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

...but I don't think it's possible to win without cheating, and I think that has a lot to do w/ our inability to land better players. College basketball has become like Lance Armstrong era cycling. The latest scandal underscores this. Case in point - Zion Williamson's dad asked Kansas for $100K, a 'job', and housing. Kansas was working to provide all that, and then Zion commits to Duke. If you don't think Duke gave him at least what he was going to get from Kansas, you are naive. UNC runs a fraudulent classroom scam for two decades, involving hundreds of student athletes, and receives no penalty. The LSU coach is taped saying he was going to make a 'strong ass' offer to a recruit, and he's publicly demanding to be reinstated (after refusing to answer questions from LSU!).

Assuming we are not willing to cheat - and I don't think we are - I don't know that we can realistically expect a lot more than Brey. He's a good representative of the university and is widely respected amongst coaches and the sports media. And yes, his teams are often soft and play poor defense and are typically out-rebounded.

I don't think ND really cares if it isn't competing for Final Fours. Brey was begging for a practice facility for the last 15 years before we acted.

He's a good coach, but I wish we had a better coach.

That said, I am finding Brey embarrassing of late.

He's not going anywhere right now but if he continues on this trajectory, while also looking like a slob, a change should be made...

Not comparing Brey to Bryant in championship regard, but my point is even good and great coaches have down times sometimes.

Having said that, something about Brey is missing. He does a great job of getting upperclassmen to improve and usually has his teams playing better than the sum of their parts, but if we use Villanova and Gonzaga as our models, Brey should have done better by now.

(no message)

He needs to finish with at least an NIT caliber team next year or the heat will be turned up. Deservedly so.

(no message)

He is not a great coach. His teams are generally soft and they don't play good defense. I used to get frustrated when an ND player would fail to stop the ball or give a poor effort on defense, yet wouldn't get pulled. Good coaches do that. It simply isn't and won't be a priority with Brey. He's focused on offense and some of his worst defensive players have been some of his best offensive players, like Luke Harangody or post-injury Chris Thomas.

Defense and physicality aren't dependent upon getting great athletes. John MacLeod had far superior defensive teams than most of Brey's teams. To put it in perspective, 25 years ago, MacLeod had a walk-on from across the street at St. Joe's HS, Pete Miller, who often started and often matched up with the best opposing Big East players, like Ray Allen and Kerry Kittles. Walk-on Pete Miller, with all those physical limitations, was a far superior defender than anyone on the current squad. That's not a function of player talent or athleticism, it's about coaching and accountability on both ends of the floor.

Year-in-and-year-out, Brey will have an average-below average defensive team that isn't particularly physical. That isn't the profile of a program that makes deep runs.

On the flip side, he will graduate exemplary young men who reflect well on the university. It's become increasingly obvious that to win championships at the collegiate level, you must compromise those things. ND will not do that. I think Brey will be at ND until he retires.

Wait on the new recruiting class, if there is a new recruiting class. And, seeing how the freshman play as sophomores. That said, the talent level and physicality that separates ND and the top of the ACC is night and day. .500 next year in the ACC would be high expectations.

Let us hope they get better. But they need better coaching,, and they are not going to get it from this coach, with this staff.

and two elite eights as the apex, its time...and his appearance is only getting worse, and frankly , embarrassing..THat team this yr was one of worst Ive ever seen; they didn't look like they even had a coach..
Look at the job Jay Wright is doing at Villanova, another BE title, Mark Pew at Gonzaga..ND need a young, energetic coach determined to set the world on fire , theyre out there..
ND is mired in mediocrity; aspire to be anything less than great, and you'll remain mediocre forever..THis program will stay in mediocrity until he's removed..

I cringe when I read the NIT is next year's goal; way to shoot for the moon..Why not make the CBI the goal, then when a NIT bid is forthcoming, we can say Brey overachieved..

(no message)

Did anybody ever hear of Digger before he got the ND job? Outside of New York City.

As someone here mentioned here the AD's job is to find a good, young, upcoming job. I'm sure there are some out there. MB has done all he can do at ND.

But I see coaches all the time more impressive than Brey...For one, I like the job Kevin Willard is doing at Seton Hall..And if a young energized coach cant be lured to the DOME, Id be willing to take a chance on a young and upcoming asst making a name for himself, theyre out there too, in a pool of 300 plus teams..
Remember when Brian Kelly said his program was in need of a coat of fresh paint..NDs basketball program is in need of a sandpapering, the best primer you can buy, and 2 coats of fresh paint..

Agreed. Let us not forget that the Irish job is also an A.C.C. Job.

(no message)

(no message)