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Chat Transcript: Talk Notre Dame basketball with Tom Noie

3:20 pm, April 18, 2012

Tom Noie answered readers' Notre Dame basketball questions in a live chat. Read the transcript.

 Live Chat: Talk Notre Dame basketball with Tom Noie(04/18/2012) 
11:56
sbtnoie: 
Welcome back for another Notre Dame men's basketball hoops chat. Hope it's as busy as last week when we had to cut it off with questions still coming after three hours. Proof that there really is no offseason.

Easy to join up and ask about anything on your mind in relation to Irish hoops - just ask a question and be sure to include your name and hometown.

Let's go.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 11:56 sbtnoie
12:26
sbtnoie: 
Don't be shy about asking a question......I can see you out there.....step right up and let it fly.....it's a little lonely around here...
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:26 sbtnoie
12:28
[Comment From JeffJeff: ] 
Any news on the eligibility of Martin and Abro? Why is it taking so long?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:28 Jeff
12:31
sbtnoie: 
Jeff:

Thanks for getting it going. No news on the possible sixth seasons for either Tim Abromaitis or Scott Martin. Still might hear something this week.

Why is it taking so long? Welcome to the world of the NCAA, which moves at its own pace. There have been times during the process when Notre Dame officials have felt like they had submitted all the required paperwork for both, only to have the NCAA respond by asking to see more documentation about this case of that case.

As Mike Brey said last week during the banquet, he doesn't care if it takes another week or month or six weeks, as long as the final answer is the right one. And that would be for Martin to return, and really, for Abromaitis, the model student-athlete the last five years, to have the chance to close out his career in something other than a leg brace.

Stay tuned.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:31 sbtnoie
12:31
[Comment From FredFred: ] 
Hi Tom, Greetings from the Windy City. Following up about the ND practice and support facilities, a big deal was made a couple of years ago about the training table finally being instituted for the football team. Has basketball also added that, or are they still fending for themselves in the dining hall?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:31 Fred
12:34
sbtnoie: 
Fred:

Good question. The basketball team does eat together after practices when they have have to then catch their charter flight to a road game. Don't know what they do when at home for an extended period, mainly because the media is long gone before practice ever starts.

It's probably a little easier for the school to feed the basketball team given that there are fewer players to tend to on a given day. But it's common to see guys going into the locker room before practice with a take-out order from the dining hall or a nearby fast-food restaurant.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:34 sbtnoie
12:41
[Comment From JeffJeff: ] 
Now that the Big East will start to get watered down with less then talented teams and the loss of some great teams, do you think Notre Dame will start to schedule more non-conference games against better competition? You would think that their strength of schedule will really take a hit in coming years if they do not.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:41 Jeff
12:47
sbtnoie: 
Jeff:

Good question. It remains to be seen what will happen, because no one knows what the league schedule might look like when they got to.....gulp....20 teams. Will they still play 18 league games - which means playing teams once each and skipping one entirely every season. Will they split into divisions where you play teams in your division twice and teams in the other division once?

The decision on what to do with the non-league schedule likely will be made on a year-to-year basis, but I wouldn't mind Notre Dame keeping games against Pittsburgh, Syracuse and even West Virginia as good non-league games.

But you're right on - no way the Big East remains one of the top one or two or even three leagues in the country in terms of overall strength of schedule with some of the teams ready to come aboard.

Teams like Central Florida, Houston and Southern Methodist will drag the league's strength of schedule down. That will be managable if the current bottom-feeders of the league (DePaul, Providence, Rutgers) can improve. If they don't, man is it going to be U-G-L-Y.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:47 sbtnoie
12:47
[Comment From TJ, DCTJ, DC: ] 
Saw some Net chatter about TU Hollway and a gang reference at the end of the ND game. You hear anything about that? Is it true that there are photos showing a Xavier player doing what Grant did with 2 minutes left and it not being called? If that is true, sorry, I have a problem.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:47 TJ, DC
12:51
sbtnoie: 
TJ:

Who knows what happened at the end of the Xavier game in the second round of the NCAA tournament. I've heard all kinds of crazy stories. All I know it ended around 12:25 a.m. and I had about 20 minutes to bang out 900 words and get quotes from a pretty somber Irish locker room to make my deadline. Then once I did, everybody was gone.

I do know this - Holloway did indeed lick the palms of his hands and wiped them across the free throw line just before Eric Atkins stepped to said line to attempt his two free throws. Sort of like marking his territory.

As for Jerian Grant's lane violation and why that was called while others might not have been.....it's time to let all that go.

Should a call like that be made in that situation? No way, but the officials had little do with Notre Dame losing a 10-point lead with 12 minutes to play. They had little to do with Eric Atkins committing a critical turnover in the final minute. It happened. It's over. It's time to move on.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:51 sbtnoie
12:52
sbtnoie: 
ESPN recently unveiled its preseason Top 25 and early, early, early Bracketology for the 2012-13 season. ESPN has Notre Dame ranked No. 19 and a No. 9 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Too low? Too high? What are your thoughts on both?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:52 sbtnoie
12:55
[Comment From ShawnShawn: ] 
How is the recruiting going. Do you have a good center coming in, and where do you think ND will finish in the national rankings.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:55 Shawn
12:59
sbtnoie: 
Shawn:

Recruiting is pretty much on cruise control right now - the Irish coaching staff will be looking hard at high school sophomores during the spring evaluation period.

Notre Dame has two commitments from current prep juniors - swingman V.J. Beachem (Fort Wayne) and guard Steve Vasturia (Philadelphia). The Irish have one scholarship to offer the current junior class and it's no secret where they want that scholarship to go - to Marian guard Demetrius Jackson.

If Jackson decides to take his talents elsewhere, Notre Dame likely will use that grant for a college transfer, preferably a guard. The Irish are pretty well set in the front court for the next few years with incoming freshmen Zach Auguste and Austin Burgett, the possible return of Eric Katenda, who has four years of eligibility, two more seasons with Michigan State transfer Garrick Sherman and two more with current power forward Tom Knight. Jack Cooley has one year left.

Big men aren't in the recruiting equation just yet. There's simply no need.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:59 sbtnoie
12:59
[Comment From Bill, ColumbiaBill, Columbia: ] 
Did Brey cancel a summer trip for the team? If so, why?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:59 Bill, Columbia
1:03
sbtnoie: 
Bill:

Notre Dame was supposed to go to Toronto in early August as part of its foreign tour this summer. The Irish would receive 10 days of practice time and then play three or four exhibition games in Canada.

The tour sounded like a good idea at the time when the plans were made last summer, but the more the 2011-12 season unfolded, and the Irish ripped off a school record nine-straight Big East wins, won 13 league games and 22 overall, the more the trip made little sense to Brey, who scrapped the idea.

Thanks to this season's success, many questions that might have been answered on the trip have already been answered. This team has a chance to make a deep run in the Big East (and hopefully the NCAA tournament) and a trip to Toronto would unnecessarily extend what might be a long year.

In addition, Mike Brey is very aware that the last two times the Irish went on foreign tours - in 2004 to Barbados and 2008 to Ireland - they didn't make the NCAA tournament.

Brey and his staff and the administration believe that if they're going to do a foreign tour, they should do it right. And doing it right doesn't mean going to Toronto for a few practice games.

There are tentative plans to go to Italy in the summer of 2013.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:03 sbtnoie
1:05
[Comment From Andrew from GRAndrew from GR: ] 
Anyy rumblings about any assistant coaches leaving for head coaching opportunbities elsewhere in the offseason?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:05 Andrew from GR
1:07
sbtnoie: 
Andrew:

Not likely.

All three - Rod Balanis, Martin Ingelsby and Anthony Solomon - want to become head coaches, but none are going to leave for the sake of leaving. It looks like all three will be back in 2012-13 but if a job suddenly opens in the coming months, who knows? Remember, Mike Brey ended up at Notre Dame in July after the job opened early that month, so anything can happen.

Each of the three might want to stick around another year or two and see if the Irish can make a post-season run before looking harder and running their own programs.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:07 sbtnoie
1:15
[Comment From Kevin - SBKevin - SB: ] 
When will next years schedule be out?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:15 Kevin - SB
1:17
sbtnoie: 
Kevin:

Not soon enough.

The Big East usually is one of the last college basketball leagues to finalize its schedule, mainly because a lot of its teams play in buildings (Madison Square Garden, Verizon Center, Wells Fargo Center) that are used by NBA and NHL teams. Those teams get the first pick of dates for the 2012-13 season before the Big East gets the "leftovers."

The list of repeat opponents and home and away opponents usually is released in May. The finalized schedules usually are done in mid- to late-August.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:17 sbtnoie
1:27
[Comment From Dan - ChicagoDan - Chicago: ] 
Any merit to rumors Trent Lockett would consider transferring to ND?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:27 Dan - Chicago
1:29
sbtnoie: 
Dan:

Any thought on that is just that - a rumor. He may be able to play right away next season, but does he want to be a backup who will get spot minutes? Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant are going to log most of the minutes at the guard spot.

It takes a special kind of guy - and absolutely the right kind of guy - to accept a role where he's only getting (at best) six, seven, maybe nine, 10 minutes a night.

In addition, no moves can be made by Notre Dame until the sixth-year situation is ironed out.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:29 sbtnoie
1:30
[Comment From Brooks Fan ChicagoBrooks Fan Chicago: ] 
Tom, I heard you weeks ago on Sportsbeat or somewhere regarding Holloway "marking his territory". Yes, I know we need to let all this go, but at some level, it is a clear taunt. I am bit curious as to whether Coach Brey saw it and if he yelled to any official about it.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:30 Brooks Fan Chicago
1:33
sbtnoie: 
Brooks:

The Notre Dame bench saw what Holloway did and you're absolutely right, it's taunting in every sense of the word but it also left Mike Brey in a bind - does he take the time to state his case to the officials, which takes time and would delay the game while Eric Atkins is ready to shoot?

What if he voices his displeasure to the point where they delay, and maybe an outburst, distracts Atkins to the point where he misses his free throw?

It is one of the more unique situations I've ever heard of in a basketball game.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:33 sbtnoie
1:33
[Comment From Dan - ChicagoDan - Chicago: ] 
Do you think the fact Drago announced his transfer desire, he has a better inclination (inside view) over the chances that Martin will indeed, be back
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:33 Dan - Chicago
1:39
sbtnoie: 
Dan:

Scott Martin's chances of returning for a sixth year had very little to do with Alex Dragicevich deciding that it was best he seek his stardom (playing time, starter's minutes) somewhere else. The fact that Martin may return only adds to Dragicevich's understanding that he wasn't going to play as much as he wanted next season.

Eliminate Martin from the equation. Notre Dame still has Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant, whose roles would minimize Dragicevich's minutes. Sophomore Pat Connaughton stepped in and basically wrestled away Dragicevich's starting spot by doing the dirty work (i.e. rebounding) while also not being shy about letting it fly even if he's missed two or three perimeter shots.

Connaughton also factored heavily into the plans than did Dragicevich. And you also have Michigan State transfer Garrick Sherman, whom Mike Brey would like to pair alongside Jack Cooley at times which means the occasional lineup look of Atkins, Grant, Connaughton, Sherman and Cooley.

Then there's incoming freshman Cameron Biedscheid, who's going to play at least as much and maybe even a little more than Connaughton did as a freshman.

Dragicevich played in every game, made 10 starts and averaged 20.4 minutes of playing time this year. In his eyes, those numbers weren't going to get better, and likely would have decreased, his last two years. So he's headed out the door.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:39 sbtnoie
1:39
[Comment From IrishDuckIrishDuck: ] 
I'm a big Brey fan and a bigger Noie fan. Thanks for the chance to chat about Irish basketball in the off season. It is hard for me ti see Brey having anything greater than an eight man rotation. He may not be able to do that. He just is uncomfortable with his players not having a lot of time with the other players on the floor. It seems next year's team will be deeper than that. Could we see attitude problems? Your thoughts.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:39 IrishDuck
1:42
sbtnoie: 
IrishDuck:

A Noie fan? Man, you've got a lonely life. Just kidding, but thanks for the kind words. And make sure to hang around here every Wednesday at noon in the offseason to talk hoops.

I wrote about the depth issue in last week's SBT. Notre Dame has a chance to be as deep and as talented as its ever been under Brey next season. But that doesn't mean the Irish are suddenly going to go nine, 10 even 11 deep. It's still going to be a seven, eight, rarely nine-man rotation.

But what will be different will be the skill level and the athleticism and the talent of those guys who may be the seventh, eighth and ninth man next season.

Brey's built the success of this program - his program - on playing a core number of guys who know how to play together and take care of the ball. That's not going to change no matter how deep the roster.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:42 sbtnoie
1:47
[Comment From Dan - ChicagoDan - Chicago: ] 
Do you think Connaughton, Sherman, & Biedschied will all play nobody what happens with Ambro & Martin? Would Katenda be the next guy if the 6th year doesn't happen for those guys?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:47 Dan - Chicago
1:50
sbtnoie: 
Dan:

A little confused by the question, but I'll try my best. Regardless of whether Abromaitis and Martin return, Biedscheid, Connaughton and Sherman are going to play big minutes next season.

Say Abromaitis and Martin don't get sixth years, though it might be a longshot now if Martin doesn't return.

Who's next? Maybe it's Eric Katenda, who did play some five-on-five late last season during practices and shown little difficulty despite playing with limited visibility.

Maybe it's Zach Auguste or Austin Burgett or Tom Knight. That's what makes next season so intriguing - a lot of different pieces to move around the board.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:50 sbtnoie
1:57
[Comment From PAULPAUL: ] 
Tom, I have been a season ticket holder for men since they built the Joyce center and now for the women for last 6 years.....why the apathy towards the mens program in attendance? and dont you feel the woman's marketing dept has it all over the men ? The mens basically do nothing to market themselves and then their pricing is so
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:57 PAUL
1:58
sbtnoie: 
Paul:

Way too complex a question to answer in the chat, but yes, the marketing of the women's program does have an impact (and not in a good way) on the men's program.

Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:58 sbtnoie
1:58
[Comment From Jeff - Fort WayneJeff - Fort Wayne: ] 
Do the players or coaches ever mention the crowd and how the attendance has slipped recently? I've been in the house when it's been rocking. A few of the games last year I could have talked to a guy 8 rows away.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:58 Jeff - Fort Wayne
2:00
sbtnoie: 
Jeff:

On the record, they say all the right things about the crowd is great and was loud and gave them energy, but turn off the tape recorders and talk to these guys off the record, and believe me, it bothers them. A whole lot.

It would be different if this team was a bunch of bums going to the NIT or staggering through losing records, but to win at least 10 league games and go nearly undefeated each of the last three years and have so many empty seats?

Notre Dame hoops deserves better. From the student body. From the general public. But maybe most from the administration which may have to work a little harder to fix what is so obviously and painfully broken.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:00 sbtnoie
2:01
[Comment From Brooks Fan ChicagoBrooks Fan Chicago: ] 
Demetrius Jacskon update? Just kidding, it wouldn't be a chat without that question. But on another recurring question, Brey's extension. I do not really recall how many years he has left, and whether an extension is being worked on. I really have no big concerns about him bailing, especially now that bball "hiring season" is over; just curious as to where things stand.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:01 Brooks Fan Chicago
2:02
sbtnoie: 
Brooks:

It will be interesting to see what arrives first - the NCAA decision on the sixth-year guys or Brey's contract extension. I believe he has three seasons remaining on his current deal. The new one should push that pact back into double digits.

And I've learned that "hiring season" never ends in college hoops. Not after Matt Doherty left in July.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:02 sbtnoie
2:09
[Comment From Dan - ChicagoDan - Chicago: ] 
NBA update? Do you think Hansbrough will ever make it? Do you think Luke will be able to stay in the league? Do you think any ND players will be in NBA in about 2 years (Carroll and Murphy seem close to done)?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:09 Dan - Chicago
2:13
sbtnoie: 
Dan:

Somebody is going to give Ben Hansbrough a look. What happens after that likely will be determined by a host of factors - will Hansbrough be confident enough in his ankle to play the way he did in 2010-11? Is the team giving him more than just a token look?

Harangody just needs to find the right situation - as an eighth-, ninth or 10th man on a team loaded with veterans, he'd be a valuable addition. On a team like the Cavs where there are so many young guys, it's been hard for him to crack the rotation.

Troy Murphy looks like he's on the back end of a very solid if not spectacular career. Matt Carroll may be close to the end with Charlotte. I've heard his name come up in terms of the "amnesty" clause where the Bobcats would release him and be able to still sign a player despite having to pay Carroll big bucks.

Still, they don't come any better than Matt Carroll. Not just one of the good guys in this game. One of the best.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:13 sbtnoie
2:13
[Comment From TJ, DCTJ, DC: ] 
Sorry if this is a repeat question -- no one is sure how the Big East Tourney will go now that Uconnhas to sit it out?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:13 TJ, DC
2:14
sbtnoie: 
TJ:

Two fewer games on Tuesday. Instead of four games on the opening day, there will be only two. Then the regular schedule the rest of the week. But all teams still will advance to the Garden for post-season.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:14 sbtnoie
2:14
[Comment From KenKen: ] 
Are the guys currently working out and playing? How much do the players prepare for next year during the off season? And how does the summer session work with workouts and practices?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:14 Ken
2:15
sbtnoie: 
Ken:

They're involved in offseason conditioning with the occasional pickup games. The NCAA also passed a new rule allowing coaching staffs to work two hours a week with players in groups of four.

That will continue throughout the summer. When the coaches are on the road recruiting, it's the team's seniors/captains who organize the daily pickup games.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:15 sbtnoie
2:16
[Comment From john - NJjohn - NJ: ] 
Thanks for the chats and overall great coverage. ND hoops has been a lot more fun to follow than football the last couple years. 2 part question: Do you think Duke would consider Mike Brey when Coach K retires? Could Brey turn it down?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:16 john - NJ
2:18
sbtnoie: 
John:

Two part answer - if and when Mike Krzyzewski retires at Duke and Kevin White is still athletic director at Duke, Mike Brey likely will be on that short list.

But don't look for him to take that job following Mike K. You never want to be the guy who replaces the legend - maybe the guy after the guy. But by that time, Brey will be living the stress-free life back in Rehoboth doing TV work.

Mike Brey to Duke? You never say never in this business, but that's about as close to never as it gets.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:18 sbtnoie
2:18
[Comment From Jeff - Fort WayneJeff - Fort Wayne: ] 
So what are the solutions for the attendance problems? The facility is fantastic, the product is fantastic. Free parking. Is it the price of the tickets? Lack of marketing? The student section seems to have fallen off in recent years - why?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:18 Jeff - Fort Wayne
2:20
sbtnoie: 
Jeff:

It's a toxic mix of so many factors - the most common complaints are the ticket prices, the lack of "marquee" non-league home games, a style of play that people don't embrace and a student body that really doesn't embrace every home game as "must-see."

For the first few years on this beat toward the end of the John Macleod era, all I heard was how fans around town so wanted a winning program to support.

The Irish have the winning. They don't have the support.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:20 sbtnoie
2:20
[Comment From PAULPAUL: ] 
Not that this has anything to do with the total answer of attendance but do you have any idea what the other schools in the Big East chg for mens games ? I realize the ND men are covering the expense for the low girls pricing at this time. All I ever hear from friends from the ND program is lack of major recruiting efforts by Brey.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:20 PAUL
2:23
sbtnoie: 
Paul:

A lack of recruiting effort by Brey? Seriously? The incoming freshman class is ranked among the nation's best. Notre Dame rarely will land the "can't-miss" prospects that go to Kentucky and Duke and Kansas.

As for ticket prices, they're fairly reasonable in relation to other BIg East schools, especially those that play in the NBA arenas. I believe Syracuse fans pay more for tickets at the Carrier Dome, which is a God-awful place to actually watch a game sitting on metal bleachers.

But fans up there don't care - they love their basketball no matter what. Wish we could say the same in South Bend.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:23 sbtnoie
2:23
[Comment From john - NJjohn - NJ: ] 
I like your Duke answer. Just make sure you give Mike Brey your warning about following a legend. Thanks.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:23 john - NJ
2:24
sbtnoie: 
John:

I'll be sure to get Mike Brey on line one right away. Then again, after dealing with me every day for the last six months, he's probably not going to answer. LOL
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:24 sbtnoie
2:24
[Comment From john - NJjohn - NJ: ] 
Of all the "reasons" for low attendance, the non-conf schedule is the dumbest. The Big East schedule provides more than enough marquee games for fans. The people throwing up that excuse must be Purdue or IU fans or rooting for some Big Ten team they'd like to see in South Bend.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:24 john - NJ
2:25
sbtnoie: 
John:

The Big East always has been a tough sell around town - this is the Midwest and people here don't really comprehend the Big East outside of Connecticut and Syracuse. Marquette is a big draw because of the matchup during each school's days of independence. But most of the other schools? People out here can't relate to Villanova or St. John's or Providence of even Cincinnati.

So they choose not to.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:25 sbtnoie
2:25
[Comment From Brooks Fan ChicagoBrooks Fan Chicago: ] 
Ok, Tom, this chat is every week in the off season, right? I just need to budget in blowing off three hours every Wednesday in the middle of the day. I can pretend to be working hard when the boss walks by.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:25 Brooks Fan Chicago
2:26
sbtnoie: 
Brooks:

Book three hours - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. your time, every Wednesday in season and out of season. I'll be here.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:26 sbtnoie
2:26
[Comment From Brooks Fan ChicagoBrooks Fan Chicago: ] 
Tom, I would like to follow up on one of your answers re: attendance at men's games. You mention that the administration must help what is obviously and painfully broken. OK, the Trib has let you go on a sabbatical to take a 2 year job overseeing the ND bball program. Give me four or five things you would wish to accomplish to correct these obvious flaws. And feel free to add a practice faciilty as one of them
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:26 Brooks Fan Chicago
2:30
sbtnoie: 
Brooks:

Question of the day, and one that likely requires some serious thought. But off the top of my head, here are a few:

1. Make ticket prices more affordable.
2. Make sure the student body embraces the program, and if not, find out and correct the reasons why.
3. Improve the relationship between the coaches and players with the general public. That's why it works well with the women's program. The fans relate to the players because they feel they KNOW the players. The men's team? A secret society.
4. Build a stand-alone practice facility to let everyone, fans, recruits, etc., know Notre Dame is serious about its hoops program.

I may have a few more suggestions as the summer progresses.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:30 sbtnoie
2:30
[Comment From Jim TalJim Tal: ] 
Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA. Hi Tom, great insights as always. Just a hypothetical for you. If the Irish and Brey were to flame out and do absolutely nothing in the Big Dance the next two or three years, does that create a scenario whereby ND might consider a coaching change? Or is Brey so locked in, he'll never get bounced by the administration?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:30 Jim Tal
2:35
sbtnoie: 
Jim:

Great to hear from you. He'll be locked in as soon as he signs his contract extension, but if this team doesn't make a deep run in the NCAA tournament and at least get to a Sweet 16 or two, it might be time to start wondering what the Irish can do differently to do something in the NCAA tournament.

I was watching the all-access show about the Denver Nuggets the other day and George Karl said something that made me think of Mike Brey. Karl was talking about how, above anything else in his profession, he wanted to be known as a winner. It's all that really matters to him.

Karl then said it takes far more effort and energy to build a team/program that consistently wins year after year after year than it does to make a one-year sprint to a championship.

Think about that. I think of Mike Brey when I hear Karl's sentiments. To do what Notre Dame has done the past four, five, six years is nothing short of amazing. Especially with what the Irish have done the last three seasons.

But because it ends in something far short of a championship, it's almost taken for granted, that the season, as a whole, is a waste because the NCAA tournament ends prematurely.

Brey doesn't want to hear it, and doesn't believe it, but he really does need to go deep into March these next few years. Otherwise, people are going to believe, wrongly,. that this program is stuck in neutral.



Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:35 sbtnoie
2:52
[Comment From paulpaul: ] 
are you finished or am I ? :)
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:52 paul
2:52
sbtnoie: 
Huh? I can talk hoops all day, but I have a date with my lawnmower here in another hour or so after I pick up my daughter from school.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:52 sbtnoie
2:53
[Comment From Billy K.Billy K.: ] 
If Abro and Martin return. This is a team that fights for a Big East title and is an elite 8 team. Then all the Brey naysayers can go away. Just finished a beef and fries from Portillo's. Thanks for all the great work Tom. Let's have a chat every Wed.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:53 Billy K.
2:56
sbtnoie: 
Billy:

At the very LEAST, this team is built to get to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament the next couple years. Even if that means throttling it back and finishing fifth or sixth or seventh in the Big East.

At this point, it's more important for the program to get to a Sweet 16 or two than it is to chase the double-bye in the Big East. But it's a slippery slope - I understand why Mike Brey puts so much stock in getting one of the four double-byes - doing so guarantees you go to the NCAA tournament. That's no longer the case if you win as many as 10 games in the Big East.

But getting a double-bye has been a "been there, done that" drill for Notre Dame. If it comes down to a double-bye and early NCAA exit or a fifth- or sixth-place finish and a Sweet 16, heck, sign me up for the Sweet 16. Now.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:56 sbtnoie
2:58
[Comment From paulpaul: ] 
I have the same date with my lawn tractor..........let me just say this you do an excellent job on here and on sportsbeat....and want to thank you as being a total Irish fan........but I believe a lot has to do with the marketing......the girls have them beat every which way but loose....they send out emails and keep you up to date on players and videos and promo's........all the time .......example if they score 88 pts during a game...everyone leaving the Joyce gets a coupon for a free big mac...and then their half time shows are usually very entertaining and the men do absolutely zilch...what gets me is the men seemingly dont recognize this issue.......going out to mow...thanx Tom........
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:58 paul
2:59
sbtnoie: 
Paul:

Glad to help. Stop back next week. And you're right - the women's team has out-marketed the men's team in a market that likely can choose to support only one team.

And the men's team comes in second.....
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:59 sbtnoie
3:01
sbtnoie: 
Thanks for all who participated in today's chat. We'll be here same time next week - Wednesday at noon. Tell your friends. Call your neighbors. All are invited.

If you have a question or comment that cannot wait, drop me a note at tnoie@schurz.com" target="_blank" >tnoie@schurz.com. Have a great rest of the week. Take care.

Wednesday April 18, 2012 3:01 sbtnoie
3:01
 

 
 
 



Tom Noie answered readers' Notre Dame basketball questions in a live chat. Read the transcript.


Tom Noie answered readers' Notre Dame basketball questions in a live chat. Read the transcript.

 Live Chat: Talk Notre Dame basketball with Tom Noie(04/18/2012) 
11:56
sbtnoie: 
Welcome back for another Notre Dame men's basketball hoops chat. Hope it's as busy as last week when we had to cut it off with questions still coming after three hours. Proof that there really is no offseason.

Easy to join up and ask about anything on your mind in relation to Irish hoops - just ask a question and be sure to include your name and hometown.

Let's go.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 11:56 sbtnoie
12:26
sbtnoie: 
Don't be shy about asking a question......I can see you out there.....step right up and let it fly.....it's a little lonely around here...
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:26 sbtnoie
12:28
[Comment From JeffJeff: ] 
Any news on the eligibility of Martin and Abro? Why is it taking so long?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:28 Jeff
12:31
sbtnoie: 
Jeff:

Thanks for getting it going. No news on the possible sixth seasons for either Tim Abromaitis or Scott Martin. Still might hear something this week.

Why is it taking so long? Welcome to the world of the NCAA, which moves at its own pace. There have been times during the process when Notre Dame officials have felt like they had submitted all the required paperwork for both, only to have the NCAA respond by asking to see more documentation about this case of that case.

As Mike Brey said last week during the banquet, he doesn't care if it takes another week or month or six weeks, as long as the final answer is the right one. And that would be for Martin to return, and really, for Abromaitis, the model student-athlete the last five years, to have the chance to close out his career in something other than a leg brace.

Stay tuned.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:31 sbtnoie
12:31
[Comment From FredFred: ] 
Hi Tom, Greetings from the Windy City. Following up about the ND practice and support facilities, a big deal was made a couple of years ago about the training table finally being instituted for the football team. Has basketball also added that, or are they still fending for themselves in the dining hall?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:31 Fred
12:34
sbtnoie: 
Fred:

Good question. The basketball team does eat together after practices when they have have to then catch their charter flight to a road game. Don't know what they do when at home for an extended period, mainly because the media is long gone before practice ever starts.

It's probably a little easier for the school to feed the basketball team given that there are fewer players to tend to on a given day. But it's common to see guys going into the locker room before practice with a take-out order from the dining hall or a nearby fast-food restaurant.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:34 sbtnoie
12:41
[Comment From JeffJeff: ] 
Now that the Big East will start to get watered down with less then talented teams and the loss of some great teams, do you think Notre Dame will start to schedule more non-conference games against better competition? You would think that their strength of schedule will really take a hit in coming years if they do not.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:41 Jeff
12:47
sbtnoie: 
Jeff:

Good question. It remains to be seen what will happen, because no one knows what the league schedule might look like when they got to.....gulp....20 teams. Will they still play 18 league games - which means playing teams once each and skipping one entirely every season. Will they split into divisions where you play teams in your division twice and teams in the other division once?

The decision on what to do with the non-league schedule likely will be made on a year-to-year basis, but I wouldn't mind Notre Dame keeping games against Pittsburgh, Syracuse and even West Virginia as good non-league games.

But you're right on - no way the Big East remains one of the top one or two or even three leagues in the country in terms of overall strength of schedule with some of the teams ready to come aboard.

Teams like Central Florida, Houston and Southern Methodist will drag the league's strength of schedule down. That will be managable if the current bottom-feeders of the league (DePaul, Providence, Rutgers) can improve. If they don't, man is it going to be U-G-L-Y.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:47 sbtnoie
12:47
[Comment From TJ, DCTJ, DC: ] 
Saw some Net chatter about TU Hollway and a gang reference at the end of the ND game. You hear anything about that? Is it true that there are photos showing a Xavier player doing what Grant did with 2 minutes left and it not being called? If that is true, sorry, I have a problem.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:47 TJ, DC
12:51
sbtnoie: 
TJ:

Who knows what happened at the end of the Xavier game in the second round of the NCAA tournament. I've heard all kinds of crazy stories. All I know it ended around 12:25 a.m. and I had about 20 minutes to bang out 900 words and get quotes from a pretty somber Irish locker room to make my deadline. Then once I did, everybody was gone.

I do know this - Holloway did indeed lick the palms of his hands and wiped them across the free throw line just before Eric Atkins stepped to said line to attempt his two free throws. Sort of like marking his territory.

As for Jerian Grant's lane violation and why that was called while others might not have been.....it's time to let all that go.

Should a call like that be made in that situation? No way, but the officials had little do with Notre Dame losing a 10-point lead with 12 minutes to play. They had little to do with Eric Atkins committing a critical turnover in the final minute. It happened. It's over. It's time to move on.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:51 sbtnoie
12:52
sbtnoie: 
ESPN recently unveiled its preseason Top 25 and early, early, early Bracketology for the 2012-13 season. ESPN has Notre Dame ranked No. 19 and a No. 9 seed in the NCAA tournament.

Too low? Too high? What are your thoughts on both?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:52 sbtnoie
12:55
[Comment From ShawnShawn: ] 
How is the recruiting going. Do you have a good center coming in, and where do you think ND will finish in the national rankings.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:55 Shawn
12:59
sbtnoie: 
Shawn:

Recruiting is pretty much on cruise control right now - the Irish coaching staff will be looking hard at high school sophomores during the spring evaluation period.

Notre Dame has two commitments from current prep juniors - swingman V.J. Beachem (Fort Wayne) and guard Steve Vasturia (Philadelphia). The Irish have one scholarship to offer the current junior class and it's no secret where they want that scholarship to go - to Marian guard Demetrius Jackson.

If Jackson decides to take his talents elsewhere, Notre Dame likely will use that grant for a college transfer, preferably a guard. The Irish are pretty well set in the front court for the next few years with incoming freshmen Zach Auguste and Austin Burgett, the possible return of Eric Katenda, who has four years of eligibility, two more seasons with Michigan State transfer Garrick Sherman and two more with current power forward Tom Knight. Jack Cooley has one year left.

Big men aren't in the recruiting equation just yet. There's simply no need.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:59 sbtnoie
12:59
[Comment From Bill, ColumbiaBill, Columbia: ] 
Did Brey cancel a summer trip for the team? If so, why?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 12:59 Bill, Columbia
1:03
sbtnoie: 
Bill:

Notre Dame was supposed to go to Toronto in early August as part of its foreign tour this summer. The Irish would receive 10 days of practice time and then play three or four exhibition games in Canada.

The tour sounded like a good idea at the time when the plans were made last summer, but the more the 2011-12 season unfolded, and the Irish ripped off a school record nine-straight Big East wins, won 13 league games and 22 overall, the more the trip made little sense to Brey, who scrapped the idea.

Thanks to this season's success, many questions that might have been answered on the trip have already been answered. This team has a chance to make a deep run in the Big East (and hopefully the NCAA tournament) and a trip to Toronto would unnecessarily extend what might be a long year.

In addition, Mike Brey is very aware that the last two times the Irish went on foreign tours - in 2004 to Barbados and 2008 to Ireland - they didn't make the NCAA tournament.

Brey and his staff and the administration believe that if they're going to do a foreign tour, they should do it right. And doing it right doesn't mean going to Toronto for a few practice games.

There are tentative plans to go to Italy in the summer of 2013.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:03 sbtnoie
1:05
[Comment From Andrew from GRAndrew from GR: ] 
Anyy rumblings about any assistant coaches leaving for head coaching opportunbities elsewhere in the offseason?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:05 Andrew from GR
1:07
sbtnoie: 
Andrew:

Not likely.

All three - Rod Balanis, Martin Ingelsby and Anthony Solomon - want to become head coaches, but none are going to leave for the sake of leaving. It looks like all three will be back in 2012-13 but if a job suddenly opens in the coming months, who knows? Remember, Mike Brey ended up at Notre Dame in July after the job opened early that month, so anything can happen.

Each of the three might want to stick around another year or two and see if the Irish can make a post-season run before looking harder and running their own programs.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:07 sbtnoie
1:15
[Comment From Kevin - SBKevin - SB: ] 
When will next years schedule be out?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:15 Kevin - SB
1:17
sbtnoie: 
Kevin:

Not soon enough.

The Big East usually is one of the last college basketball leagues to finalize its schedule, mainly because a lot of its teams play in buildings (Madison Square Garden, Verizon Center, Wells Fargo Center) that are used by NBA and NHL teams. Those teams get the first pick of dates for the 2012-13 season before the Big East gets the "leftovers."

The list of repeat opponents and home and away opponents usually is released in May. The finalized schedules usually are done in mid- to late-August.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:17 sbtnoie
1:27
[Comment From Dan - ChicagoDan - Chicago: ] 
Any merit to rumors Trent Lockett would consider transferring to ND?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:27 Dan - Chicago
1:29
sbtnoie: 
Dan:

Any thought on that is just that - a rumor. He may be able to play right away next season, but does he want to be a backup who will get spot minutes? Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant are going to log most of the minutes at the guard spot.

It takes a special kind of guy - and absolutely the right kind of guy - to accept a role where he's only getting (at best) six, seven, maybe nine, 10 minutes a night.

In addition, no moves can be made by Notre Dame until the sixth-year situation is ironed out.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:29 sbtnoie
1:30
[Comment From Brooks Fan ChicagoBrooks Fan Chicago: ] 
Tom, I heard you weeks ago on Sportsbeat or somewhere regarding Holloway "marking his territory". Yes, I know we need to let all this go, but at some level, it is a clear taunt. I am bit curious as to whether Coach Brey saw it and if he yelled to any official about it.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:30 Brooks Fan Chicago
1:33
sbtnoie: 
Brooks:

The Notre Dame bench saw what Holloway did and you're absolutely right, it's taunting in every sense of the word but it also left Mike Brey in a bind - does he take the time to state his case to the officials, which takes time and would delay the game while Eric Atkins is ready to shoot?

What if he voices his displeasure to the point where they delay, and maybe an outburst, distracts Atkins to the point where he misses his free throw?

It is one of the more unique situations I've ever heard of in a basketball game.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:33 sbtnoie
1:33
[Comment From Dan - ChicagoDan - Chicago: ] 
Do you think the fact Drago announced his transfer desire, he has a better inclination (inside view) over the chances that Martin will indeed, be back
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:33 Dan - Chicago
1:39
sbtnoie: 
Dan:

Scott Martin's chances of returning for a sixth year had very little to do with Alex Dragicevich deciding that it was best he seek his stardom (playing time, starter's minutes) somewhere else. The fact that Martin may return only adds to Dragicevich's understanding that he wasn't going to play as much as he wanted next season.

Eliminate Martin from the equation. Notre Dame still has Eric Atkins and Jerian Grant, whose roles would minimize Dragicevich's minutes. Sophomore Pat Connaughton stepped in and basically wrestled away Dragicevich's starting spot by doing the dirty work (i.e. rebounding) while also not being shy about letting it fly even if he's missed two or three perimeter shots.

Connaughton also factored heavily into the plans than did Dragicevich. And you also have Michigan State transfer Garrick Sherman, whom Mike Brey would like to pair alongside Jack Cooley at times which means the occasional lineup look of Atkins, Grant, Connaughton, Sherman and Cooley.

Then there's incoming freshman Cameron Biedscheid, who's going to play at least as much and maybe even a little more than Connaughton did as a freshman.

Dragicevich played in every game, made 10 starts and averaged 20.4 minutes of playing time this year. In his eyes, those numbers weren't going to get better, and likely would have decreased, his last two years. So he's headed out the door.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:39 sbtnoie
1:39
[Comment From IrishDuckIrishDuck: ] 
I'm a big Brey fan and a bigger Noie fan. Thanks for the chance to chat about Irish basketball in the off season. It is hard for me ti see Brey having anything greater than an eight man rotation. He may not be able to do that. He just is uncomfortable with his players not having a lot of time with the other players on the floor. It seems next year's team will be deeper than that. Could we see attitude problems? Your thoughts.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:39 IrishDuck
1:42
sbtnoie: 
IrishDuck:

A Noie fan? Man, you've got a lonely life. Just kidding, but thanks for the kind words. And make sure to hang around here every Wednesday at noon in the offseason to talk hoops.

I wrote about the depth issue in last week's SBT. Notre Dame has a chance to be as deep and as talented as its ever been under Brey next season. But that doesn't mean the Irish are suddenly going to go nine, 10 even 11 deep. It's still going to be a seven, eight, rarely nine-man rotation.

But what will be different will be the skill level and the athleticism and the talent of those guys who may be the seventh, eighth and ninth man next season.

Brey's built the success of this program - his program - on playing a core number of guys who know how to play together and take care of the ball. That's not going to change no matter how deep the roster.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:42 sbtnoie
1:47
[Comment From Dan - ChicagoDan - Chicago: ] 
Do you think Connaughton, Sherman, & Biedschied will all play nobody what happens with Ambro & Martin? Would Katenda be the next guy if the 6th year doesn't happen for those guys?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:47 Dan - Chicago
1:50
sbtnoie: 
Dan:

A little confused by the question, but I'll try my best. Regardless of whether Abromaitis and Martin return, Biedscheid, Connaughton and Sherman are going to play big minutes next season.

Say Abromaitis and Martin don't get sixth years, though it might be a longshot now if Martin doesn't return.

Who's next? Maybe it's Eric Katenda, who did play some five-on-five late last season during practices and shown little difficulty despite playing with limited visibility.

Maybe it's Zach Auguste or Austin Burgett or Tom Knight. That's what makes next season so intriguing - a lot of different pieces to move around the board.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:50 sbtnoie
1:57
[Comment From PAULPAUL: ] 
Tom, I have been a season ticket holder for men since they built the Joyce center and now for the women for last 6 years.....why the apathy towards the mens program in attendance? and dont you feel the woman's marketing dept has it all over the men ? The mens basically do nothing to market themselves and then their pricing is so
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:57 PAUL
1:58
sbtnoie: 
Paul:

Way too complex a question to answer in the chat, but yes, the marketing of the women's program does have an impact (and not in a good way) on the men's program.

Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:58 sbtnoie
1:58
[Comment From Jeff - Fort WayneJeff - Fort Wayne: ] 
Do the players or coaches ever mention the crowd and how the attendance has slipped recently? I've been in the house when it's been rocking. A few of the games last year I could have talked to a guy 8 rows away.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 1:58 Jeff - Fort Wayne
2:00
sbtnoie: 
Jeff:

On the record, they say all the right things about the crowd is great and was loud and gave them energy, but turn off the tape recorders and talk to these guys off the record, and believe me, it bothers them. A whole lot.

It would be different if this team was a bunch of bums going to the NIT or staggering through losing records, but to win at least 10 league games and go nearly undefeated each of the last three years and have so many empty seats?

Notre Dame hoops deserves better. From the student body. From the general public. But maybe most from the administration which may have to work a little harder to fix what is so obviously and painfully broken.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:00 sbtnoie
2:01
[Comment From Brooks Fan ChicagoBrooks Fan Chicago: ] 
Demetrius Jacskon update? Just kidding, it wouldn't be a chat without that question. But on another recurring question, Brey's extension. I do not really recall how many years he has left, and whether an extension is being worked on. I really have no big concerns about him bailing, especially now that bball "hiring season" is over; just curious as to where things stand.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:01 Brooks Fan Chicago
2:02
sbtnoie: 
Brooks:

It will be interesting to see what arrives first - the NCAA decision on the sixth-year guys or Brey's contract extension. I believe he has three seasons remaining on his current deal. The new one should push that pact back into double digits.

And I've learned that "hiring season" never ends in college hoops. Not after Matt Doherty left in July.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:02 sbtnoie
2:09
[Comment From Dan - ChicagoDan - Chicago: ] 
NBA update? Do you think Hansbrough will ever make it? Do you think Luke will be able to stay in the league? Do you think any ND players will be in NBA in about 2 years (Carroll and Murphy seem close to done)?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:09 Dan - Chicago
2:13
sbtnoie: 
Dan:

Somebody is going to give Ben Hansbrough a look. What happens after that likely will be determined by a host of factors - will Hansbrough be confident enough in his ankle to play the way he did in 2010-11? Is the team giving him more than just a token look?

Harangody just needs to find the right situation - as an eighth-, ninth or 10th man on a team loaded with veterans, he'd be a valuable addition. On a team like the Cavs where there are so many young guys, it's been hard for him to crack the rotation.

Troy Murphy looks like he's on the back end of a very solid if not spectacular career. Matt Carroll may be close to the end with Charlotte. I've heard his name come up in terms of the "amnesty" clause where the Bobcats would release him and be able to still sign a player despite having to pay Carroll big bucks.

Still, they don't come any better than Matt Carroll. Not just one of the good guys in this game. One of the best.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:13 sbtnoie
2:13
[Comment From TJ, DCTJ, DC: ] 
Sorry if this is a repeat question -- no one is sure how the Big East Tourney will go now that Uconnhas to sit it out?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:13 TJ, DC
2:14
sbtnoie: 
TJ:

Two fewer games on Tuesday. Instead of four games on the opening day, there will be only two. Then the regular schedule the rest of the week. But all teams still will advance to the Garden for post-season.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:14 sbtnoie
2:14
[Comment From KenKen: ] 
Are the guys currently working out and playing? How much do the players prepare for next year during the off season? And how does the summer session work with workouts and practices?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:14 Ken
2:15
sbtnoie: 
Ken:

They're involved in offseason conditioning with the occasional pickup games. The NCAA also passed a new rule allowing coaching staffs to work two hours a week with players in groups of four.

That will continue throughout the summer. When the coaches are on the road recruiting, it's the team's seniors/captains who organize the daily pickup games.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:15 sbtnoie
2:16
[Comment From john - NJjohn - NJ: ] 
Thanks for the chats and overall great coverage. ND hoops has been a lot more fun to follow than football the last couple years. 2 part question: Do you think Duke would consider Mike Brey when Coach K retires? Could Brey turn it down?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:16 john - NJ
2:18
sbtnoie: 
John:

Two part answer - if and when Mike Krzyzewski retires at Duke and Kevin White is still athletic director at Duke, Mike Brey likely will be on that short list.

But don't look for him to take that job following Mike K. You never want to be the guy who replaces the legend - maybe the guy after the guy. But by that time, Brey will be living the stress-free life back in Rehoboth doing TV work.

Mike Brey to Duke? You never say never in this business, but that's about as close to never as it gets.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:18 sbtnoie
2:18
[Comment From Jeff - Fort WayneJeff - Fort Wayne: ] 
So what are the solutions for the attendance problems? The facility is fantastic, the product is fantastic. Free parking. Is it the price of the tickets? Lack of marketing? The student section seems to have fallen off in recent years - why?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:18 Jeff - Fort Wayne
2:20
sbtnoie: 
Jeff:

It's a toxic mix of so many factors - the most common complaints are the ticket prices, the lack of "marquee" non-league home games, a style of play that people don't embrace and a student body that really doesn't embrace every home game as "must-see."

For the first few years on this beat toward the end of the John Macleod era, all I heard was how fans around town so wanted a winning program to support.

The Irish have the winning. They don't have the support.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:20 sbtnoie
2:20
[Comment From PAULPAUL: ] 
Not that this has anything to do with the total answer of attendance but do you have any idea what the other schools in the Big East chg for mens games ? I realize the ND men are covering the expense for the low girls pricing at this time. All I ever hear from friends from the ND program is lack of major recruiting efforts by Brey.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:20 PAUL
2:23
sbtnoie: 
Paul:

A lack of recruiting effort by Brey? Seriously? The incoming freshman class is ranked among the nation's best. Notre Dame rarely will land the "can't-miss" prospects that go to Kentucky and Duke and Kansas.

As for ticket prices, they're fairly reasonable in relation to other BIg East schools, especially those that play in the NBA arenas. I believe Syracuse fans pay more for tickets at the Carrier Dome, which is a God-awful place to actually watch a game sitting on metal bleachers.

But fans up there don't care - they love their basketball no matter what. Wish we could say the same in South Bend.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:23 sbtnoie
2:23
[Comment From john - NJjohn - NJ: ] 
I like your Duke answer. Just make sure you give Mike Brey your warning about following a legend. Thanks.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:23 john - NJ
2:24
sbtnoie: 
John:

I'll be sure to get Mike Brey on line one right away. Then again, after dealing with me every day for the last six months, he's probably not going to answer. LOL
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:24 sbtnoie
2:24
[Comment From john - NJjohn - NJ: ] 
Of all the "reasons" for low attendance, the non-conf schedule is the dumbest. The Big East schedule provides more than enough marquee games for fans. The people throwing up that excuse must be Purdue or IU fans or rooting for some Big Ten team they'd like to see in South Bend.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:24 john - NJ
2:25
sbtnoie: 
John:

The Big East always has been a tough sell around town - this is the Midwest and people here don't really comprehend the Big East outside of Connecticut and Syracuse. Marquette is a big draw because of the matchup during each school's days of independence. But most of the other schools? People out here can't relate to Villanova or St. John's or Providence of even Cincinnati.

So they choose not to.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:25 sbtnoie
2:25
[Comment From Brooks Fan ChicagoBrooks Fan Chicago: ] 
Ok, Tom, this chat is every week in the off season, right? I just need to budget in blowing off three hours every Wednesday in the middle of the day. I can pretend to be working hard when the boss walks by.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:25 Brooks Fan Chicago
2:26
sbtnoie: 
Brooks:

Book three hours - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. your time, every Wednesday in season and out of season. I'll be here.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:26 sbtnoie
2:26
[Comment From Brooks Fan ChicagoBrooks Fan Chicago: ] 
Tom, I would like to follow up on one of your answers re: attendance at men's games. You mention that the administration must help what is obviously and painfully broken. OK, the Trib has let you go on a sabbatical to take a 2 year job overseeing the ND bball program. Give me four or five things you would wish to accomplish to correct these obvious flaws. And feel free to add a practice faciilty as one of them
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:26 Brooks Fan Chicago
2:30
sbtnoie: 
Brooks:

Question of the day, and one that likely requires some serious thought. But off the top of my head, here are a few:

1. Make ticket prices more affordable.
2. Make sure the student body embraces the program, and if not, find out and correct the reasons why.
3. Improve the relationship between the coaches and players with the general public. That's why it works well with the women's program. The fans relate to the players because they feel they KNOW the players. The men's team? A secret society.
4. Build a stand-alone practice facility to let everyone, fans, recruits, etc., know Notre Dame is serious about its hoops program.

I may have a few more suggestions as the summer progresses.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:30 sbtnoie
2:30
[Comment From Jim TalJim Tal: ] 
Jim Tal, Valley Center, CA. Hi Tom, great insights as always. Just a hypothetical for you. If the Irish and Brey were to flame out and do absolutely nothing in the Big Dance the next two or three years, does that create a scenario whereby ND might consider a coaching change? Or is Brey so locked in, he'll never get bounced by the administration?
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:30 Jim Tal
2:35
sbtnoie: 
Jim:

Great to hear from you. He'll be locked in as soon as he signs his contract extension, but if this team doesn't make a deep run in the NCAA tournament and at least get to a Sweet 16 or two, it might be time to start wondering what the Irish can do differently to do something in the NCAA tournament.

I was watching the all-access show about the Denver Nuggets the other day and George Karl said something that made me think of Mike Brey. Karl was talking about how, above anything else in his profession, he wanted to be known as a winner. It's all that really matters to him.

Karl then said it takes far more effort and energy to build a team/program that consistently wins year after year after year than it does to make a one-year sprint to a championship.

Think about that. I think of Mike Brey when I hear Karl's sentiments. To do what Notre Dame has done the past four, five, six years is nothing short of amazing. Especially with what the Irish have done the last three seasons.

But because it ends in something far short of a championship, it's almost taken for granted, that the season, as a whole, is a waste because the NCAA tournament ends prematurely.

Brey doesn't want to hear it, and doesn't believe it, but he really does need to go deep into March these next few years. Otherwise, people are going to believe, wrongly,. that this program is stuck in neutral.



Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:35 sbtnoie
2:52
[Comment From paulpaul: ] 
are you finished or am I ? :)
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:52 paul
2:52
sbtnoie: 
Huh? I can talk hoops all day, but I have a date with my lawnmower here in another hour or so after I pick up my daughter from school.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:52 sbtnoie
2:53
[Comment From Billy K.Billy K.: ] 
If Abro and Martin return. This is a team that fights for a Big East title and is an elite 8 team. Then all the Brey naysayers can go away. Just finished a beef and fries from Portillo's. Thanks for all the great work Tom. Let's have a chat every Wed.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:53 Billy K.
2:56
sbtnoie: 
Billy:

At the very LEAST, this team is built to get to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament the next couple years. Even if that means throttling it back and finishing fifth or sixth or seventh in the Big East.

At this point, it's more important for the program to get to a Sweet 16 or two than it is to chase the double-bye in the Big East. But it's a slippery slope - I understand why Mike Brey puts so much stock in getting one of the four double-byes - doing so guarantees you go to the NCAA tournament. That's no longer the case if you win as many as 10 games in the Big East.

But getting a double-bye has been a "been there, done that" drill for Notre Dame. If it comes down to a double-bye and early NCAA exit or a fifth- or sixth-place finish and a Sweet 16, heck, sign me up for the Sweet 16. Now.
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:56 sbtnoie
2:58
[Comment From paulpaul: ] 
I have the same date with my lawn tractor..........let me just say this you do an excellent job on here and on sportsbeat....and want to thank you as being a total Irish fan........but I believe a lot has to do with the marketing......the girls have them beat every which way but loose....they send out emails and keep you up to date on players and videos and promo's........all the time .......example if they score 88 pts during a game...everyone leaving the Joyce gets a coupon for a free big mac...and then their half time shows are usually very entertaining and the men do absolutely zilch...what gets me is the men seemingly dont recognize this issue.......going out to mow...thanx Tom........
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:58 paul
2:59
sbtnoie: 
Paul:

Glad to help. Stop back next week. And you're right - the women's team has out-marketed the men's team in a market that likely can choose to support only one team.

And the men's team comes in second.....
Wednesday April 18, 2012 2:59 sbtnoie
3:01
sbtnoie: 
Thanks for all who participated in today's chat. We'll be here same time next week - Wednesday at noon. Tell your friends. Call your neighbors. All are invited.

If you have a question or comment that cannot wait, drop me a note at tnoie@schurz.com" target="_blank" >tnoie@schurz.com. Have a great rest of the week. Take care.

Wednesday April 18, 2012 3:01 sbtnoie
3:01
 

 
 
 





Tom Lemming

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