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Chat Transcript: Talk Notre Dame basketball with Tom Noie

4:00 pm, May 30, 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(05/30/2012) 
12:07
Tom Noie: 
Back for another week talking Notre Dame hoops. Nothing snappy or witty to offer - must be the post-Memorial Day blues.

Anyway, be sure to include your name and town when asking a question or posting a comment. Pretty simple. Easy. Let's get going.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:07 Tom Noie
12:10
[Comment From shaneshane: ] 
Tom, do you expect Eric Katenda to play at all this year?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:10 shane
12:13
Tom Noie: 
Shane:

Good question and I wish I had an answer. At the end of the year, based on what the coaching staff had said about Eric Katenda, that he might see some minutes this season. But then Mike Brey mentioned earlier this spring after the season ended that Katenda might benefit from taking another year where he just practices and works out to better acclimate himself to the loss of vision in his one eye.

That's not written in stone - Brey has said that the staff has toyed with the idea of holding Katenda out for another year, but if Katenda proves that he's adjusted quickly than anyone has imagined, he might work his way into the rotation.

I haven't seen Eric Katenda participate in practice since he arrived on campus the week of the Syracuse game. Notre Dame may open an offseason practice for the media. If that happens, we'll have a better idea of Katenda's skill set and just where he fits in.

Katenda has insisted all along since the injury that he's going to play college basketball. Don't doubt him.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:13 Tom Noie
12:15
[Comment From BasilBasil: ] 
Do you know when Kyle Washington will be visiting Notre Dame? If the Irish can land Mr. Washington, we might have a top 15 recruiting class in 2013.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:15 Basil
12:17
Tom Noie: 
Basil:

I've heard maybe sometime next month on Kyle Washington, a a big man out of Chicago but I don't know if this team needs a big man. Look at next season - Cooley, Sherman, Knight, Auguste, maybe Katenda, Burgett. Only Cooley's eligibility ends after next season.

Washington would be intriguing, but Notre Dame might first want to make sure it lands a point guard to go with current commitments V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:17 Tom Noie
12:17
[Comment From shaneshane: ] 
thanks for the info!
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:17 shane
12:17
Tom Noie: 
Shane:

You're welcome. Stop back and visit and chat anytime. We'll be here every Wednesday whether the Irish are home or away, whether it's winter, spring or summer.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:17 Tom Noie
12:17
[Comment From MatthewMatthew: ] 
Does Notre Dame have walk on try outs? Do we even have a walk on that is on the roster?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:17 Matthew
12:19
Tom Noie: 
Matthew:

Notre Dame typically holds walk-on tryouts in the fall soon after the semester starts. But just because walk-on tryouts are held doesn't mean the Irish will automatically add a player. The current walk-on on the roster - guard Patrick Crowley - auditioned one year that Notre Dame didn't need a walk-on because it already had Tom Kopko. Once Kopko graduated, Crowley was added.

Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:19 Tom Noie
12:19
[Comment From MikeMike: ] 
I can only think of a handful of Indiana kids that Brey has recruited. Why doesn't Brey hit the Hooiser state a little harder? It doesn't seem that he has a strong connection in the state.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:19 Mike
12:23
Tom Noie: 
Mike:

Disagree. Misconception. He's recruited his share of Indiana kids - Luke Zeller, Luke Harnagody, Austin Burgett this year, V.J. Beachem next year.

Notre Dame recruits Indiana kids the same way it recruits Chicago kids or New Jersey kids or New England kids - it has to be the right fit for all involved. That's not always the case, and it's not always because Notre Dame decides it's not right.

Mike Brey and his staff have recruited their share of Indiana kids who won't give Notre Dame a second look because, honestly, they don't want to play in the Big East. It's a tricky situation. Notre Dame will offer a great education, but if you want to play close to home, as would be the case at Indiana or Purdue for the Big Ten, probably not going to happen.

You don't have to get an Indiana kid every year, but if you get your share - 1 here, 1 there, that's still going to give you a strong presence in the state.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:23 Tom Noie
12:23
[Comment From JohnJohn: ] 
Ok, I'll be the first to ask. Anything new with Demtruis Jackson?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:23 John
12:24
Tom Noie: 
John:

OK, the chat is official - we've reached Demetrius Jackson territory.

Nope, nothing new with Jackson - he's done with school for the year and playing AAU ball, still keeping his options open. Hopes to have a decision before the start of his senior season.

Stay tuned.

Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:24 Tom Noie
12:24
[Comment From RogerRoger: ] 
It doesn't seem that the Notre Dame basketball program has a bunch of booze hounds on it like the football does. What does Brey do to keep his players out of trouble so well. I think he should offer so advise to Kelly, because BK seems to be failing in that regard.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:24 Roger
12:27
Tom Noie: 
Roger:

Booze hounds? Ha, good one. Actually, Tim Abromaitis and Eric Atkins were arrested for underage drinking a couple years ago at a hockey house party that was busted up by the authorities.

Brey actually joked that having Abromaitis and Atkins arrested gave his team some street cred within the Big East, where a whole of schools have their share of disciplinary problems.

Both spent considerable time running sprints for strength and conditioning coach Tony Rolinski. Brey makes is clear and if you mess up once, you better not mess up again. And the message is received loud and clear from everyone.

I don't know that the guys on the basketball team hang out any more or less than the football team, but I do know that policing 13 college kids is a whole lot easier than making sure 85 kids tow the company line.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:27 Tom Noie
12:31
[Comment From WalterWalter: ] 
@ Roger, I'm sure the basketball players go out on Friday nights just the same as the football players do. Its just that they don't run from the cops and start fighting them once their caught. (FYI - I do think its great that Rees showed that cops what time it was, got him arrested but all cops need to be brought back to reality every now and then)
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:31 Walter
12:32
Tom Noie: 
There you go, though I don't know that Rees "showed the cops what time it was." If he did, that charge would have been boosted to a felony - and his Notre Dame days as a student and a quarterback would be over.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:32 Tom Noie
12:34
[Comment From RoyRoy: ] 
Notre Dame always schedules cupcakes before the Big East season starts. I think they should play Bethel for a little local flavor. Is there that big of difference between Bethel and Dartmouth or Deleware St?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:34 Roy
12:37
Tom Noie: 
Roy:

Name a team that doesn't schedule its share of cupcakes before the start of its league schedule. Every team in the country does it.

But play Bethel? Why in the world would Notre Dame play Bethel in a regular-season game. Win, and everyone will shrug and say, Meh, you're supposed to beat an NAIA team. Lose for whatever reason and it torpedoes your season. Beating an NAIA or Division II school does not count toward your final win total in the eyes of the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Only bad could come with playing Bethel, so you don't do it. Ever.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:37 Tom Noie
12:38
[Comment From MarkMark: ] 
Rapheal Smith from Riley HS made the IU team last year as a walk on. He must have some skills. Was Brey ever aware of him?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:38 Mark
12:40
Tom Noie: 
Mark:

Given that he was a local kid you'd think he'd be silly not to know about him, but again this goes back to the "Why doesn't Notre Dame recruit Indiana kids more?"

Not every kid in Indiana wants to or has the academics to get into Notre Dame. Same with local kids. Just because he grew up hooping in Michiana doesn't necessarily mean he wants to go to college close to home.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:40 Tom Noie
12:42
[Comment From GeorgeGeorge: ] 
I like Mark's question about Smith from Riley. Come to think of it, I can only remember 1 South Bend player ever on the ND roster. Michael Smith from South Bend LaSalle in the late 80's. Has there been more SB players that I'm forgetting about?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:42 George
12:44
Tom Noie: 
George:

Pete Miller from South Bend St. Joseph's was the last area prep player to stay home and attend Notre Dame. He did so as a walk-on before eventually earning a scholarship.

Quick, name an area player who went elsewhere instead of Notre Dame......Cedric Moodie? Brandon McKnight? Moodie never would have made it past admissions....McKnight went to Purdue after a solid relationship with former assistant and current Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin.

Not signing a South Bend isn't necessarily like St. John's not signing a New York City kid.

Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:44 Tom Noie
12:47
[Comment From GeorgeGeorge: ] 
Jeermal Slyvester (Ball St.) Andre Owens (Ok. St) Jeron Cornell (Purdue) Lee Nailon (TCU)
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:47 George
12:48
Tom Noie: 
George:

Four players who would have gone 0-for-4 academically. Lee Nailon was an NBA-type player.......books not necessarily his best option.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:48 Tom Noie
12:55
[Comment From jDub, Fort WaynejDub, Fort Wayne: ] 
You have mentioned in the past about how many kids, say out of the top 100 recruits in a given year, would qualify for ND. You have now mentioned that you seem to know which kids, maybe just locally, would have qualified academically. Is this common knowledge about these kids locally or can you actually get statistics on this somehow, either from ND or from some other source?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:55 jDub, Fort Wayne
1:02
Tom Noie: 
JDub:

It was common knowledge that academics wasn't high on the priority list of a Lee Nailon. Jaraan Cornell had to work hard at it but even coming out of high school, he just didn't have the grades to get into Notre Dame.

Prospects who consider Notre Dame have a common thread of attending a private high school or one where academics are stressed a little stronger than an inner-city school. Look at the high schools of kids on the Notre Dame roster - private schools, prep schools, schools that have solid academic reputations.

A kid like Demetrius Jackson, who attends private Marian High School is more likely to follow a similar path of college studies that Notre Dame wants to see than a Lee Nailon at a public city school at Clay.

Few kids do - of the nation's Top 100 prospects, one coach who has worked in the Big East told me that maybe - MAYBE - 10 of those kids would qualify academically for Notre Dame.

If you don't trust your sources, the only way to get statistics on the academics of these kids is to get a copy of their actual high school transcripts - good luck with that. Grade-point averages and even SAT scores tend to be like heights - a little inflated.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:02 Tom Noie
1:16
[Comment From BruceBruce: ] 
Tom, I think I know what you are saying,,,, South Bend schools having been failing our young people for years!!! I agree with you, South Bend Schools are the joke of the state.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:16 Bruce
1:17
Tom Noie: 
Bruce:

We moved out of South Bend for P-H-M 12 years ago so my son could have a little stability in his education. One of the best moves we've ever made.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:17 Tom Noie
1:20
Tom Noie: 
There was talk last week from Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis wanting to schedule Notre Dame to play on an aircraft carrier in 2013. From what I'm told, Irish not interested in next year. Maybe down the line.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:20 Tom Noie
1:22
[Comment From RikRik: ] 
It seems that Demtruis Jackson and his AAU coach Rod Creech are pretty close. Has Brey ever spoke with Creech about Jackson? Could Creech be an ally for the Irish? or does he stay out of the picture?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:22 Rik
1:24
Tom Noie: 
Rik:

Having an AAU coach help get a kid is bad business for Notre Dame. The AAU coach isn't going to be there every day once the kid gets to college. Rod Creech might put a good word in to Jackson about Notre Dame if he believes that's his best decision, but I bet Brey and his staff will leave recruiting the AAU coach for some of the other schools in the sometimes.....OK, often shady world of recruiting.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:24 Tom Noie
1:31
[Comment From jbakerjbaker: ] 
Any word on who ND will be playing in the opening rounds of the Coaches v Cancer tournament? I've heard Evansville could be making a trip to South Bend, any truth to that rumor?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:31 jbaker
1:32
Tom Noie: 
jbaker:

Evansville? Maybe. But a little too early for that. Best part of that tournament is that Notre Dame advances to Barlcays Center in Brooklyn along with Brigham Young, Florida State and St. Joseph's (Pa.). We'll get to see what a billion-dollar arena looks like.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:32 Tom Noie
1:33
[Comment From Jim Tal, Valley CenterJim Tal, Valley Center: ] 
Good afternoon Tom. Just was wondering who you would include in your top 5 ex-Irish players who went on to have success in the pros?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:33 Jim Tal, Valley Center
1:35
Tom Noie: 
Jim:

Good to hear from you, and great question. Top 5 Irish in the Pros all-time? How about Adrian Dantley, John Paxson, Kelly Tripucka, Pat Garrity and Troy Murphy.

Murphy's had a rough go the last couple of years, but he was a 15-and-12 guy for a long, long time. Problem was, he played out in Golden State where he fell off the hoops map.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:35 Tom Noie
1:36
[Comment From Vince, GrangerVince, Granger: ] 
Don't forget local Marian product BJ Kloska who walked onto the Irish team in the late 90's and I think early 2000's.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:36 Vince, Granger
1:36
Tom Noie: 
Vince:

Good call. Forget about BJ, one of the good guys, mainly because it was right there with the whole Doherty-Brey coaching hiring/leaving/search/hiring whirlwind of 1999-2000.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:36 Tom Noie
1:43
[Comment From SteveSteve: ] 
Didn't BJ Kloska go to Marian? I think Demtruis Jackson passed him up as Marians all time leading scorer.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:43 Steve
1:44
Tom Noie: 
Steve:

Your are correct. He's a Marian guy as well, and could have been the school's all-time leading scorer before Jackson. He was a solid guard. Guy could play.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:44 Tom Noie
1:44
[Comment From AaronAaron: ] 
Want kind of person was Matt Doherty as Irish head coach? I know he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way at UNC. Was he an arrogant , loud mouth at ND like he was a UNC?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:44 Aaron
1:49
Tom Noie: 
Aaron:

People can say what they want about Matt Doherty and what he might have or might not have done had he stayed at Notre Dame, but for that one year, he was exactly what this program needed after sleep-walking through much of the 90s.

Doherty brought an energy, albeit a bit batty sometimes in dealing with fans, players and the media, but he gave the program some life. He had some shortcomings as an in-game coach - remember the year Notre Dame was shellacked at Rutgers where Todd Billet kept hitting 3s? It was as if the Irish hadn't scouted the Knights at all.

It's hard to say that Doherty would have had smiliar success/non-success had he stayed at Notre Dame that he did at Carolina. Doherty was pushed into taking that job by a certain someone (last name Jordan, first name Michael) and he simply wasn't prepared for that pressure-cooker. The fact he was a former player made it even worse.

He was arrogant at Notre Dame, but heck, the guy played with Jordan and Worthy and Perkins in college and won a national championship. He was used to a certain level of excellence that not a lot people in South Bend could fathom.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:49 Tom Noie
1:49
[Comment From JohnJohn: ] 
Can we take a step back in time to the 90's? I remember when the Irish hired John McCloud, I thought he would bring a NBA style to Notre Dame and we would be a top 20 team , year in and year out. What happened in the 90's , why did McCloud fail so bad?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:49 John
1:54
Tom Noie: 
John:

Easy....the Big East came calling in the mid-1990s and any identity the Irish had forged as an independent - as well as its recent history - was chucked out the window.

When Notre Dame joined the Big East, it struggled to establish its identity. Independence of college basketball became so out-dated. What was Irish basketball in the Big East? Nobody knew for sure. You didn't have to go to Notre Dame or a "known" hoops program to be on national TV.

College basketball changed and Notre Dame simply was too slow and probably a bit too stubborn to change with it.

It's taken all these years for Notre Dame to finally have firm footing in college basketball - the Irish have an identity in the Big East, it's part of the program's daily fabric. That's why a move to another conference other than the ACC would put the Irish back where they were in those dark days of the 1990s.

That's what Jack Swarbrick and university president John Jenkins may have to one day decide - is it worth to scrap the identities of a whole lot of the school's programs to salvage football independence?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:54 Tom Noie
1:55
[Comment From Marc, the RegionMarc, the Region: ] 
Tom, Any news on Nic Moore?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:55 Marc, the Region
1:59
Tom Noie: 
Marc:

Good to hear from someone in the Region.

Nothing new with Moore.

Warsaw's Nic Moore wants to transfer from Illinois State and is looking at Notre Dame as a possible destination. He'll have to sit out the 2012-13 season under NCAA transfer regulations.

Would he fit at Notre Dame? Tough to say. The Irish will have Eric Atkins (senior), Jerian Grant (junior), Cameron Biedscheid (sophomore), Pat Connaughton (junior) and Steve Vasturia (freshman) in the guard/wing spots with the possibility of adding Demetrius Jackson (freshman) once Moore becomes eligible.

Moore's a scorer first. Mike Brey might want more of a true point than another scorer with that group. All indications I've received is that the Irish are interested in Moore, but not to a serious degree.

Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:59 Tom Noie
2:16
Tom Noie: 
Thanks for everyone who stopped in for a few minutes, kicked the tires and even decided to take a test drive. We'll be here same time (noon) same day (Wednesday) next week.

If you have a question or comment that cannot wait, drop me a note at tnoie@schurz.com" target="_blank" >tnoie@schurz.com. Take care.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 2:16 Tom Noie
2:17
 

 
 
 



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(05/30/2012) 
12:07
Tom Noie: 
Back for another week talking Notre Dame hoops. Nothing snappy or witty to offer - must be the post-Memorial Day blues.

Anyway, be sure to include your name and town when asking a question or posting a comment. Pretty simple. Easy. Let's get going.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:07 Tom Noie
12:10
[Comment From shaneshane: ] 
Tom, do you expect Eric Katenda to play at all this year?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:10 shane
12:13
Tom Noie: 
Shane:

Good question and I wish I had an answer. At the end of the year, based on what the coaching staff had said about Eric Katenda, that he might see some minutes this season. But then Mike Brey mentioned earlier this spring after the season ended that Katenda might benefit from taking another year where he just practices and works out to better acclimate himself to the loss of vision in his one eye.

That's not written in stone - Brey has said that the staff has toyed with the idea of holding Katenda out for another year, but if Katenda proves that he's adjusted quickly than anyone has imagined, he might work his way into the rotation.

I haven't seen Eric Katenda participate in practice since he arrived on campus the week of the Syracuse game. Notre Dame may open an offseason practice for the media. If that happens, we'll have a better idea of Katenda's skill set and just where he fits in.

Katenda has insisted all along since the injury that he's going to play college basketball. Don't doubt him.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:13 Tom Noie
12:15
[Comment From BasilBasil: ] 
Do you know when Kyle Washington will be visiting Notre Dame? If the Irish can land Mr. Washington, we might have a top 15 recruiting class in 2013.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:15 Basil
12:17
Tom Noie: 
Basil:

I've heard maybe sometime next month on Kyle Washington, a a big man out of Chicago but I don't know if this team needs a big man. Look at next season - Cooley, Sherman, Knight, Auguste, maybe Katenda, Burgett. Only Cooley's eligibility ends after next season.

Washington would be intriguing, but Notre Dame might first want to make sure it lands a point guard to go with current commitments V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:17 Tom Noie
12:17
[Comment From shaneshane: ] 
thanks for the info!
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:17 shane
12:17
Tom Noie: 
Shane:

You're welcome. Stop back and visit and chat anytime. We'll be here every Wednesday whether the Irish are home or away, whether it's winter, spring or summer.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:17 Tom Noie
12:17
[Comment From MatthewMatthew: ] 
Does Notre Dame have walk on try outs? Do we even have a walk on that is on the roster?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:17 Matthew
12:19
Tom Noie: 
Matthew:

Notre Dame typically holds walk-on tryouts in the fall soon after the semester starts. But just because walk-on tryouts are held doesn't mean the Irish will automatically add a player. The current walk-on on the roster - guard Patrick Crowley - auditioned one year that Notre Dame didn't need a walk-on because it already had Tom Kopko. Once Kopko graduated, Crowley was added.

Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:19 Tom Noie
12:19
[Comment From MikeMike: ] 
I can only think of a handful of Indiana kids that Brey has recruited. Why doesn't Brey hit the Hooiser state a little harder? It doesn't seem that he has a strong connection in the state.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:19 Mike
12:23
Tom Noie: 
Mike:

Disagree. Misconception. He's recruited his share of Indiana kids - Luke Zeller, Luke Harnagody, Austin Burgett this year, V.J. Beachem next year.

Notre Dame recruits Indiana kids the same way it recruits Chicago kids or New Jersey kids or New England kids - it has to be the right fit for all involved. That's not always the case, and it's not always because Notre Dame decides it's not right.

Mike Brey and his staff have recruited their share of Indiana kids who won't give Notre Dame a second look because, honestly, they don't want to play in the Big East. It's a tricky situation. Notre Dame will offer a great education, but if you want to play close to home, as would be the case at Indiana or Purdue for the Big Ten, probably not going to happen.

You don't have to get an Indiana kid every year, but if you get your share - 1 here, 1 there, that's still going to give you a strong presence in the state.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:23 Tom Noie
12:23
[Comment From JohnJohn: ] 
Ok, I'll be the first to ask. Anything new with Demtruis Jackson?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:23 John
12:24
Tom Noie: 
John:

OK, the chat is official - we've reached Demetrius Jackson territory.

Nope, nothing new with Jackson - he's done with school for the year and playing AAU ball, still keeping his options open. Hopes to have a decision before the start of his senior season.

Stay tuned.

Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:24 Tom Noie
12:24
[Comment From RogerRoger: ] 
It doesn't seem that the Notre Dame basketball program has a bunch of booze hounds on it like the football does. What does Brey do to keep his players out of trouble so well. I think he should offer so advise to Kelly, because BK seems to be failing in that regard.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:24 Roger
12:27
Tom Noie: 
Roger:

Booze hounds? Ha, good one. Actually, Tim Abromaitis and Eric Atkins were arrested for underage drinking a couple years ago at a hockey house party that was busted up by the authorities.

Brey actually joked that having Abromaitis and Atkins arrested gave his team some street cred within the Big East, where a whole of schools have their share of disciplinary problems.

Both spent considerable time running sprints for strength and conditioning coach Tony Rolinski. Brey makes is clear and if you mess up once, you better not mess up again. And the message is received loud and clear from everyone.

I don't know that the guys on the basketball team hang out any more or less than the football team, but I do know that policing 13 college kids is a whole lot easier than making sure 85 kids tow the company line.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:27 Tom Noie
12:31
[Comment From WalterWalter: ] 
@ Roger, I'm sure the basketball players go out on Friday nights just the same as the football players do. Its just that they don't run from the cops and start fighting them once their caught. (FYI - I do think its great that Rees showed that cops what time it was, got him arrested but all cops need to be brought back to reality every now and then)
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:31 Walter
12:32
Tom Noie: 
There you go, though I don't know that Rees "showed the cops what time it was." If he did, that charge would have been boosted to a felony - and his Notre Dame days as a student and a quarterback would be over.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:32 Tom Noie
12:34
[Comment From RoyRoy: ] 
Notre Dame always schedules cupcakes before the Big East season starts. I think they should play Bethel for a little local flavor. Is there that big of difference between Bethel and Dartmouth or Deleware St?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:34 Roy
12:37
Tom Noie: 
Roy:

Name a team that doesn't schedule its share of cupcakes before the start of its league schedule. Every team in the country does it.

But play Bethel? Why in the world would Notre Dame play Bethel in a regular-season game. Win, and everyone will shrug and say, Meh, you're supposed to beat an NAIA team. Lose for whatever reason and it torpedoes your season. Beating an NAIA or Division II school does not count toward your final win total in the eyes of the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Only bad could come with playing Bethel, so you don't do it. Ever.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:37 Tom Noie
12:38
[Comment From MarkMark: ] 
Rapheal Smith from Riley HS made the IU team last year as a walk on. He must have some skills. Was Brey ever aware of him?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:38 Mark
12:40
Tom Noie: 
Mark:

Given that he was a local kid you'd think he'd be silly not to know about him, but again this goes back to the "Why doesn't Notre Dame recruit Indiana kids more?"

Not every kid in Indiana wants to or has the academics to get into Notre Dame. Same with local kids. Just because he grew up hooping in Michiana doesn't necessarily mean he wants to go to college close to home.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:40 Tom Noie
12:42
[Comment From GeorgeGeorge: ] 
I like Mark's question about Smith from Riley. Come to think of it, I can only remember 1 South Bend player ever on the ND roster. Michael Smith from South Bend LaSalle in the late 80's. Has there been more SB players that I'm forgetting about?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:42 George
12:44
Tom Noie: 
George:

Pete Miller from South Bend St. Joseph's was the last area prep player to stay home and attend Notre Dame. He did so as a walk-on before eventually earning a scholarship.

Quick, name an area player who went elsewhere instead of Notre Dame......Cedric Moodie? Brandon McKnight? Moodie never would have made it past admissions....McKnight went to Purdue after a solid relationship with former assistant and current Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin.

Not signing a South Bend isn't necessarily like St. John's not signing a New York City kid.

Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:44 Tom Noie
12:47
[Comment From GeorgeGeorge: ] 
Jeermal Slyvester (Ball St.) Andre Owens (Ok. St) Jeron Cornell (Purdue) Lee Nailon (TCU)
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:47 George
12:48
Tom Noie: 
George:

Four players who would have gone 0-for-4 academically. Lee Nailon was an NBA-type player.......books not necessarily his best option.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:48 Tom Noie
12:55
[Comment From jDub, Fort WaynejDub, Fort Wayne: ] 
You have mentioned in the past about how many kids, say out of the top 100 recruits in a given year, would qualify for ND. You have now mentioned that you seem to know which kids, maybe just locally, would have qualified academically. Is this common knowledge about these kids locally or can you actually get statistics on this somehow, either from ND or from some other source?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 12:55 jDub, Fort Wayne
1:02
Tom Noie: 
JDub:

It was common knowledge that academics wasn't high on the priority list of a Lee Nailon. Jaraan Cornell had to work hard at it but even coming out of high school, he just didn't have the grades to get into Notre Dame.

Prospects who consider Notre Dame have a common thread of attending a private high school or one where academics are stressed a little stronger than an inner-city school. Look at the high schools of kids on the Notre Dame roster - private schools, prep schools, schools that have solid academic reputations.

A kid like Demetrius Jackson, who attends private Marian High School is more likely to follow a similar path of college studies that Notre Dame wants to see than a Lee Nailon at a public city school at Clay.

Few kids do - of the nation's Top 100 prospects, one coach who has worked in the Big East told me that maybe - MAYBE - 10 of those kids would qualify academically for Notre Dame.

If you don't trust your sources, the only way to get statistics on the academics of these kids is to get a copy of their actual high school transcripts - good luck with that. Grade-point averages and even SAT scores tend to be like heights - a little inflated.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:02 Tom Noie
1:16
[Comment From BruceBruce: ] 
Tom, I think I know what you are saying,,,, South Bend schools having been failing our young people for years!!! I agree with you, South Bend Schools are the joke of the state.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:16 Bruce
1:17
Tom Noie: 
Bruce:

We moved out of South Bend for P-H-M 12 years ago so my son could have a little stability in his education. One of the best moves we've ever made.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:17 Tom Noie
1:20
Tom Noie: 
There was talk last week from Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis wanting to schedule Notre Dame to play on an aircraft carrier in 2013. From what I'm told, Irish not interested in next year. Maybe down the line.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:20 Tom Noie
1:22
[Comment From RikRik: ] 
It seems that Demtruis Jackson and his AAU coach Rod Creech are pretty close. Has Brey ever spoke with Creech about Jackson? Could Creech be an ally for the Irish? or does he stay out of the picture?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:22 Rik
1:24
Tom Noie: 
Rik:

Having an AAU coach help get a kid is bad business for Notre Dame. The AAU coach isn't going to be there every day once the kid gets to college. Rod Creech might put a good word in to Jackson about Notre Dame if he believes that's his best decision, but I bet Brey and his staff will leave recruiting the AAU coach for some of the other schools in the sometimes.....OK, often shady world of recruiting.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:24 Tom Noie
1:31
[Comment From jbakerjbaker: ] 
Any word on who ND will be playing in the opening rounds of the Coaches v Cancer tournament? I've heard Evansville could be making a trip to South Bend, any truth to that rumor?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:31 jbaker
1:32
Tom Noie: 
jbaker:

Evansville? Maybe. But a little too early for that. Best part of that tournament is that Notre Dame advances to Barlcays Center in Brooklyn along with Brigham Young, Florida State and St. Joseph's (Pa.). We'll get to see what a billion-dollar arena looks like.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:32 Tom Noie
1:33
[Comment From Jim Tal, Valley CenterJim Tal, Valley Center: ] 
Good afternoon Tom. Just was wondering who you would include in your top 5 ex-Irish players who went on to have success in the pros?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:33 Jim Tal, Valley Center
1:35
Tom Noie: 
Jim:

Good to hear from you, and great question. Top 5 Irish in the Pros all-time? How about Adrian Dantley, John Paxson, Kelly Tripucka, Pat Garrity and Troy Murphy.

Murphy's had a rough go the last couple of years, but he was a 15-and-12 guy for a long, long time. Problem was, he played out in Golden State where he fell off the hoops map.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:35 Tom Noie
1:36
[Comment From Vince, GrangerVince, Granger: ] 
Don't forget local Marian product BJ Kloska who walked onto the Irish team in the late 90's and I think early 2000's.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:36 Vince, Granger
1:36
Tom Noie: 
Vince:

Good call. Forget about BJ, one of the good guys, mainly because it was right there with the whole Doherty-Brey coaching hiring/leaving/search/hiring whirlwind of 1999-2000.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:36 Tom Noie
1:43
[Comment From SteveSteve: ] 
Didn't BJ Kloska go to Marian? I think Demtruis Jackson passed him up as Marians all time leading scorer.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:43 Steve
1:44
Tom Noie: 
Steve:

Your are correct. He's a Marian guy as well, and could have been the school's all-time leading scorer before Jackson. He was a solid guard. Guy could play.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:44 Tom Noie
1:44
[Comment From AaronAaron: ] 
Want kind of person was Matt Doherty as Irish head coach? I know he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way at UNC. Was he an arrogant , loud mouth at ND like he was a UNC?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:44 Aaron
1:49
Tom Noie: 
Aaron:

People can say what they want about Matt Doherty and what he might have or might not have done had he stayed at Notre Dame, but for that one year, he was exactly what this program needed after sleep-walking through much of the 90s.

Doherty brought an energy, albeit a bit batty sometimes in dealing with fans, players and the media, but he gave the program some life. He had some shortcomings as an in-game coach - remember the year Notre Dame was shellacked at Rutgers where Todd Billet kept hitting 3s? It was as if the Irish hadn't scouted the Knights at all.

It's hard to say that Doherty would have had smiliar success/non-success had he stayed at Notre Dame that he did at Carolina. Doherty was pushed into taking that job by a certain someone (last name Jordan, first name Michael) and he simply wasn't prepared for that pressure-cooker. The fact he was a former player made it even worse.

He was arrogant at Notre Dame, but heck, the guy played with Jordan and Worthy and Perkins in college and won a national championship. He was used to a certain level of excellence that not a lot people in South Bend could fathom.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:49 Tom Noie
1:49
[Comment From JohnJohn: ] 
Can we take a step back in time to the 90's? I remember when the Irish hired John McCloud, I thought he would bring a NBA style to Notre Dame and we would be a top 20 team , year in and year out. What happened in the 90's , why did McCloud fail so bad?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:49 John
1:54
Tom Noie: 
John:

Easy....the Big East came calling in the mid-1990s and any identity the Irish had forged as an independent - as well as its recent history - was chucked out the window.

When Notre Dame joined the Big East, it struggled to establish its identity. Independence of college basketball became so out-dated. What was Irish basketball in the Big East? Nobody knew for sure. You didn't have to go to Notre Dame or a "known" hoops program to be on national TV.

College basketball changed and Notre Dame simply was too slow and probably a bit too stubborn to change with it.

It's taken all these years for Notre Dame to finally have firm footing in college basketball - the Irish have an identity in the Big East, it's part of the program's daily fabric. That's why a move to another conference other than the ACC would put the Irish back where they were in those dark days of the 1990s.

That's what Jack Swarbrick and university president John Jenkins may have to one day decide - is it worth to scrap the identities of a whole lot of the school's programs to salvage football independence?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:54 Tom Noie
1:55
[Comment From Marc, the RegionMarc, the Region: ] 
Tom, Any news on Nic Moore?
Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:55 Marc, the Region
1:59
Tom Noie: 
Marc:

Good to hear from someone in the Region.

Nothing new with Moore.

Warsaw's Nic Moore wants to transfer from Illinois State and is looking at Notre Dame as a possible destination. He'll have to sit out the 2012-13 season under NCAA transfer regulations.

Would he fit at Notre Dame? Tough to say. The Irish will have Eric Atkins (senior), Jerian Grant (junior), Cameron Biedscheid (sophomore), Pat Connaughton (junior) and Steve Vasturia (freshman) in the guard/wing spots with the possibility of adding Demetrius Jackson (freshman) once Moore becomes eligible.

Moore's a scorer first. Mike Brey might want more of a true point than another scorer with that group. All indications I've received is that the Irish are interested in Moore, but not to a serious degree.

Wednesday May 30, 2012 1:59 Tom Noie
2:16
Tom Noie: 
Thanks for everyone who stopped in for a few minutes, kicked the tires and even decided to take a test drive. We'll be here same time (noon) same day (Wednesday) next week.

If you have a question or comment that cannot wait, drop me a note at tnoie@schurz.com" target="_blank" >tnoie@schurz.com. Take care.
Wednesday May 30, 2012 2:16 Tom Noie
2:17
 

 
 
 





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