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What’s on the minds of Notre Dame men’s basketball followers in June?

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What’s on the minds of Notre Dame men’s basketball followers in June?

A transcript of the June 27 Notre Dame men’s basketball chat:

Thomas Noie: They’re already counting down the days (what is it, 67? 66?) until the start of Notre Dame football. We’re a ways away from the start of Notre Dame men’s basketball, but the grind never really ends. The Irish have been in summer school the last few weeks and have laid the foundation for 2024-25. It’s always a good time to talk Notre Dame hoops, so let’s do it. Please be sure to include your name and hometown with your question or comment. You know the rest as June winds down – let’s light this chat candle…

Guest: If you had to guess who would you say ends up signing with Notre Dame ’25 classThomas Noie: A guess for the guest to get us going…Why not? Figure this question will be a popular one asked today with 2025 recruiting now in full swing. Let’s start with this – as of today, Notre Dame has four scholarships to offer the 2025 recruiting class. Those come from this year’s three graduate transfer seniors – Matt Allocco, Burke Chebuhar and Nikita Konstantynovskyi (don’t eve have to look at it to spell it, lol) and traditional senior Julian Roper. Notre Dame may have a fifth depending on what J.R. Konieczny wants to do with his final year of eligibility (after he sat out his sophomore season). Usually, it would be a given that JRK would return, but not in this transfer portal era. So there’s that. We’ll move forward with the premsis that Notre Dame has four scholarships available. A guess is that Notre Dame signs power forward Christian Gurdak (Fairfax, Virginia) and guard Azavier Robinson (Indianapolis), with one wild car additional traditional high school senior and a transfer. There’s your four. For now.

joe fromthe south side: Tom, By all accounts, Team Camp was a pretty big success.  Aside from a potential bounce in recruiting, what other benefits did the camp bestow on ND and Coach Shrews?  Part 2, if it was such a success, did Brey swing and miss at an 0-2 pitch in the dirt by not going this route?Thomas Noie: Joe: Team Camp 2024 was a great day of basketball (link: https://tinyurl.com/2rexbpaj) for so many reasons other than basketball. It was basically an eight-hour open house into the program. If you were a high school coach or player, you might find yourself in a conversation with Micah Shrewsberry or a member of his staff. Your game might’ve been managed at the scorer’s table by Markus Burton. You had a chance to see from the inside out what an Atlantic Coast Conference program looks and feels and smells like. So what if more than a few of the 12 teams invited didn’t have a kid on their roster that Notre Dame is recruiting. It opens the door in the future with schools/coaches that maybe would’ve remained closed. Word of mouth works as well – Oh, you gotta get to team camp at Notre Dame and see this and this and this. So a win all the way around. Especially in mid-June.Thomas Noie: Did Mike Brey miss on an opportunity to do something similar? Yes and no. His recruiting was so East-Coast centric that it might’ve been difficult to get the right mix of teams. Shrewsberry is an Indiana guy who wants to recruit hard in the state. Team Camps also are a generally new idea – can’t see Notre Dame doing it without having Rolfs Hall. Like, hey, come to campus and play some pickup … in the Pit. There wasn’t much reason for the program to open its doors without Rolfs. Now there is. Keep doing it.

joe fromthe south side: Tom, Recruiting Part 2.  Coach Shrews handed out 17 offers for 2025, or about 14 more than Brey would have.  How is it that ND’s academic standards have not changed, but the volume of offers has tripled or quadrupled?  Part 2, of the 17, 5 are highly coveted kids from Indiana, in your opinion, how many of these 5 does Coach Shrews need to get to be considered a success, and from a priority standpoint, who are the most desired/where does he have the best chance?Thomas Noie: Joe: Whew…a lot to unpack..almost like a football question that often surfaced in one of our former SBT/NDI writer’s chat. Makes you dizzy just reading it, but we’ll chew through it. Are we sure that offers have tripled or quadrupled? Brey and his staff would often have their share of offers out. They were just a little more discreet about their wish lists. ANd they often kept them smaller. They knew what and who they wanted. They also knew who they could get. Think with this staff, they’re still learning what makes a Notre Dame men’s basketball prospect. You can offer whoever you want – but who can you realistically get into school? Still a learning process.Thomas Noie: How many of the five in-state recruits does Notr Dame have to get? Easy. The right one. If a propsect doesn’t sign with Notre Dame but chooses, say. Kentucky, is that a failure? Not sure. Now, if a prospect doesn’t sign with Notre Dame but chooses Indiana or Purdue, that would sting. Notre Dame has spent a ton of time recruiting in state. It has to pay off. What player or players is/are that payoff? Stay tuned.

Aaron: Do you agree that ND’s basketball future to some extent relies on their ability to get commits from guys with names like AZavier “Stink” Robinson?Thomas Noie: Aaron: As long as his game doesn’t, right? 😃

Aaron: Do you see Markus Burton as more of a Kyrie type or more of a Luka type at the next level?Thomas Noie: Aaron: Come on, man. Really? Stick to the Stink questions. 🙄

Aaron: When ND stars graduate and aren’t going to get a sniff in the NBA, what determines which countries they end up playing in? Do agents put out feelers saying that player X is specifically interested in playing in (insert list of countries)?Thomas Noie: Aaron: An actual common sense-based question….welcome back to basketball reality my man! So many variables there – where a player wants to play (some have been adamant that they’re not playing anywhere overseas), an agent who has ties to this pro team in that country or that pro team in that one, money, etc. Many foreign teams also are allowed to carry only a certain number of American-born players, so there’s that. There’s also personal preference of the player – do they want to challenge themselves or do they just want to hoop for a few years? There have been guys who have just wanted to play ball, and have played in beer-league like pro leagues (I see you, England). It’s a tricky balance for them. You go that far from home for that long, you better love the game.

Guest: Where does Notre Dame stand in regards to landing Christian Gurdak?  How did his to UND visit go?  Any details to share?  Did he come with his family?  When does he plan on announcing his choice?Thomas Noie: Christian Gurdak is on Notre Dame’s short list. There’s plenty of reason for the Irish staff to feel good about him. Everything else, sorry, going to pass on those. Asking kids/recruits those questions is a waste of time. Say I called Christian Gurdak with those questions. Say I called 100 recruit (lol) and asked them those questions. All 100 would have the same answer – great visit, played pickup, saw campus, Mom/Dad love campus. Will announce when it feels right. The next recruiting story I read from “experts” and these Crystal Ball dopes that has any shred of actual intelligence/news will be the first. That’s recruiting for you.

Aidan: Is Notre Dame going on a foreign trip?Thomas Noie: Aidan: Notre Dame is going on a 10-day foreign trip of Spain in early August, which comes at the absolute perfect time for a group of guys that has to play together as much as possible. If this team overachieves this season, the foreign tour will be a big reason.

Aidan: What is the expectation now of Sir Mohammed. As a fan I see him as someone that could get starting minutes pretty early. Want to know how others closer to the team feel about him.Thomas Noie: Aidan: Too early to tell. Need to see him play with/against current college players to see, ah-ha, that’s what this staff sees in him. Sir Mohammed will be a rotation guy. Maybe not a starter ahead of Markus Burton, Braeden Shrewsberry and Matt Allocco in the backcourt, but someone who has a chance.

Tim (Bend, OR): Hi Tom – Are people within the program optimistic about their chances with guys like Haralson, Trent Sisley, Malachi Moreno, etc.? If ND misses out on Azavier Robinson I’m a little concerned the top end of this class could fall off quickly.Thomas Noie: Tim: I’d say yes because this staff – this head coach – have put in the time with their top guys, whether they’re Indiana guys or otherwise. If they don’t get this guy or that guy near the top of their board, it won’t be from a lack of effort. Cause for concern? Maybe, but you have to remember, a kid picks Indiana, it’s Indiana. A kid picks Purdue, hard to argue with the success that Matt Painter has had the last five years. Notre Dame hasn’t had much success of late on the court. That matters. Want to be seen as a viable recruiting option? Prove your program can be a success. We’re still in the crawl/walk before you can run stage.

Jim, NY: Has Shrewsberry or Bevacqua given any statement on ND’s stance on the proposed expansion of the NCAA Tournament?  I would hope ND understands how much the public likes the 64 team format, I think the current four extra games in Dayton are as far beyond that as they should venture before risking losing the magic they currently have.  The casual fan isn’t going to want to their whole day filling out a bloated bracket.Thomas Noie: Jim: Great question. What the public wants? Who cares what the public wants? Certainly not college athletics, which is going to do what’s best for college athletics. Every college coach wants the tournament expanded because if/when it coes, that gives them more opportunity for access, which in turn helps them keep their jobs. So buckle up – bloated brackets are coming.

Cliff from Winnipeg: ND seems to be recruiting at a higher level now. How much of that can be attributed to how relentless Coach Shrewsberry is on the trail and how much is a factor of improved NIL funding?Thomas Noie: Cliff: Honestly, it’s too early to tell. Last year’s freshman class basically followed Shrewsberry from Penn State. This year’s freshman class was basically recruited (the bulk of it) while Shrewsberry was at Penn State. Shrewsberry and his staff are in on their share of prospects, but so was Mike Brey. His problem was that he rarely closed on guys who were immediate difference-makers. He wanted four- and five-year guys and recruited to that want. Shrewsberry has been relentless because, well, when you get here and have three returning players for your first season, you better be relentless. Let’s see how this class shakes out. Next year’s too. And there aren’t many kids (really, none) coming to Notre Dame because of NIL opportunities. That’s what makes Notre Dame different.

Tim (Bend, OR): How do you see Julian Roper and JRK fitting into the rotation this year? Frankly I’m a little surprised one (or both) of them didn’t hit the portal. They seemed to fall out of favor with Shrews towards the end of the year, and the backcourt lineup is even more crowded now with Allocco, Mohammed, and (maybe) Certa in the mix.Thomas Noie: Tim: I believe the opposite to be true last season with both Julian Roper and J.R. Konieczny. Roper’s role early (major minutes, starter) was too much for him. He wasn’t ready to do any of that, but he had to do all of that. I think he kind of found his niche when he became a reserve who could come in and defend and get after it for shorter stretches. Play with some irrational confidence. Maybe be a voice. I’d expect more of that from him this year. Like, he knows who he is, knows his limitations, can’t do everything he was asked to do early last year…Thomas Noie: As for JRK, the decrease in is role/minutes as last season wound down had zero to do with falling out of favor. JRK had a foot issue that flared in January and was so severe that he contemplated surgery. In the end, he decided to fight through it and offer what he could. And remember, last year was really the first year of extended basketball participation for JRK since he was a senior in high school. Really, he was a college frreshman. He’ll be better for it this season. Both will have roles this season.

Cliff from Winnipeg: You mentioned Coach Brey’s recruiting as being East Coast based. What are your thoughts on Coach Shrewsberry recruiting so heavily within Indiana?Thomas Noie: Cliff: A natural for someone who has such deep Indiana roots. Indiana HAD to become his recruiting focus. It has. He’s recruiting Indiana guys, but now has to start signing Indiana guys. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. The Indiana pull remains powerful. Purdue’s success speaks for itself. Notre Dame hasn’t been good the last two years, but it needs that one or two Indiana natives to say, you know what, I’m going to take a chance and go to Notre Dame and be the guy who helps Notre Dame win again.

Cliff from Winnipeg: Have you gone on vacation yet? Any cool places?Thomas Noie: July is PTO heavy month. I may not be back until preseason camp is already under way, If you have a question/comment now, better ask it. Might not get a chance again until September…😃

Tim (Bend, OR): What are your thoughts on Shrews’ Indiana-centric recruiting strategy? It makes sense in theory but I could also see it not really resonating for a team that plays just as many games in North Carolina, Virginia, etc. as opposed to in the Midwest.Thomas Noie: Tim: Notre Dame may play in the ACC, but Notre Dame, last I checked, is still in Indiana. Indiana kids would still have a chance to go to college in their home state, where their family/friends will get to see them play plenty. Not sure picking a college based on the conference they play in is that common.

Bonkers in Yonkers: Tom Terrific, it’s been awhile! How is the team developing NIL with the University and the non-University collective? I hope we’re doing all we can to keep Burton compensated and around for at least 2 more years.Thomas Noie: BY: Been too long. Glad to have you back. Mustering enough NIL to compete in today’s quasi-professional climate that is college basketball will always be a scramble for Notre Dame, which is one of the reasons why it jumped at the chance to play in the new MTE (multi-team event) in Las Vegas starting this year. For two years, the tourney will deposit $1 million in Notre Dame’s NIL fund, which is huge. Markus Burton can make some nice money as a college player. In the end, there’s nothing wrong with that.

Aidan: Back to the Foreign tour. What are the details on that. Since it’s in Spain what teams are they playing. How many games do they play, will they be streamed or recorded in any way?Thomas Noie: Aidan: Notre Dame will be in Spain for 10 days and play three games, likely against club teams that it can beat. The competition level isn’t the point, it’s the practices and game reps that matter. Video evidence will likely be scarce.

Mark from Rochester, NY: Tom, glad to be back! After going to see this team play that team in cny with the whiny coach (still laugh at that to this day) and watching the fight in the second half of that game and season, could a near .500 season in the ACC be reasonable?Thomas Noie: Mark: Reasonable and really, a baseline expectation with the steps/growth of this program. Fight and scratch your way to seven league wins the first year, understand what you have and what the ACC is, then return the second year and be a .500 or better (11-9) league team the next year before chasing a possible NCAA tournament bid your third year. This still looks and feels more like a four-year rebuild back to the NCAA tournament, but if the Irish want to make that three years, let’s do it.

joe from the south side: Tom,  Little background story on playing ball in Europe.  A fellow who went to my high school, though much later, played for Dean Smith.  Very very good D1 player, not a sniff in the NBA.  Played 14-15 years in Europe, mostly in Italy.  Had a stint with the Milan team, which was owned by Armani.  Said one of the perks of playing for that team is that they were easily the best dressed team in the league and that he never had such a fine wardrobe. Just one reason other than beer.Thomas Noie: Joe: Good stuff. You find the right situation in Europe, you can make a really good life for yourself, as more than a few former Irish – Tim Abromaitis, Jack Cooley, John Mooney, Bonzie Colson have learned. There is basketball life away from the NBA.

Mark from Rochester, NY: Can Sundra play right away? Having a post player that can score can really help the guards spread the ball and get better looks (Cooley have eligibility left?!) hahaThomas Noie: Mark: I don’t think that’s the plan. Cole Certa and SIr Mohammed are considered likely rotation guys as freshmen. Garrett Sundra may take more of a long-term approach to his collegiate career. He’s the third big man in a rotation that likely won’t go past two – junior Kebba Njie and graduate transfer Nikita Konstantynovskyi, who will log most of the minutes. Notre Dame needs more of a post presence, something Njie may offer now that he’s healthy. The broken hand set him back phsyically and confidence-wise last season. He’ll be better. He has to be.

Aidan: Tom can you detail a dumbed down version of our NIL approach. You said a lot of the players aren’t here for NIL which I think is a great thing and definitely a good aspect to recruit. But on the outside looking in I don’t know how many top prospects in any class are going to be like that. So does ND have NIL to somewhat compete with other schools. How are they choosing to use their NIL?Thomas Noie: Aidan: The first rule of NIL is like the first rule of Fight Club – you don’t talk about NIL. Well, you do, but main;ly in generalities. Notre Dame has enough to compete from an NIL standpoint, but those “top propsects” you mention? They weren’t choosing Notre Dame before NIL was a factor. They aren’t choosing Notre Dame now. You have to find the right mix as it relates to NIL. Every player on the roster makes something NIL-wise. It’s all about finding the right combination to split up your NIL pie.

P.Rose: What’s your initial take on the new transfer players?  Allocco seems like a certain fit. What about the other two?Thomas Noie: P: Have heard that the voice/leadership of Matt Allocco is off the charts good. Nikita Konstantynovskyi is a presence. Burke Chebuhar is more of a program guy, a back-end-of-the-rotation addition who preaches the all-important Gospel According to Shrewsberry. This staff had a good idea what they were getting in Allocco, but he has blown away that bar in the first month.

joe from the south side: Tom,  Did you get a read on how far away from the NBA Burton is?  I see some folks here who are concerned with how long he stays in school.  My understanding was he was pretty far out of the NBA conversation, at least as of now.  Your take?Thomas Noie: Joe: Great question. I’ll speak honestly, which some close to Burton seemingly have taken (mistaken) for criticism. Let’s start with this – there’s nothing wrong in today’s NIL world of Markus Burton being a three- or maybe even four-year college player. Even then, he’ll make more money than he probably ever realistically dreamed of making at that age. The NBA is his goal and it’s fine for him to chase that goal. But…the fact that he wasn’t even invited to the pre-draft Combine was an early signal from the NBA – you’re not ready. He may never be ready. And that’s OK. At the end of the day, he makes a good NIL living, gets a degree and then he sees where basketball might take him. Of the NBA scouts who came through Purcell Pavilion last winter, not a one was there to work up a dossiere on Burton. They just didn’t see him as an NBA player – then. If he works on his game and shows that work this year, maybe he gets to the Combine next year. Maybe he never gets there. But he can still go be great.

Jim, NY: Zero players under 6 ft 1 inch taken in the first round last night.  With the expanded pool of players internationally Burton is really up against it size wise.  I’m not saying he can’t be an NBA player but as you’ve stated his game still has a lot of improving to do to get to that point.  I think the chance to play for a contending college team (with a likely nice NIL boost) would be the more likely way we lose him.Thomas Noie: Jim: Great point. If you’re under 6-foot, and Markus Burton is under 6 foot, you better have one aspect of your game that you do better than anyone in the world – get to the rim, defend, find guys, lead, take care of the basketball. If you don’t, the NBA isn’t going to give you the time of basketball day. They just won’t. Look at last night as a tale of two Atlantic Coast Conference freshman guards. Burton won ACC rookie of the year but didn’t get an NBA Combine invite. Pittsburgh’s Bub Carrington went in the lottery. What’s the difference? Carrington is 6-5. If Burton were 6-5, he’d be a one and done.

Jim Tal, Valley Center CA.: Good morning Tom, wishing you the very best from rural California. It always amazes me when people, even Notre Dame fans, discover that the Irish are one of the top ten all-time winningest teams in collegiate basketball history. It’s like they can’t believe it and are rather stunned by that fact. Which got me to thinking. In your opinion, has the prominence of the storied and legendary football program somehow adversely affected the basketball side of things from the standpoint of being appreciated, acknowledged and being a desired place to play? Is it possible that some high-profile players opted not to come to ND because of the perception that it is primarily a football school? Just wondering, thanks.Thomas Noie: Jim: It’s been both. There are times when Notre Dame men’s basketball has been the younger brother to football (nothing happens for basketball until football is taken care of), but that’s sometimes been to the program’s advantage. Still remember the 2011 NCAA Tournament (when Ben Hansbrough and I almost came to blows, but that’s a different story for a different day). Notre Dame went 27-7 and had designs on getting to a Final Four, then lost to a better/tougher Florida State team in the second round in Chicago. That should’ve been news and should’ve put some heat on Mike Brey for not getting through the second weekend. But that loss was quickly forgotten, almost immediately. Why? That night, then-Irish wide receiver Micahel Floyd was arrested and was top news for two, three days. Basketball? Nobody cared. So you get that. But again, in terms of “high-profile” players opting not to come to Notre Dame because of football, they probably didn’t choose Notre Dame because they had the option to choose Duke.Thomas Noie: Men’s basketball lost a decade of relevenace because it remained Independent too long, in part because the administration didn’t know what to do or didn’t care, as long as football was taken care of. It took too long to renovate the Joyce Center and get a stand-alone practice facility because football was first in line for this or that. So there’s that. There are advantages and disadvantages to being at a football-first and second and third school.

Todd(Waynesville, NC): Does ND know exact Thanksgiving week dates/opponents for the Las Vegas event yet? Always wanted to go to Vegas and what a great way to fulfill that AND see the Irish.Thomas Noie: Todd: Remember when matchups and everything else about the Players Era Festival multi-team event was supposed to be released in late May/early June? Here we are in late June now and still nothing. Notre Dame is in the eight-team event for 2024 and 2025, but there are issues with how the eight-team event will work. It might not be a traditional tournament as say, the Maui Invitational where you have eight teams and they finish one through eight after three games. There’s a chance that it might just be two four-team pods with each team playing three games in their repsective pods. Notre Dame is scheduled to play Rutgers on Tuesday of Thanksgiving week. If they can’t figure out a workable bracket, Notre Dame would just play in a four-team pod of Alabama, Houston and Rutgers. That’s a tough ask, but each school is getting $1 million in NIL money. Stay tuned.

Jim Tal, Valley Center CA.: Tom, can you address how ND was able to get out of its perceived commitment to the Rady’s Children event in San Diego and then seemingly pivot on a dime to hop into the Vegas gig. For those of us from the Southern California area – at least on the surface – it conveyed a bad look, almost like the Irish were going back on their word. And when you take into consideration who the SD event was going to benefit, it felt like principle and doing the right thing went right out the window for the almighty buck. So please, if you can, explain what really happened and was ND at all wrong in the manner in which the school handled the entire situation?Thomas Noie: Jim: There was nothing perceived about Notre Dame’s commitment to play in the Rady’s Children’s Invitational. It was a done deal of Notre Dame, Purdue, BYU and Arkansas. Had been a done deal for nearly a year until Notre Dame bounced for the MTE (multi-team event) in Las Vegas. In fairness, Arkansas also jumped off after John Calipari was hired – apparently he doesn’t do November MTEs (seriously). Rady’s has reportedly told Notre Dame no hard feelings. Notre Dame HAD to jump for the $1 million NIL payday in Las Vegas. It’s a bad look to tell Rady’s hey, thanks, but no thanks, but that’s college basketball today. Notre Dame had to do it. I’ll say as much in a column that’s been gathering dust waiting for the Vegas tournament to become official.

joe from the south side: Tom, I thought ND had to pay a buyout to opt out of Rady’s. Yes?Thomas Noie: Joe: Technically, yes. There was a fee to get out of the Rady’s Invitational, but that may have been taken care of by the Vegas tournament, which has pockets so deep that we can only dream of having. Money is seemingly no object to the money men behind the Vegas event.

Pat H. Springfield Ill: If you mentioned this in an earlier chat, I have forgotten but are any non-conference opponents known Keep up your good workThomas Noie: Pat: Funny you should mention that. In staying on the subject of the Rady’s Invitational, not playing in that two-game, two-day event and opting for the three-game, four-day event in Las Vegas, basically cost Notre Dame the chance to host a marquee non-conference home game. The three games in Las Vegas, added to the five guarantee (buy) home games and the two other non-league games (at Georgetown and at Georgia in the ACC/SEC Challenge) completes Notre Dame’s 31-game regular-season schedule (also 20 ACC games). Four of Notre Dame’s five home “buy” games are Buffalo, North Dakota, LeMoyne (Robby Carmody game!) and Stonehill.

Mick: Did you speak to Tony Sanders at all after the season? I assume he’s chosen to hang up the sneakers?Thomas Noie: Mick: I did not. Tony Sanders never went into the portal even though he still has his additional COVID-19 season of eligibility to use if he wants. He apparently doesn’t want. Time for the next phase of his life without college basketball but with a degree. Nothing wrong with that.

joe from the south side: Tom,  Not specifically BBL, but what became of the proposed lawsuit by FSU to void the contract with the ACC over TV rights, buyouts, etc….Seems like that was a hot topic months ago but not so much now.  Calm before the storm?Thomas Noie: Joe: Believe that’s still in the courts system. ACC fought to have it heard/filed in North Carolina, Florida State in Florida. Think it was filed and will be heard in North Carolina. What becomes of it? Not sure. Is there a landing spot for Florida State? Eventually, some ACC school is going to get out of the Grant of Rights that ties everyone in the league together, but by that point, it might not matter. It might be one or two super leagues for football, which will break off from the rest of college athletics as we’ve known it. One of these days (maybe soon) schools will realize that, huh, maybe we should’ve all stayed in our respective conferences. Look at the Big Ten. What is Washington? Maybe the fourth or fifth or sixth best football team in that league? Why make that move? Ridiculous.

P.Rose, St. Paul: Not many questions here about the current roster and what you’ve heard.  B. Shrewsberry looks more mature in photos.  What about Njie, Burton, Davis?  Any news to share about the returning team?Thomas Noie: P: Not a lot of questions, because we media creatures haven’t seen anything of summer workouts yet. Usually that happens in July when they give us a taste of what it might look like. There’s a lot to taste – Is Kebba Njie a more confident post player? Can this team score it more? Will the offense look more like a Micah Shrewsberry offense is suppoed to look with actions and reads and counters? Who’s bigger? Who’s better? There will be a lot to digest when we get a chance. Hopefully, we get that chance. Have heard that Matt Allocco is a heck of a voice and there’s some crazy to Nikita Konstantynovskyi, which is good. This team needs a little crazy, in a good way!

joe from the south side: Tom, I certainly agree with you that the ACC does no favors for ND.  However, the conference home/aways are BC, GTECH and the CUSE.  Nothing Shrews can’t handle.  Also, the three newcomers all come to South Bend.  Other than the Tarheels, the home conference games are winnable.  Don’t get me wrong; this team has a lot of work to do.  But the ACC home schedule is not intimidating.Thomas Noie: Joe: That’s why going 10-10 or 11-9 or even 12-8 in the league is definitely doable for this team this season. Notre Dame figured it was going to get one of the West Coast additions (Cal, Stanford) as a repeat opponent. It didn’t. Notre Dame thought it was going to get sent to Cal or Stanford or SMU in road-only games. It didn’t. The schedule sets up ONLY if Notre Dame decides that enough is enough at Purcell Pavilion (20-16 overall, 8-12 ACC the last two years) and starts making its home court a tough place to play. Of course, that burden also falls on the fan base, and the student body, and we know what they’ll do (or won’t do, show up).

Ryan mars PA: Good afternoon Tom i think this team will do good in acc next year lead by Burton and Shrewsberry what do you Think GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏀🏀Thomas Noie: Ryan: I think I wish it was October 27 until June 27! Let’s go. Can’t wait to see how it all unfolds. Don’t sell Matt Allocco and Tae Davis short in terms of leadership. The guard trio of Burton, Allocco and Shrewsberry has a chance to be one of the best in the ACC.

joe from the south side: Tom,  Much as I love college sports, between NIL, COVID transfers, one-time transfers, super conferences……..I am getting tired of all of the “non-sports” stuff and it’s making the games less enjoyable.  You?  There was a charm about Jim Valvano running around looking for someone to hug, Digger taking down the Bruins, the original Big East with Rollie, Big John, Raff, Little Louie…..Now it’s follow the money.Thomas Noie: Joe: You know you sound like Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino, right? Yelling at the clouds, barking about getting off your lawn? I get it. Those were the good old days, but at William Joel once opined, the good, old days weren’t always good…and tomorrow isn’t as bad as it seems. Except maybe in this case. Money makes the world go ’round. Makes college athletics go ’round as well. Always has. We just didn’t pay it much attention.

joe from the south side: Tom, I don’t want to sound like Eastwood.  Ever.  But, any time, no almost every time, a coach leaves, that school is likely to have to rebuild it’s entire roster.  Top to bottom.  That’s not college BBL or amteur sports.  That’s AAA BBL as a pipeline for pro athletes.  I think that misses the point of collegiate athletics.Thomas Noie: Money took care of that. It’s not college athletics anymore in that sense. It’s semipro. Or really, pro. Athletes are paid – legally. Everyone’s to blame. Even Notre Dame.

Phil from Mishawaka: I just contacted Ben Hansborough, and all he will say is you are the true Psycho T. LOL you opened Pandora’s box with that earlier yada yada mention.Thomas Noie: Phil: That’s awesome. B-Hans is my guy! Loved covering him. Loved our postgame back and forths. Even loved our face to face confrontation in United Center. He might be the only guy I ever interviewed while he was in a postgame whirlpool bath after a game in Orlando. He was the best. Notre Dame needs more Ben Hansbroughs.

joe from the south side: Tom,  What is the upside for ND and Shrews?  What is the high water mark?  For me, it’s make the tourney and win a game.  Two if you are lucky.  That is it.  Why?  Philisophically, ND and Shrews are butting heads with reality.  Shrews can only take certain transfers and not too many.  They really don’t appeal to one-and-dones.  They are never going to be the leader in NIL deals.  Piss off a kid and he leaves scott free—see Carey Booth.  90%, hell more than that, of the schools today don’t follow any of those rules.  You can’t win a sprint with your legs tied together.  I just think it’s too big of a hill to climb.  And as you say, it is all about the Benjamins.Thomas Noie: Joe: High-water marks? Easy. Go back to 2015 when Notre Dame went 32-6 and won an Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championship and got to an Elite Eight, then got to an Elite Eight the following year. That was going to be about as good as it would get. Not because we’re lowering the bar, but because it’s reality. Look at teams that get to Final Fours and play on championship Monday nights. What do they have in common? They have pros. Not fringe pros who may have to fight and scratch and claw their way onto NBA rosters, and do it again to stick. But legit PROS. DUDES. Generational types of talents. When’s the last generational talent that Notre Dame had? Like, whoa, we’ve never seen someone like that in that uniform. Luke Harangody? Troy Murphy? Micah Shrewsberry already has said he’s not taking a one-and-done. He’s not mining the portal. He can talk (and has) of winning a national championship at Notre Dame, but that’s really not realistic. It’s something to keep fans engaged…it’s not happening here.

Phil from Mishawaka: I’m reading ND may be in good shape with 2025 6’8 Brady Koehler from Indy Cathedral. Seems to have a similar skill set to Trent Sisley, though with a lower rating. His stock is rising and might be along with Robinson the most likely Indiana recruit to choose ND. Same HS as Barlow and Hicks.Thomas Noie: Phil: B-Hans tell you that? 😃 I kid, I kid. Brady Koehler’s in that native Indiana kid mix with Sisley and Robinson and Mullins (nope). Just need someone to jump. Like, I’ll be that in-state guy who believes in Notre Dame.Thomas Noie: Thanks to everyone who joined in today’s chat. We’ll swing back around maybe in August to talk Notre Dame hoops. Enjoy summer!

Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on Twitter: @tnoieNDI. Contact: (574) 235-6153.

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