UHND.com - Notre Dame Football, Basketball, & Recruiting

Contrary to what the SBT beat writer wrote last year, you can see Shrews' tactical chops. He can scheme. Unlike Brey, he is also able to manage playing 10-11 players, keeping his guys fresh. He also retains his players in an era where that is almost unheard of. But then you have his initial declaration, at his first news conference as ND coach, that toughness and defense were going to be the program's identities. He hasn't delivered. Maybe he tries like hell to do that in practice. Maybe he isn't bringing in the guys who are ready to give him that. Defense is effort and smarts. I think he recruits smart kids. By the college level, effort should be a given from players. THe worst recent example was the Laszewski/Goodwin senior year team under Brey. It takes a lot, an extremely lot, for Brey to publicly call out his players, but they were so soft and passive, that Brey did. He tried. They chose not to respond with effort and toughness. I have a sinking feeling about the guys Shrews has recruited. Maybe bring in some guys who are different? Right now, the one guy with an edge is a 7th year senior transfer from Northern Arizona, who has to shoot bank shots at the free throw line. I'd love to see Bill Laimbeer, Ben Hansbrough, and Chris Zorich Parts Deux be handed the next scholarships.