play him?"
It's saying something that the second half against A & M was probably the worst execution I've seen from ND the past several years, but it's true. I can't believe more than five other head coaches in D-1 would've kept Hubb, Wertz and Goodwin out there after the fourth time they turned it over. Wesley should've been handling the ball. He was the only ND player who could match A & M's athleticism and energy.
The explanation for Elijah Taylor not playing from Brey was that he was still recovering from the flu from a couple weeks ago. If he doesn't get minutes next week, he will never get any minutes. He's the physically strongest player on the team and a solid athlete who will compete. No explanation on why JR didn't play, after Brey said in the preseason continually that both freshmen had earned spots in the rotation. Tony Sanders played little last year, but is more athletic and longer than Wertz and Goodwin. The question remains: why recruit these guys if you won't play them? Brey is deferring to seniors who have demonstrated time and again a lack of fight. I read a lot from Tom Noie and others about Cormac Ryan, about his skills and also about his vocal leadership. He seems just as overwhelmed and has that same deer in the headlghts look about him as the other seniors when the going gets tough. Losing Carmody was a real blow. He's a tough, aggressive kid on a team of passive players.
all around player but also with a lot of guts and basketball instincts. I think the center from Yale is very good and plays like a center should. The freshman guard is very good and makes a few freshman mistakes, but has good basketball skills and athleticism. I would like to see the other South Bend freshman too. I don't know enough about him but he looks pretty good in garbage time. Hubb, is playing with no confidence right now, Goodwin makes a good play here and there but screws up too, but the one I have a problem with who gets the most PR is Laczewski. I think he gets the easy rebounds, lacks consistency in his shot and disappears when the going gets tough. He piles up stats but they are not "tough it" out stats. He rarely scores a tough basket underneath. He gets a lot of garbage rebounds and points. I suppose he is an ok 3 point shooter but he misses too many at the wrong time, like when we really need it.
Is Carmody out again and for how long? He is a legitimate talent.
When he plays a good defensive game, his offensive game suffers, and vice versa. I agree about his basketball IQ, but like the others, he just doesn't get it done when it matters.
Actually, other than Wesley, the player I have the least problems with is Goodwin. His limitations are known, but he has carved out a nice offensive game. I hope he comes back next year. That seems to be the plan.
Carmody hasn't suited up yet, and with Wesley and Goodwin coming back, and Staring entering, there just won't be many minutes for him. He seems like a great teammate, but it would be/will be totally understandable if he looks elsewhere so that he can play, probably at a mid-major school. He's too good to sit at the end of the bench while his eligibility evaporates. Sort of like Eric Katenda, who was highly thought of, injuries kind of ruined his trajectory from the start.
Playing these 7 isn't going to work out.
going nowhere.