Dame 11, which means two spots available. Those two, ideally, would be a veteran big man and and an experienced scorer. At Notre Dame, two is all you need, and maybe all you're going to get. This program will never be Wake-like with seven transfers. Notre Dame believes less is more, which works, as long as you get the right two transfers. Do that, and this roster looks WAAAAY different for 2024-25.
Jim Tal, Valley Center CA.: Hi Tom, I think it's reasonable to assume that moving forward Burton and B. Shrews will be ND's top two performers for the foreseeable future. But for the Irish to really be a force, a consistent and viable third option has to be found. In your opinion, who has the potential to be that guy? Right now, it appears as if either Davis, Booth or J.R. would most likely be the one to fill that role. Your thoughts?Thomas Noie: Jim: Agree on all three. Lock Tae Davis in the gym and don't let him out for spring and summer and early fall until he can shoot closer to 40 percent (OK, maybe 30 percent) from 3. Teams don't respect his perimeter shot at all. He's got the drive and finish and defensive pieces. Time to develop something on the perimeter. Carey Booth will get better just by being older. He should still be a high school senior right now. There's so much there, but you can see how Booth doesn't know how to use those tools. With J.R. Konieczny, it's about slowing down at times when he needs to slow down and being productive for an entire game, not just those first-half bursts that we've seen this year. Again, any convo about top performers have, have, have to also include the portal. Maybe there's a guy out there that no one sees coming, like a Ben Hansbrough or a Paul Atkinson. That changes the entire calculus of everything.
Justin, Ft. Wayne: I don’t see how anyone wins ACC rookie of the year over Burton. Lots of talk about Jared McCain but Markus Burton has been way more valuable to his team. Only thing McCain has going for him is their record. Where would the Irish be without Burton? Feels like a no brainer to me.Thomas Noie: Justin: Can't agree with you more, my man, but two words for you - Tobacco Road. This conference tends to be a little (OK, a whole lot) territorial when it comes to college basketball. And post-season awards. Remember 2015. Jerian Grant should have been player of the year in the ACC. Had that thing locked down. Then it went to Jahlil Okafor. Might happen again, but as I wrote today, Burton has to be the guy. Has to be.
Guest: Tom,As part of my Lenten sacrifice, I periodically focus on unpleasant times, so that I can better appreciate all the wonderful things the Good Lord has given to me.To that end, I have rewatched the Citadel game a few times.At that time, they had also just lost to a GTOWN team that has 2, count 'em, 2 conference wins, both versus DePaul.To this point, the possibility of SEVEN conference wins.Nothing short of miraculous work by Shrews and his staff.In the ACC Tourney, if they would win their first game, they would likely get WAKE, SYR, or CLEM.I wouldn't want to play them in my opening game, and as an NCAA bubble team.Thomas Noie: Talk about a glutton for punishment. Citadel AND Georgetown? What's next? First half of Marquette? Second half of North Carolina State? First half of Syracuse? Of course, ALL of that was needed for Notre Dame to get to where it is now. Waking this morning and seeing Notre Dame in 12th place (ahead of Miami) should be cause for little celebration, but the chatter was real last fall that Notre Dame might go 0-20 in the league. I'd say there are a lot of quietly nervous ACC coaches wanting to steer far, far, far away from Notre Dame in that league tournament bracket. The Irish are going to get somebody. Watch.
Rich, Phoenixville PA: Hey Tom, great win last night, I'm really excited about the direction coach MS has the team moving.That being said, I was so disappointed at the size of the "crowd", tip time/weather notwithstanding, particularly how few students were in attendance, from what I could see of the student section.Johnny: How long will we be able to keep Burton and coach shrews if they keep winning with nothing? I know they’re moth Indiana guys but surely some bigger program will try and come poach them if they can get themRich, Phoenixville PA: (too soon with the enter key).So what gives?Is the sports admin looking at remedies, ways to increase attendance, particularly students?Thanks for your thoughts.Thomas Noie: Rich: Thanks for the note. Believe it or not, we've been down this road before of trying to figure out how to better get the student body to care about basketball as a whole. Honestly, this one's squarely on them. They have to care, and have to believe that it's important to want to go. If I were to roll out some of the excuses I've been given in the past, your brain might blow up. Notre Dame basketball is about to get serious again. Will the student body follow that lead?
Mark. Chicago: Given that there will be teams who will throw NIL silly money at Markus, which ND would never attempt to match, can you see Markus staying as long as ND’s counter offer was reasonable. He didn’t jump ship at the beginning of the year when everyone was bailing out. What intangibles motivate him about ND?Thomas Noie: Mark: Being the hometown guy who's basically living a dream that nobody saw coming has to be a big one. But bigger than a big bag of money? NIL is very real, and they're going to be coming for Markus Burton. Maybe even coming for Hannah Hidalgo. Watch.
Paul - South Bend: I am sure they will find a way to not give Burton ACC Freshman of the Year.But am I nuts to think that he should be ACC First Team (for all players)?Name somebody that has successfully carried the kind of target and burden for his team's performance every game.Are those awards voted by players, coaches or press?If the first two, I like his chances.Thomas Noie: Paul: Wait, what? A backhand to the media, there? Whoa.....😃 We do have a vote for what it's worth. Burton is my vote for rookie of the year right now. But first team all league? You better be really elite and your team better be good. It's a hard sell to say Burton is top five when his team is bottom five of the league standings. Just the way it works. He'll still be an all-league guy. And for clarification - the PRESS votes for the weekly awards and has voted Burton rookie of the week three times, so yeah, we do know something about what we do....😄
Guest: Tom,I'll add one more to the wish list.Spot on with a reliable big and a wing scorer thru the portal.I would also add backup point guard.Not a scorer at all, only a facilitator.Maybe a grad transfer from the IVY or METRO ATLANTIC.I believe they need to spell Burton more during the regular season, if they have dreams of playing in the post season.Thomas Noie: They've already got that on the roster. His name is Logan Imes. Watch how his role evolves next year.
John, TN: Tom, great stuff. This year's team has been increasingly easy to root for as the season has gone on. This team is unquestionably moving in the right direction and its best days are ahead. Is that the feeling on the team, too? When's the last time we had this sort of future optimism for this team?Thomas Noie: John: Not as long as ago as you think. How about coming off a school-record 15-5 in the ACC, 24-11 overall and two minutes away from going to the Sweet 16 in 2021-22. Notre Dame was returning its core, bringing in a recruiting class that included McDonald's All-American J.J. Starling and certainly talked a good game that fall. THEY, not us media dopes, talked of how they were lined up to win the ACC outright and go to the first Final Four since 1978. We all know what happened next. Total and utter detonation and destruction. Aside from 2021-22, 2017-18 was full of optimism early after Notre Dame won Maui and climbed to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll. Think about that, they were FIVE! Then Michigan State boat-races them, Bonzie Colson's foot starts to hurt and that season goes off the rails. We've been down the future-is-bright road before. This one, though, should have staying power.
Michael Harrington: I agree with your feelings about the turnout relative to the student body.As a former student who never missed a game to me, it's almost unconscionable.Plus this team is fun to watch regardless of how productive they might be on any given night.Marcus Burton alone is worth the price of admission.There are some extremely talented freshmen on this team.I think Davis can be an All-American. I think Burton could end up being the best guard in all of college basketball in another year. It's up to the people to show up!Thomas Noie: Michael: Absolutely. it's totally on them. A common refrain for this season I've heard is how the ACC stuck it to Notre Dame's student body by playing so many league games during winter break when the students weren't there. OK, so that's even MORE reason to embrace what few chances they had to see this team and be a factor. That hasn't happened. This is a student body thing. Plain and simple. Quit complaining and do your student body duty.
Paul - South Bend: Amen, Tom.The student support is embarrassing.With the decline of the program the last few years and the slow start this year it was always going to be tough on attendance this year (but the 50-year diehards were there last night).We've gone done the road of the University and its criminal lack of support for advancing the program.To be honest, I feel like the school's attitude toward men's basketball has improved (holds fingers close together) this much.But they need to make it really hard for people not to come.Like basically giving away last minute game-day tickets, and making the experience more fan- and kid-friendly.If they can't market the product with two local kids on the roster, then maybe short of 15 wins in a row or a final four it is just not gonna happen.Thomas Noie: From your mouth to the athletic department's ears. Second bit of business for Pete Bevacqua, behind maxing out football to be as college football playoff worthy as possible, is get men's basketball support of life support.
Mickey, NYC: i think this team has surpassed the expectations of most and while there are still some maddening moments (ball just swinging around 25 feet from the basket) it is clear that the “process” is taking hold.I asked in December which games would tell us the most. Now I’d like to hear your thoughts on what have we learned about this group over the last 6 games that speaks to the growth of the team (other than Burton)?Thomas Noie: Mickey: Each of the last three games have told us plenty about the growth of this team. Last week at Louisville, when the Cardinals looked like they could chew gum and dribble and shoot all at the same time. Irish were up 14 and rolling, but the Cardinals cut the lead to eight. What fans that were in the stands at Yum! Center got a little frisky. Markus Burton said afterward that it seemed like some of the Irish were playing scared. Micah Shrewsberry burned a timeout to settle everything. Think i tweeted that the next four minutes would tell us a ton about this team, about that game. Back from the timeout, Braeden Shrewsberry bangs down a pair of 3s, part of a 16-2 run. Game over.Thomas Noie: Then at Syracuse when they're down 29. Notre Dame had every reason to collectively throw up its hands and say, yep, not tonight. What else you want from us? We've won three straight. We've got two straight home games coming. We're good. Then the comeback to nearly top all comebacks. In December, that 29-point deficit would've stayed at 29. On Tuesday, the Irish were down nine in the second half to Wake Forest. It didn't feel like nine. In December, it would've felt like 19. You just figured Notre Dame had a run coming. A run came. They're doing stuff now they weren't capable of doing in November and December and January. To the point where you don't want to play this team in DC.
Wadelite: Tom, do you believe JR will utilize his 5th year at ND? I do not, I see him transferring down. I also believe they need to find a big man upgrade in the portal. Kebba is a solid defender, but when I saw him stuffed point blank at the rim by a guy who washed out at 2 other schools that confirmed again we are fooling ourselves he can ever be a reliable inside scoring threat. IMO ND will have enough guards next year.Thomas Noie: Wade: Too early to tell. We're still a year (2025-26) away from that. What's he going to look like? What's the roster going to look like? Remember, this is JRK's first real year of college basketball. There's still so much more for him to do and to show. Maybe that happens here, maybe it doesn't. Let's see how it plays out.
San Diego Mike: We need a scoring big and I have the perfect fit.. enter Robbie Avila. The kid screams ND basketball bigThomas Noie: Mike: Get recruiting coordinator Brian Snow on the horn. Now! 😄
Guest: Tom, With all of the accolades offered up for Burton, wasn't it Solomon who slow played his scholarship?I seem to remember Brey wanting to offer, but Slo kept saying "Hold on."Looks like an air ball.Thomas Noie: Slo...slow-playing Burton. Well played. 😃
Guest: Tom, Disagree on Imes.With no interior scoring threat, that leaves perimeter ball movement, and personnel movement.And while I'll give you that Year 2 of Coach Shrews will feature an improved version of those, Imes shows little to no ability to beat a defender off the bounce.He is a caretaker at best.I would also add that teams have shown that full court pressure can present issues for ND.In that case, Imes may play WITH Burton, but certainly not instead of Burton.What am I missing about Imes?Thomas Noie: Everything in that what you believe Notre Dame needs is what you get from a front-line/starting/main guard. You're getting that now from Markus Burton. You'll get that from Sir Mohammed. Logan Imes doesn't need to be anywhere close to those two. That's not his role. We see what Imes has done, or maybe hasn't done, as a true freshman and decide, yeah, he's not the guy. He's not THE guy, but he can be A guy. A change of pace point guard who can move the ball and get it to where it needs to go, someone who doesn't have to score? Wait until this roster is to a place where he just has to fit in. He's exposed a bit this year because of the lack of scorers. With what Notre Dame wants to be, Imes is a keeper. Trust me.
Wadelite: Tom, there's 3 highly rated 2023 freshman that the former staff was recruiting that have done next to nothing this season : Booker, TJ Power and JP Estrella. Do you see Shrews going after them or do you believe he opts primarily for grad transfer? I'm quite sure former Virginia big man Shedrick has another season of eligibility left. His PT has diminished at Texas. Could he be an option considering he's familiar with AC Getter?Thomas Noie: Wade: Honestly, I don't, because all three currently remain in the developmental stage of their college careers. You want to develop a guy at Notre Dame, the best way to do that is to get someone whose game you can grow. Like Garrett Sundra. If Notre Dame is to use the portal wisely, it needs more guys who are closer to being finished product. Plug and play guys. Booker and Power and Estrella might be splash transfers, but it also keeps the Irish, in some ways, where they are now.
Jim Tal, Valley Center CA.: Tom, I'd like to throw a what-if scenario at you. How much different would this season have looked if any or all of the following - Starling, C. Ryan or Lubin - had stuck around? It's kind of fun to speculate on just what might have happened.Thomas Noie: Jim: I get that it's fun, but it's also so unrealistic. None of the three had the buy-in to stay. Cormac Ryan wanted something else in his final year of college. I don't know if he would've had the patience to pull the young guys along. Remember, he had a chance to do that last year with Starling and Lubin and we know how that went. Starling was in a different head space for myriad reasons. Everyone wants to point to what it might be like to have had Lubin, but he was such an unknown. He was always hurt. Of the three, he was the only one who waited until Shrewsberry was hired to leave, and he still left. There's your answer on him. When the exodus arrived last spring, I was on record as saying EVERYONE off that team should leave. Make this a clean break. No Mike Brey baggage remaining. Start completely over. They made the right choice to leave. Shrewsberry made the right choice to start nearly from scratch. Everyone's better off.
Wadelite: IMO the brakes should be pumped on how good the 17-18 team was. They were very flawed as evidenced byWadelite: As evidenced by losing at home to ball state and an awful loss to a mediocre Indiana team. I can still see walk on Zack McRoberts hustling for a missed free throw while Bonzie stood like a statue. This was all before Bonzie got hurt.Thomas Noie: Wade: You might want to read closer BEFORE you post. 😃 Please? No brakes need to be pumped because when I referenced the 2017-18 season, it was AFTER winning Maui and BEFORE playing at Michigan State. That's when Colson's foot started bothering him. Ball State and Indiana happened as Colson was hurt. The vibe for 2017-18 ended in East Lansing. Everything that happened afterward was the result.
Justin, Ft. Wayne: I believe in your last hoops chat I saw you say that next year ND will be away for the SEC challenge again. Any reasoning as to why that would be?Thomas Noie: Justin: Easy. When you're near the basem*nt of the conference, you're handed your SEC/ACC Challenge with no complaints. It's a made-for-TV event, and what TV wants, TV gets. TV doesn't want Notre Dame in a marquee matchup. And as we've seen today, they certainly don't want them in a matchup at near-empty Purcell Pavilion. So you put them on the road and you take it.
Mickey, NYC: Look at you saying the ND can be dangerous in the ACC Tourney. I’m sureno oneis going to throw that back at you if it doesn’t happen. LolThomas Noie: Mickey: That would've been comical to say during the seven-game losing streak. Back then, it was like, ugh, just play it out and end the rest of the regular season. Then the three-game win streak happened. Nearly winning at Syracuse happened. Roaring back from down nine to Wake Forest happened. There's some juice around those guys now. Knowing that they will compete makes you think it might carry into next month. Will it? Don't know, but we should know this - Micah Shrewsberry will make certain the Irish are a team no one wants to deal with in D.C.
Rich in GA: Tom - What happened in the closing seconds of the Syracuse game that had Coach Shrewsberry so incensed?That was an incredible comeback that came oh so close. Since then, I have wondered what the announcers missed or ignored.Thomas Noie: Rich: Honestly, in the fog of nearly coming back from 29 points down, and nearly getting it to overtime, I missed it. Might have been something I circled back around with Shrewsberry had they won, or had we traveled too Syracuse. So much was going on at that point, it was like, wait, what happened? Never a dull moment around these guys...😃
Frank from Mishawaka: If Notre Dame were to dip into the portal, would Shrewsbury possibly bring in somebody he's familiar with? Say Mason Gillis(6'6" 230) of Purdue, or would that just crowd the small forward group?Thomas Noie: Frank: If Notre Dame is going to be carefully selective in the portal, they have to hit home runs. Or triples. Mason Gillis would be just another guy. And looks it from his point of you. You played for a program that was a No. 1 seed each of the last two NCAA tournaments. You've won Big Ten championships. Where is the incentive to move to a program where finishing .500 would be considered a good year? He's known nothing but success.
Jim Reagan Charlottesville VA: Hello Y’all! Tom, on your watch, has The Observer advocated both Admin and the student body to better support Men’s 🏀 ? Also, considering Shrewsberry’s and the Assistants’ coaching stops, I can’t wait to see them dig into the collective playbook next season!Thomas Noie: Jim: Sounds like a question for The Observer folks, right?😃
Guest: Tom,I believe Coach Shrews thought Burton was fouled on the 3 pt shot.If you watch the film, the shot is missed and the rebound is tipped out to Copeland (i think) and immediately Shrews exploded on the official.Honestly, looked like a good no call.Thomas Noie: Yeah, Notre Dame isn't getting that call on the road. Ever.
Wadelite: Tom FWIW I went back and found an SI story that states Colson broke his foot in practice on the day before the 12/30 home game with Georgia Tech. The 2 games I referenced were on 12/5 and 12/16. I have never read of any foot issues he had before that 12/29 practice.Thomas Noie: Wade: Sigh...really? FWIW, Colson played in the game against Georgia Tech. But since you went there, we'll go there. This is from my Q and A with Mike Brey. I've written about it a TON over the years, how Colson's foot issues started with the Michigan State game. Just because it broke later that month doesn't mean it didn't bother him. And that the season effectively ended after the MSU loss. Anyway, here's Brey "We roll into the 2017-18 season and win Maui in dramatic fashion. We're rolling up to Michigan State, the No. 5 team in the country, get our (butts) whooped and (Bonzie Colson's) foot starts bothering him."
Wayne: At this point, which player's development has surprised you the most? Seems like nearly everyone has improved, but is there a singular player you would point to? If so, what's been the key?Thomas Noie: Wayne: Great question with only one obvious answer. It's Markus Burton. In the beginning, he was a freshman point guard who played with the belief that because he played a certain way as a high school senior down the road at Penn, he could play that way as a college freshman at Notre Dame. He looked like a high school kid at times in November and December and January, trying to do stuff that wouldn't work at that level - splitting double teams with a dribble the most obvious. Over the last six weeks, he's become more of a college point guard, one who thinks the game as well as he plays it. Some of the finds he's making now he didn't/couldn't make earlier.
Wadelite: Thanks for the background on Colson, but a foot hurting and breaking a foot are not the same. Aches and pains are common for these guys and they play through them. A diagnosis of a broken foot you stop playing immediately. IMO there just was not enough on that team beyond Bonzie and Farrell to make a deep run.Thomas Noie: Wade: Let mde...say...this...a...little...slower....so...you...get...it....Ah, forget it. Nobody said ANYTHING about that team having what it took to make a deep run. What was said was that the juice/excitement around that season was high AFTER Maui and BEFORE Michigan State. Like, whoa, this season might be something.Once Colson's foot started hurting, it was over. I don't get why you don't get that. Thanks for the aches and pains explanation anyway....🙄
John from Naperville: Tom- any idea on recruiting for 2025 class? Saw Gurdak was planning to visit and even got some eye emojiis from you on twitter.I know comparing roster construction to past, with the Portal, would be like comparing apples to Watermelon. Glad you are fully on board the Shrewsberry train. Guy is going to win big at ND, just hope IU gets the right guy the next time their search opens or we might be looking in a few years time.Thomas Noie: John: Notre Dame has been involved with the likes of Azavier Robinson, Jalen Haralson, Christian Gurdak, Malachi Moreno, Braylon Mullins and Trent Sisley for 2025. Micah Shrewsberry has been right there where Mike Brey was during his time - in on the right guys. Now can he do what Brey rarely did, and sign them?
Mickey, NYC: I agree. I think this team is findingsomethingover the past few weeks. It seems that they have grown into a group that understands that if you keep playing hard, trying to execute then good things will happen (even if a miracle comeback falls short). Know you may not have a view from Shrews yet on last night but SYR and 1st half last night…the defense gave up more points than usual. Any concern there?And given that Wake beat Duke…ND beat Wake…Thomas Noie: Mickey: Sometimes, and Notre Dame fans should understand this, good offense beats good defense. It did in last night's first half when anyone on Wake could just go and get themselves a bucket. But do those guys who get it done on offense keep playing when the shots don't fall? Wake didn't and to an extent, Syracuse didn't. You know Notre Dame will keep competing. We saw it Tuesday. We saw it Saturday. Gotta see it over the final three regular-season games.
Frank from Mishawaka: Anyone who thought Coach Shrewsbury wasn't the guy for Notre Dame hasn't watched this team much. I was also impressed on how he used timeouts(the 2nd being the under 8 timeout) to get Burton iced down to finished the game. From a strategic viewpoint, he gets his guys in the right spots following timeouts.Thomas Noie: Frank: Understood, but let's see some more wins and sustained success over a season or two or three before we say definitively that Micah Shrewsberry will get this program to turn the college basketball corner. Is this season becoming a big step? Absolutely, but there's a long, long, long way to go before Notre Dame doesn't have to again sweat a Selection Sunday. Shrewsberry is the first to insist that winning is hard, and he'd probably admit that winning again will be a harder job than he ever imagined.
Ken Woodworth-South Bend: And why in the world Wadelite are so concerned about what and when Colson's foot injury happened.Pretty irrelevant to today's basketball team!!Thomas Noie: Ken: Exactly. Thanks for being the voice of reason. Some people....
Justin, Ft. Wayne: Early thoughts and expectations for next season? These past couple games have me really excited for the future and thinking about what could be next season and beyond.Thomas Noie: Justin: Take the next step, whatever that looks like. If Irish finish 12-21 overall and 7-13 in the league, then flirt with .500 overall and in the league next year. Be really good at home. Beat a ranked team or two. Develop depth. Keep that edge. Small steps still for a process that is so involved and long.
Wadelite: Fyi I just did not recall all the background on why that season fizzled out and that it started sooner than the confirmed broken foot.Thomas Noie: It also seemed you were determined to prove a point or points that had nothing to do with the discussion. You had your view and only your view. That's not what the discussion ever was about my man.
Frank from Mishawaka: Tom are you ever afforded the opportunity of having a pregame meal in Club Naimoli? I've seen other writers or staff members up there before the game.Thomas Noie: Frank: And pass up the opportunity for a $15 food voucher at the concession stand which may or may not have the food that you seek? Never! But of course, if you want to leave my name at Naimoli on Saturday....😃
Ken Woodworth-South Bend: On that note Tom, I was always curious where you press folks get to sit at the games?Thomas Noie: Back in the salad days and my first few years on the beat, we sat along the sideline opposite the benches. Then when the arena was remodeled we moved to the east baseline closest to the Notre Dame benches. Somebody somewhere thought it better that they be able to sell those seats in those sections (which they RARELY do, but that's a rant for another day) and we moved to the upstairs press press above section 110. Look up that direction on Saturday. If you see a desk lamp light on, that's the SBTrib spot. My eyes aren't what they once were, but in fairness, we're working in near darkness up there. Not the best, but not the worst. Sightlines are clear, but you miss getting the small details of being on the floor. At Louisville, I sat baseline and was stunned at how hard Micah Shrewsberry works during the game. Needed a nap after watching him.
Frank from Mishawaka: Another fascinating aspect to this years team is the 5 walk on players. Raheem Braiton was a team manager, and Thomas Crowe a cheerleader. Always interesting how a High School player stays close to the game. Any unknown stories about Kelly, Harbaugh, or Hatton? Thanks again for your time with this Q&A.Thomas Noie: Frank: They're great stories that I wish I had more time to flush out. I've written about Raheem. Impressive kid. Not many who've come through Notre Dame who aren't (though there have been a few). 😃
Jeff from Schererville, IN: Tom, as a veteran CBB reporter I'm sure you've been to a number of games where people stormed the court afterwards, including a couple at ND (when there were actually enough students in the stands to do that, maybe the 5-OT Louisville game and the UNC game when Gameday showed up).Do you have any thoughts on the topic of the week in college hoops?It seems like it could be tricky getting the visiting team off the court at ND considering they must pass the student section on the way to their locker room unless they sneak out the other tunnel just to the left of the visiting team bench.Thanks.Keep up your good work.We appreciate it!Thomas Noie: Jeff: Honestly, court storms have not been an issue, really ever, during my time on the Notre Dame hoops beat. I'll say this - if Notre Dame can figure out a way to deftly defend the north goal post at Notre Dame Stadium during field stormings for football, it can figure out a safe way to do it for basketball. When it doesn't work, and it didn't work at Wake Forest, is when security is woefully underprepared. Have a plan. Have a procedure. Follow it. Let the student body enjoy the moment (moot point at Notre Dame) without jeopardizing the safety of the players. Big win coming? Make an announcement at under-four minute timeout to allow players to exit the floor beforestudents rush it. It's about being self aware that something's going to happen.
Ken Woodworth-South Bend: Well we are on the deck below you in section 9 for my wife's power chair.Great seats, you could come down and join us.Last night we were the ONLY ones on the entire accessible seating deck!?!Thomas Noie: Ken: Awesome. Save me a seat. Maybe I'll bring you an arena/stadium hot dog with my $15 meal voucher!😃Thomas Noie: Back to the arena, fan issues we've discussed - had this note in my pre-Wake Forest What to Know...Notre Dame currently ranks 13th in the 15-team Atlantic Coast Conference for average home attendance at 6,020. Only Boston College and Georgia Tech draw fewer home fans. Notre Dame has played now I believe 36 home games since the last sellout. They can be better can't they? Maybe?
Frank from Mishawaka: Can some of the attendance issues stem from being off the tobacco road path? It would be nice to be in the Big Ten, but that's another thing. Bring back some old rivalries like DePaul, Dayton, and maybe even bring a Butler or Purdue up here.Thomas Noie: Frank: Sure, osme of it can, but at some point, the fan base (OK, the students) have to be pumped about who they're seeing from THEIR team andnot the other team. So you don't get to go jeer Duke or Carolina or Dayton or Marquette (though last year's Marquette home attendance was embarrassing), so go cheer Markus Burton or Tae Davis or whoever you might have class with. Never got the notion that students don't want to show up because there's no connection/link to the OTHER team. They have to have that connection with THEIR guys, right?
Ken Woodworth-South Bend: You would think it would be better.And really, it should not matter what their record is.(Of course I have been a Cubs follower for 40 yearslol ) I mean come on people.If not to see ND, If you like BB, we are playing against premier ACC teams every home game!?!!Thomas Noie: Preach K-Dub!
San Diego Mike: Any feeling that Ropes transfers and looks to use his last year somewhere else?Thomas Noie: Mike: Wait, what? Julian Roper is on track to set career highs for 3-point field goal percentage, rebounds, steals, points, games and minutes played....and why would he need to go elsewhere. Roper was the first guy Micah Shrewsberry targeted in the transfer portal as a gotta-have guy. Why? Because he's someone, as Shrewsberry said, that you can lose with. In other words, when the game's not going right and not going your way, Roper's a guy who's still going to give everything he has. Why did Notre Dame nearly wipe out that 29-point deficit at Syracuse last week? Roper's play in the second half was a big reason. It would be surprising if he decided to go elsewhere to do more. He's doing a lot this year. For this program.
Joey: What does this team have to do to get fans to come to games?Thomas Noie: Apparently get them an NIL deal. Or beg, borrow and steal. Might be a lost cause. Prove me wrong.
Joey: are you as excited as me to see the last of Girard after Saturday?Thomas Noie: "Seven years of college down the drain" - future U.S. Senator John Blutarsky
Joey: Do you know anything about why Starling and Lubin left? I could argue that they miss Lubin more than Starling.Why on Earth would Lubin choose Vanderbilt other than to play for Stackhouse?Thomas Noie: J.J. Starling went home to play for someone he's known since he was in middle school in Adrian Autry. Lubin was more of, gotta go somewhere, can't stay here, so might as well go there. NIL might also have been a factor.
San Diego Mike: Are JJ Starling & Ven Lubin exceeding your expectations, under achieving, or doing exactly what you thought they would at Cuse / Bilt?Thomas Noie: Mike: Not plugged enough to watch them enough to say. Both underachieved while they were at Notre Dame, which is why they're no longer at Notre Dame.
Guest: Tom, And while we are on the subject of athletes who turned their back on ND, I note Parker F. just left South Bend with a CAPITAL L and ZERO points.This after JJS went 6-17 from the floor.Thomas Noie: Noted. Think Notre Dame upgraded in that freshman shooter spot getting Braeden Shrewsberry. Maybe.
Todd, Charlotte: I haven't looked at the stats to see if the team is shooting better during this streak. Are they? Or are they just passing and cutting better? They still seem to have lulls in the offense, and there are times when it they have to work too hard for shots, or drain the shot clock too low. Is it a function of just more time together this late in the season?Todd, Charlotte: P.S. It does seem free throw shooting has improved, especially late in the game.Thomas Noie: Todd: It's a little of everything. Being more familiar with one another, having done it over and over now every day for five months, and the fact that they were able to actually practice and install new ideas during that second bye week. When the Irish had that first bye week in January, it was more about correcting what they weren't doing than being able to install new stuff. This past week off, they were able to tweak some stuff that they just weren't ready to do earlier. They've shot it better from the floor and the foul line and worse from 3 since the Virginia Tech game.Thomas Noie: Thanks to everyone for participating in today's chat. We'll circle back around sometime in March. Maybe right before or right after the ACC Tournament. If you have a question or comment that cannot wait, drop me a note at tnoie@sbtinfo.com. Have a great rest of the week!
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact: (574) 235-6153.
