Notre Dame Basketball: What to Expect This Season

The Notre Dame basketball team is looking to make some noise this season. Here’s what to expect from the Irish this year.

Introducing the team

After a disappointing end to last season, the Fighting Irish are looking to Bounce Back in a big way. Head Coach Mike Brey has put together another strong squad, led by junior guard T.J. Gibbs. Gibbs is coming off a year in which he averaged 15 points and 3 assists per game and he will be counted on to be the team’s leader on and off the court. Other Key Players include senior forward John Mooney (13.6 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and junior center Juwan Durham (9.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

The expectations

Notre Dame is coming off a promising 23-12 season in which they finished 6th in the ACC with a 10-8 conference record. They made it to the semifinals of the ACC tournament before losing to Duke. They then went on to lose in the first round of the NCAA tournament to Belmont.

The schedule

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will tip off their 2019-20 campaign on November 5th against the University of Richmond. The game will be played at Purcell Pavilion, the home of the Irish. Notre Dame will then play five more games at home before hitting the road for a matchup with the Depaul Blue Demons on December 4th. The Irish will play a total of four games away from home before returning to Purcell Pavilion to face the Indiana Hoosiers on December 21st.

The key players

The key players
Notre Dame will have a very experienced team this season. The starters include senior center Bonzie Colson, who is one of the best big men in the country, and junior guard Matt Farrell, who is one of the best shooters in the ACC. The other starters are all sophomores: forward TJ Gibbs, wing Rex Pflueger, and big man Juwan Durham.

The bench is also experienced, with four seniors and two juniors. Senior forward Martinas Geben will back up Colson at center, while senior wing Steve Vasturia and junior wing V.J. Beachem will provide scoring punch off the bench. Senior point guard Matt Ryan and junior guard Elijah Burns will give the Irish some valuable minutes at both ends of the floor.

The newcomers

This season, the Notre Dame Basketball team will have several new players joining the roster. Here is a look at the newcomers and what to expect from them this season.

5’11” guard Prentiss Hubb is a top 50 recruit who was ranked as the No. 32 player in the country by ESPN. He is a native of Washington, D.C., and played his High School ball at Gonzaga College high school where he was a three-time Washington Post All-Met selection. Hubb is a versatile player who can play both guard positions and is expected to make an immediate impact for the Irish this season.

6’6″ forward Dane Goodwin is another highly-touted recruit who comes to Notre Dame from Columbus, Ohio. He played his high school ball at Upper Arlington, where he was named first team All-Ohio as a senior. Goodwin is a good shooter with range beyond the three-point line and should be a key contributor for the Irish this season.

7’0″ center Nate Laszewski comes to Notre Dame from Northfield, Massachusetts. He played his high school ball at Northfield Mount Hermon, where he was named first team all-league and all-state as a senior. Laszewski is a tall, thin player with good shot-blocking instincts. He will likely see time off the bench this season but could be a key player for the Irish in years to come.

The analysis

Notre Dame is coming into the season with high hopes. They have a lot of returning experience, and they have added some very talented freshmen to the mix. Here is a look at what to expect from Notre Dame this season.

The first thing to note about Notre Dame is that they have a lot of size. This is something that they have lacked in recent years and it has hurt them on both ends of the court. With the addition of some big men in the off-season, Notre Dame should be much improved in the rebounding department. They will also be able to block more shots and protect the rim better than they have in the past.

Notre Dame’s biggest weakness last season was their lack of scoring punch. They were often times victimized by teams that could score in bunches, and they struggled to keep up. With the addition of some new faces, Notre Dame should be much improved in this area. They will still need to find a go-to scorer, but they will have more options this season.

Notre Dame’s defense was also an issue last season. They gave up too many easy baskets, and they struggled to get stops when they needed them. With the addition of some size and athleticism, Notre Dame should be much improved on this end of the court as well. They will still need to work on their rotations and communication, but they have the personnel to be a very Good defensive team.

Overall, Notre Dame has a lot to be excited about this season. They have added some very talented players, and they should be much improved on both ends of the court. If everything comes together, Notre Dame has a chance to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament this year.

The predictions

every college Basketball season there are a few teams that stand out as potential National Champions This year, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are one of those teams. Behind the leadership of head coach Mike Brey and star player Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame has a chance to win it all in 2017-18.

Notre Dame finished last season with a record of 26-10 overall and 12-6 in conference play The Irish lost to West Virginia in the Round of 32 in the NCAA tournament but that does not take away from the great season they had. With Colson and fellow senior Matt Farrell leading the way, Notre Dame is poised for another deep tournament run this year.

The Irish will once again be one of the top teams in the ACC this season. They are predicted to finish second behind only Duke in the Conference Standings Notre Dame will have no shortage of talent or experience this season, as they return all five starters from last year’s team.

Notre Dame’s non-Conference Schedule includes some tough tests against UCLA, Michigan State and Purdue. The Irish will also participate in the Maui Invitational, which should be a great opportunity for them to prove themselves against some of the best teams in the country.

If everything goes according to plan, Notre Dame will be one of the final four teams standing come March Madness time. The Irish have all the pieces in place for a deep tournament run and a potential National Championship victory. Be sure to keep an eye on Notre Dame this season!

TheBottom Line

Notre Dame is coming off a disappointing 18-19 season in which they went 16-17 overall and 6-12 in conference play They will look to bounce back this season with a more experienced and talented team. They will have to contend with a tough conference schedule, but they have the potential to be a much better team than they were last year. Here is what to expect from the Notre Dame Basketball team this season.