The Mock Delivers When We Least Expect...Again

Hello Friends.

A quick look at various Levels of Tardiness: TV repairman waiting purgatory; 2 week overdue library books; one aunt's Christmas present that dependably arrives in March.  Then there's We Is ND's acknowledgement of the fishes and loaves season unfolding before our disbelieving eyes.

Mea culpa on joining the praise party late.  Plenty of thoughts to unload on the eve of ND's first postseason game.  Apologies if I veer off topic in a few spots.

Preseason expectations were so below sea level that rallying to produce our annual roundtable preview in November seemed futile.  Abro's season ending injury after Game 6 (his 2nd game in uniform, thanks to a No Clue About Anything imposed suspension) all but anchored this 2011-2012 campaign to a dismal fate at the bottom of the BEast.

A small, yet vocal, part of me envisioned the bottom falling out and The Mock not surviving the fallout from a 13-19 train wreck of a season.  It wouldn't have been the first time Brey's tenure was called into question on these pages: Exhibit A & Exhibit B.  Maybe he'd lose control of the locker room amidst the noxious stench of losses piling up like soiled boxers in the corner of the Joyce Center.  Maybe he'd respectfully step aside and let someone else (Martin Ingelsby?) perform program triage.  Suffice it to say, my misplaced rumblings to oust The Mock blew up in my face.

Alright, where's Doug's petition to name the court after Michael Montgomery Brey?  I'm finally ready to sign.  (Sadly, the petition page and all of its signatories have been sucked into a cyberworld vortex of no return.  If the petition resurrects itself this Lenten season, I'll gladly throw my support behind it, even if Muffett McGraw has a few lengths lead on earning said naming rights). 

As the team prepares to tip off in MSG versus fellow surprise Big East story, South Florida, it's worth taking a closer look at how the Irish got here.  To say crashing the Big Dance this year was a long shot is an insult to the term understatement.  The improbable odds of Notre Dame finishing 3rd in the toughest conference in America and already stamping their ticket on Selection Sunday are mind-blowing.  About the same odds of this shot finding nylon.  Or this shot - I can't decide.    

Let's wrap our head around this season timeline:

4-0 vs. the Brey Non-Conference Pu-Pu Platter (198 avg. RPI): Very little litmus test of any sort, though Detroit ended up winning the Horizon League tournament bid.  Otherwise, an accumulation of wins with little merit playing with the team's best shooter in street clothes.

0-2 vs. Thanksgiving Tournament opponents: Missouri makes a big statement that they've backed up since; The best win for a mediocre Georgia; Abro tears his ACL in practice after these games and is reduced to street clothes on the bench for the rest of the season.

4-3 vs. the Abro Aftermath Adjustment stretch of games where the team learns new roles and Brey juggles lineups with the desperation of a street performer looking for his next meal. 4 wins vs. 297 avg. RPI (mind you, there are only 344 teams...this is the dregs of Division I); 3 losses vs. name brand teams with a 48 avg. RPI.  Overwhelmed by Gonzaga in Spokane; a tantalizing winnable game only to go sour against a rebuilding Maryland; and a worse than the score indicated in-state clash with a let-down-waiting-to-happen Hoosiers fresh off their win heard round the world vs. Kentucky...the letdown didn't happen.

Christmas brought an 8-5 team about to enter a brutal opening conference salvo with 4 ranked teams looming (Pitt, Louisville, UConn & Cuse) in the first 7 contests.  Thus far, not a single win to hang their hat on as a building block for success.  Squeaking by Detroit at home was the best RPI win at 135, while breaking the century mark in the last game before the holiday break was a welcome sight.  The Burn Offense looking spontaneously combustible.

If the Irish emerged as a .500 team after the Syracuse game, most fans probably would've taken it.  With a backloaded conference slate of weak teams, the NIT looked like an optimistic landing spot.  The opportunity to play another home game or two and give this young team a few extra games of postseason experience sounded reasonable.

3-3 Pre-Syracuse game, first 1/3 of conference schedule.  The Irish welcomed a reeling Pitt team who had just lost on their home court to Wagner.  Little did anyone know at the time that Jamie Dixon's squad were impostors this season.  But knocking off the Panthers was a refreshing jolt nonetheless.  Back to reality with a spanking on the road at Cincy, followed by the first shock of the season, a double OT nail biter in Freedom Hall.  The Irish dictated the flow with the Burn and, for the first time, gave fans a wild thought that Brey found a magic lamp on one of his Middle East desert trips and was using all three wishes this season.  Beating South Florida at home didn't seem like a good win at the time.  That was one of the few W's confidently circled on the schedule to start.  Following it up with a stinker vs. Connecticut and an even worse loss on the road to Rutgers had everyone reaching for the panic button again.  And then #1 visited South Bend...

9-0 Post court rushing mayhem and subsequent record-tying conference win streak.  It's still weird to look at Syracuse sitting at #2 in the polls with one tally in the loss column.  How in the name of Todd Palmer did that happen?  Shooting the lights out with your opponent's best defender out of the lineup makes for a memorable "were you there when" story.  Team confidence soared and the wins avalanched in every shape and size, as if Dr. Seuss were writing the year-in-review.  Road wins, home wins.  Crazy come from behind wins (Nova), equally crazy grab an early lead and never look back wins (Marq).  Freshman making a name for themselves wins (Naughty Time!) and previously unheralded players stepping into the spotlight and relishing the moment wins (Jerian Grant & Jack Cooley). By the end of the streak, Notre Dame was ranked and slotted comfortably in any bracket magic 8-ball exercise.  A glorious run that saw The Mock go multiple personality on us as he introduced (and continued for good luck) The Don, as well as the streak-busting The Bow.

1-2 All good things come to an end ending.  For whatever quixotic reason, Madison Square Garden has plagued Irish shooters for years on end, and a putrid day behind the arc halted the winning streak before it reached double figures.  As bad as they played vs. St. John's, the Irish still had a shot at the buzzer to tie.  Things were not as hopeful on their Hoya visit and the better team triumphed.  Thankfully, the boys saved one last shooting display to beat Providence and secure a double bye in the BET (and inadvertently score the easiest possible quarterfinal matchup vs. #6 seed South Florida).

Add it all up and The Mock delivered a 21-10 campaign with 6 wins over top 50 RPI teams and a couple signature victories to tell the grandchildren, doing so with the team's returning leading scorer and best shooter playing in 2 games.  This year more than any, Mike Brey soared past everyone's expectations, figuring out a rotation with 3 new chief contributors (Grant, Connaughton and Dragicevich) and changing the team's offensive mindset on the fly with an emphasis on post production from the criminally underrated Jack Cooley.  For all his flaws (which I'll delve into in a follow-up post), it's hard to argue with the results of the self-described "loosest coach in America."

Come Thursday night, we'll see if the team can conquer their fear of MSG's rims, as well as what fashion choice Brey opts for to extend this unlikeliest of feel-good seasons.

WeIs Roundtable: ND Basketball Preview (Part 1)

Are you ready for some hardwood?!  As this roller coaster Year 1 of the Brian Kelly Era winds down, the infant basketball season provides a fresh canvas to extrapolate on what the seasonmay bring.  The WeIs braintrust convened to discuss the 2010-2011 season, to be rolled out in two installments - (1) relevant topics and (2) season predictions.

1) Who Will Be Missed More - Luke Harangody or Tory Jackson?

Mike: Jackson, without question.  Although Harangody was a unique and gifted scoring threat and a capable rebounder, his defense was, to be polite, awful.  Notre Dame has enough playmakers to pick up the slack offensively and the team will benefit from improved interior defense.  Jackson, on the other hand, will be missed badly, and not only because ND will be forced to rely heavily on a true freshman at point guard this year.  Tory showed a special knack for putting the team on his back when things weren’t going well and I do not see anyone on the current roster who shares that ability.    

Jimmy: Make no mistake, there's a significant production void with The Mongoose's graduation.  The school's only player with 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds (he’s 2^nd all-time in both categories) could be counted on to "get his" nearly every night.  That said, Gody wasn't exactly a stalwart defender, to put it mildly.  And the offense sometimes fell into ruts as he forced entirely too many poor shots. I know its borderline blasphemous to disparage and minimize the impact of an NBA draft pick and a 4-year leader.  Luuuuke is one of my top 10 favorite ND players ever.  His lunch pail attitude, ability to score in the funkiest manner and knack for rising to the occasion were tremendous.  But the question is who will be missed more this year, Tory or Gody.  And my answer is Tory. 

The Warrior was everything you would want in a 4-year true point guard.  The team ebbed and flowed with his play more than anyone else.  When Gody posted his typical 26 and 12, Tory would quietly have 13 pts, 7 assists and 7 boards, with a huge steal or block sprinkled in.  After the bitter taste Chris Thomas' "leadership" left in everyone's mouth, Tory was Listerine for the soul.  You could tell it was all team, all the time for him.  

As an added bonus to any home game if you knew where to look, Tory's family always sat behind the bench and never shied from dancing in the aisles or yelling words of encouragement at #2.  It was easy to see where he got the joy and passion he played with.  

Taking my small bromance out of the equation and looking objectively at the roster composition, it's a helluva lot tougher to fill the shoes of a 4-year PG with little experience behind him than at PF.  Both will be missed, but I’m sure I’ll find myself pining for Tory much more as the season progresses.

2) Is the “Burn Offense” here to stay?

Mike: Not a chance.  As indicated in my response below, this squad has plenty of gifted offensive players that should mesh together quite well.  The pieces are in place for a return to traditional Irish basketball under Mike Brey, i.e., a relatively up-tempo style with an emphasis on sharing the ball and knocking down threes. 

Jimmy: Just when we though Mike Brey was heading towards a calamitous finish to the season with his best player hurt, the Mock reinvented the entire look and feel to his team by switching gears to the Burn Offense.  Instead of the up-tempo, if-we-can't-stop-you-we'll-outscore-you style, Brey opted for a methodical, plodding flow predicated on taking advantage of opponent mistakes and open looks created by effective spacing and ball movement.  Lo and behold, they became an efficient possession-centric team that dictated play.  Whether it was the personnel or the slower temp saving their legs (or a combination of both), the defense, in turn, became scrappier and more stingy.  The result?  A 6-game win streak, including surprise wins over Marquette, UConn, Georgetown and Pitt (twice!) that propelled the team into the Big Dance.  We'll leave what happened in the tournament out of this discussion for now.  

Has Brey been saving this change of pace style all this time in his back pocket for an emergency situation?  Did it happen organically in practice with the leadership of a veteran floor general?  Did Tinkerbell sprinkle common sense pixie dust into the basketball offices?  I wish I knew the answer to all of these, and I'm not discounting the last question's potential veracity.

Until Brey finds what he’s looking for at the PG spot, the Burn should be employed as it spreads responsibility to all 5 players.  Last season’s small sample size indicates the team is better off operating on both sides through the Burn.  Now, what should happen isn’t the reality our head coach lives in.  Will Brey suddenly change 20 years of reliable patterns of coaching?  Highly unlikely.  I’m sure the offense of old will be back for the better part of this season.  Brey is a bit stubborn and wants to win “his way” instead of evolving and ditching his traditional methods for a formula that works.  At some point, the Burn will resurface, though more out of desperation than design. 

So to answer the question is the Burn Offense here to stay with one word, no.  

3) Team Strengths

Mike:  Offensive Efficiency and Senior Leadership

Throughout the ups and downs of the Brey era, the one constant has been Notre Dame’s ability to score points in bunches.  With a roster full of skilled passers, shooters and scorers, this year should be no different.  The loss of Luke Harangody may seem to be significant at first blush, but the surrounding players, who often became relegated to spectators when Harangody touched the ball, should be able to fill the void.

Jimmy: Veteran Experience

ND is the polar opposite of Kentucky.  Whereas the Wildcats must reload their roster yearly because of the allure of the NBA, ND rarely shares the concern of losing its best early.  And perish the thought that multiple players would bolt early.  Even with the loss of four-year mega-contributors in Jackson and Harangody, the roster is still stocked with experienced players who have years of familiarity in the system.  Such veteran savvy will be leaned upon to hopefully make a Sweet 16 trip for the first time since 2003.

4) Biggest Weakness

Mike:  Quickness/Defense

Some things never change, huh?  Carleton Scott will finally give the Irish a shot blocking threat inside, but this team still appears to lack length and quickness on the perimeter, particularly when compared to its conference brethren.  Accordingly, the emergence of several consistent rebounders is paramount.

Jimmy: Offensive Closer

Total team athleticism aside (which can’t be fixed this year), a gaping void left by Luke and Tory is a go-to player when the team needs a bucket(s) down the stretch.  Gody was an alpha dog offensive beast, while Tory never shied away from big pressure situations.  Plan A and Plan B are gone – what now?  Abromaitis is the best shooter, but he faded fast last year and has to rebuild his confidence.  Carleton Scott might be the de factor option, building on his clutch 3 that sent the Marquette game to OT.  He’s athletic enough to create shots in the post or perimeter.  Hansbrough has the bloodlines to be a go-to guy, but he’s not the same interior presence as 6-inches taller older bro.  Scott Martin is the wildcard unknown commodity as he hasn’t played the college game for 2 years.  He’s receiving some good buzz for his offensive talents.

I’ll be very curious to see what Brey draws up for close contests.  Until someone emerges, this is an Achilles heel that may be the difference in 5-6 games.  How’s that bubble feeling?

5) State of the Program

Mike:  Same As It Ever Was

After a lopsided loss to Syracuse that I had the misfortune of attending in 2009, I wrote an article on this blog regarding Notre Dame’s lack of commitment to excellence in basketball as it relates to Mike Brey’s future at ND.  From the time of that article until the Georgetown game last year, which I also attended, it appeared that the program was hopelessly mired in mediocrity.  In fact, I wrote letters to John Jenkins and Jack Swarbrick to express my disgust with the state of the program and to suggest multiple solutions.  Still waiting for Savvy Jack to write me back.

Anyway, last year’s late turnaround was encouraging and Brey certainly must be commended for rallying the troops after the injury to Luke Harangody.  Still, as is always the case with Notre Dame basketball, one step forward was matched by an immediate step back, as the disappointing loss to Old Dominion reinforced that Notre Dame is still far from the nation’s elite on the hardwood.  As such, I expect another standard season under Brey:  solid offense, weak defense, a big win or two, an early exit in the Big East tournament and an NIT berth or first round exit in the NCAA tournament.

Jimmy: Groundhog Day

It has become a bubble existence for Notre Dame basketball in year 11 of the Mike Brey Era.  The average RPI rank over the last five years is a quasi-respectable, yet tenuous, 52 – very bubbalicious.  Apparently the Mock thrives on the whimsy of a committee determining the fate of his hard work year in and year out.  Needless to say, it’s a little maddening for the devoted fanbase who follows this little brother program as religiously as its gridiron counterpart.

We pretty much know what to expect at this point from the head coach - 3 scoops of vanilla & 2 scoops of chocolate leading a perimeter based offense that rides hot hands for scoring.  Brey's teams have never been confused with lockdown defenses that impose their will without the ball.  Much too often over the years, the team has been susceptible to allowing easy buckets in the paint.  Once in a blue moon, a Mike Brey team surprises people with their athleticism.  Brey has notorious substitution patterns, relying on a short bench for reasons only he knows.  

Brey gets credit for waking the echoes of the hoops program, returning the team to the NCAA Tournament in his first 3 years - the first visit the Irish made since 1990 (thanks for the memories John McLeod).  Those first three trips (2nd round in 2001, 2nd round in 2002 and Sweet 16 in 2003) equal the three best tourney finishes under Brey.  The team has made three subsequent trips to March Madness, but have flamed out early in all three instances. 

One significant step forward for the program is the recent, and long-awaited, Joyce Center renovation.  Included in the more cozy environment is the installation of a jumbotron screen, which, from what I hear, is loud and confusingly displays the game action for those not-really-nose-bleed seats.  I’ve embraced the pyrotechnic hip-hop intro for starting lineups.  It’s fun for the players and fans.  Give Brey credit for this technologic improvement as a necessary recruiting tool.  Not that what ND does is better than other schools, but at least it’s something. 

Basketball will always play second fiddle to football at ND.  Once you get past that, there's still room for growth.  Brey’s merits are praiseworthy, while his shortcomings continue to stunt the program from reaching higher on the apple tree.  We have yet to see whether Swarbrick has bigger visions of grandeur to chase that opportunity or continue embracing the warm, fuzzy (and stagnant) feeling that Michael Brey's expansive assortment of mock turtles provides.  For now, why don’t we throw in a Michael Bublé album and play some Trivial Pursuit with our lovable bubble team. 

The Cradle of Coaches (Part 2)

Here's part 1 of the Big East Coaches breakdown. On with the countdown:

7. Bob Huggins, West Virginia

Vitals: 13-8 (Big East, 1 year); 616-222 (Overall, 25 years); 22-16 NCAAs

Coach Thuggins is a relative newbie to the Big East brand of basketball, but his Bearcat teams of yore (remember the days of the Metro and Great Midwest Conferences?) would have fit right in. In 23 years, including an early successful stint at Akron, Huggins-led teams won 20 or more games 20 times! His overall record is certainly an impressive body of work, except for the unfortunate history of early round flameouts. Out of 14 Bearcat Big Dance recitals, 10 talented teams perished in the first or second round, plaguing Huggins' legacy which started promising with trips to the Final Four and Elite Eight in his 3rd and 4th seasons in the 'Nati. Now he returns to his alma mater to continue building the tradition that John Bielein started. His teams aren't always the most talented, but they get after the ball and make things difficult for the opposition. Let's just hope that this scene doesn't unfold again on the country roads of West Virginia.

6. Mike Brey, Notre Dame

Vitals: 83-58 (Big East, 7 years); 266-138 (Overall, 12 years); 5-7 NCAAs

Man, I wish the two-time defending Big East Coach of the Year could be higher, especially on the heels of a stirring victory over the Hoyas. But I can't in good conscience bump him ahead of Jimmy B. Yes, ND has won the last 3 games vs. 'Cuse, but in the 9 previous meetings, the Irish were victorious once. Brey is still coming into his own in South Bend, establishing a program that excels with offensive fluidity and a healthy reliance on the long ball. Brey's teams traditionally have lacked a consistent lockdown defense, their Achilles heel come BET and NCAA tourney time. For all of the regular season success ND has enjoyed in the Big East, including one regular season championship, Brey is only 3-8 under the lights of Madison Square Garden in the Big East Tournament. At this point, going deeper into the tournament is essential for the program to reach the next level of success. All but one of the coaches ahead of him has taken a team to the Final Four. He learned at the foot of Coach K for 9 years and knows what that kind of success is built on. His penchant for unearthing diamonds in the rough is evident with the resounding success of Luke "The Mongoose" Harangody, as well as Rob Kurz, Chris Quinn, and Russell Carter. Brey is the ultimate player's coach who doesn't ride his guys too hard and expectations are clear. On top of all of this, Mike Brey is the unofficial founder of the CMOB (Coaches for Mocks On the Bench), a movement that saw it's membership swell to at least 2 in 2005. The mock personifies Brey's class and personable demeanor as a man of the people. In the Mock I Trust.

5. Jim Boeheim, Syracuse

Vitals: 342-192 (Big East, 29 years); 771-278 (Overall, 32 years); 40-24 NCAAs

The institution man, Boeheim is a rare breed who married himself to the Orangemen, through good times and bad. Except there haven't really been any "bad" times (well, there was that microphone problem). Boeheim was an overachieving walk-on who became a starter, helping lead the Dave Bing-led Orangemen to the Elite Eight. He joined the bench as an assistant coach in 1972 before taking the reins in 1976, going a ridiculous 100-18 in his first four years on the job. The man has never felt the pangs of a losing season in his 32+ years at Syracuse. He's reached the summit of the basketball world three times, claiming the championship prize in 2003. A stellar 12 combined Big East regular season and tournament championships banners hang in the Carrier Dome. The Big East has bestowed top coach honors three times. He's on his way to his 30th 20-win season. It's no shock that he's the all-time winningest coach in conference history. The man already has a bust in Springfield and the ultimate reward, his home court named after him (Doug still holds out hope that Brey will reach this level of accomplishment. You can help!) Scores of NBA-caliber players harnessed their skills under Boeheim's direction - Pearl Washington, Rony Seikaly, Sherman Douglas, Derrick Coleman, Billy Owens, John Wallace, Lawrence Moten, Etan Thomas, Carmelo Anthony, Hakim Warrick, the "overrated" Gerry McNamara and the illustrious Danny Schayes. His trademark 2-3 matchup zone distinguished Syracuse teams for years. Now, it's growing a little stale. How can a man with this resume fall to 5th? Because this is a snapshot with his recent body of work weighing more heavily on the ranking. In the five seasons since winning the title, 'Cuse made one Sweet 16, two first round exits, and two NIT's. The man has accomplished plenty, but his time is drawing nigh. If Mike Brey comes out of the Carrier Dome with a victory on Jan. 17th, you can bet I'll be swapping their places.

4. John Thompson III, Georgetown

Vitals: 54-23 (Big East, 4 years); 168-78 (Overall, 8 years); 7-5 NCAAs
The successor to his father's powerhouse program, JT3 has quickly asserted himself as a top-notch coach who preaches disciplined defense and the motion offense perfected at Princeton. SI wrote an excellent article on the man finding his way from underneath his father's large shadow. Learning from the Yoda master, Pete Carril, from 1995-2000, Thompson led Princeton to 3 Ivy League titles and two NCAA trips in his four seasons. It's a testament to his coaching prowess that Georgetown has excelled with the same system while Bill Carmody struggles with very little success at Northwestern. Granted, the Hoyas enjoy a higher profile as a basketball school, but Thompson has proven to be a capable teacher of the deliberate style. He wasted no time making a splash in 2004, righting the ship from Craig Esherick's torpedo job. The Hoyas made the Sweet 16 in his second season, giving eventual champs Florida their hardest battle. He followed that up with a BET championship and a run to the Final Four in 2007. The Hoyas dominated the Big East last year, adding a regular season banner before being upset by the tournament's Cinderella, Davidson. Now that JT3 has tasted the sweet nectar of the biggest stage, you can bet he'll have his teams hell bent on returning to that level. He added a major piece for such a run with dominant freshman big man Greg Monroe. JT3 will only get better as his Georgetown roots grow. Get accustomed to the Hoyas churning out quality teams like an Amish butter maid.

3. Jim Calhoun, Connecticut

Vitals: 254-141 (Big East, 21 years); 750-328 (Overall, 35 years); 39-16 NCAAs
Credit belongs to one man for putting Connecticut basketball on the map - James "Montgomery" Calhoun. Starting with his first college job at Northeastern in 1972, he laid the groundwork for his first successful program. 14 seasons later, with 5 NCAA tournament appearances and one NBA All-Star under his belt, he left in 1986 for the opportunity to ply his trade in the best conference. It was a rude awakening, going 9-19, only his fourth losing season in 35 years. It would be the last losing season at UConn. The following year, the Huskies won the NIT. By 1990, UConn had risen to the top of the Big East and advanced to the Elite Eight. Already, Calhoun had transformed an unheard of program in Storrs, CT, and he was just getting started. Since his arrival, Connecticut has won two titles, reached seven Elite Eights, raised a combined 12 Big East regular season and tournament banners, and opened the gates of talent flowing to the NBA. For as much hype as North Carolina and Duke receive, no other school has as many alums currently in the NBA as Calhoun's Connecticut. The list of Calhoun bred professionals reads like an All-Star roster: Reggie Lewis, Cliff Robinson, Donyell Marshall, Ray Allen, Rip Hamilton, Caron Butler, Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva and Rudy Gay. That's not even half of the players who made the league. For all of the talent that has passed through the door, UConn has underachieved in recent years, not living up to the lofty expectations that come with a dominant program. Since winning the 2004 championship, UConn has lost in the 2nd round, Elite 8 (when they were everyone's proverbial favorite), missed the postseason for the first time since Calhoun's first year in Storrs, and lost in last year's 1st round to San Diego. Calhoun, like Boeheim, is an institution on campus. He's also been elected to the College Basketball Hall of Fame. But the end is near for this legend, especially in light of his ongoing cancer treatment. Will the Huskies send him away in style or buckle under the hype again?

2. Jamie Dixon, Pittsburgh

Vitals: 66-31 (Big East, 5 years); 131-41 (Overall, 5 years); 6-5 NCAAs

Consider me a Jamie Dixon apologist. I love his style and the way his teams play. I love his fiery disposition, yet he rarely blows a gasket. I love how he does more with the talent on his roster than any other coach in the league, save one. Dixon jumped around assistant coach spots from 1991-1999 before joining Howland's original staff at Pitt, having already shared a bench with Howland at Northern Arizona. In four short years, Howland and Dixon changed the culture of basketball at Pittsburgh, a program with 1 winning season over the 6 previous years. After a transition year, the fruits of their labor were in place as Pitt made the finals of the BET two successive years before winning in 2003, Howland's final year. The fate of the program lay in the hands of a guy who had never been a head coach before. To say he's exceeded expectations is an understatement. Dixon's 105 victories in his first four seasons is the second highest win total ever for a coach to start his career. In five years at the helm, he has won 10 conference games every season, including one regular season and one tournament championship. Regular season consistency is a hallmark of the program, but Pitt truly thrives in the BET, amassing an 11-4 record and playing in the championship game 4 of his 5 years. The biggest feather missing from his cap is guiding the Panthers past the Sweet Sixteen. With their recent ascension to the #1 ranking, this year's team looks primed to accept that challenge.

1. Rick Pitino, Louisville

Vitals: 51-38 (Big East, 5 years); 521-191 (Overall, 22 years); 35-12 NCAAs
If there were a Mount Rushmore of Big East coaches, Pitino wouldn't be on it since his greatest success occurred in Lexington. Yet he's still guided two different Big East schools to the Final Four - the only coach ever to lead three different schools to the sport's promised land. (You may be wondering who my Mt. Rushmore of Big East coaches would be? Without dissecting the numbers, I'd go with Boeheim, Calhoun, Thompson, Sr. and Luigi Carnesecca - the George Washington type figurehead. Apologies to Rollie Masimino as the odd man out). Pitino is the quintessential college coach, having proved that his style isn't conducive to the NBA. His teams make life positively miserable for the opposition with full-court pressure defense. An up-tempo offense spreads the wealth to everyone on the court, epitomizing the adage that the sum is greater than its parts. Try and name 5 players from Pitino's teams with Providence, Kentucky and Louisville who had meaningful careers in the NBA. I'm stuck at Jamal Mashburn, Tony Delk, Ron Mercer and Francisco Garcia. He's unlike Calhoun, who's been blessed with prodigious talent, in that he coaches up hen-picked players to run (and keep running) in his system. A master motivator, he consistently gets his teams to believe in their abilities and accomplish great things. He's only experienced one losing collegiate season out of 22, his 3rd year with Boston University. Providence, of all schools, reached the Final Four in his second year. He bolted to the Knicks and enjoyed success before the allure of restoring to prominence a once proud Kentucky program presented itself. Mind you, this was a program on probation for 2 years. Undaunted, Pitino ripped off 7 seasons of extraordinary success from 1991-1997, never losing more than 7 games. In the six seasons they were eligible for postseason play, the Wildcats reached two Elite Eights and three Final Fours, capturing the crown in 1996. The failed Celtics experiment brought Pitino back to the Big East in 2001, where the Cardinals have won 20+ games six times over seven seasons, including a trip to the 2005 Final Four. Squaring off against Rick Pitino is like playing dice with the devil. The chance to get burned is omnipresent. You know walking out of the locker room that he's the smartest person in the arena and you'll need a monumental effort to pull a victory out. How much longer Pitino will prowl the Louisville sidelines is anyone's guess with his propensity for chasing bigger challenges. But while he's still in the Big East, there isn't a better coach out there.

Anthony Crater leaving OSU and considering ND

Big big news out of Columbus this weekend with the decision of freshman point guard Anthony Crater to transfer from Ohio State. I must say that I was shocked to hear it. Crater was a pretty big recruit and the future at point guard for the Buckeyes, and I think he probably would have been starting by the mid-point of this season. He is saying that he didn't like the style of play at Ohio State, and he thought he was going to be starting from day one (he is currently behind a JUCO pg on the depth chart).

Anyway, the article in the Columbus Dispatch seems to indicate that Crater has ND down as one of the schools he is considering. ND has had some good luck with transfers in the past, and I think he would be a good get for the Irish if he has his head on straight. I've only seen Crater in a handful of games, but he has talent and great potential. He's sort of a Tory Jackson type player who can get to the bucket, but he's a good passer and good defender. In the ND style offense, he could be really successful.

ND needs to find a point guard in one of the next two recruiting classes. If we got Crater, he could be ready to play as a backup to Tory by next January and then take over the point guard job in 2010. Could be an intriguing scenario. It would be nice to have another point guard on the roster next year, so that we have don't have growing pains in 2010 of a freshman point guard.

On the other side of the coin is the crumbling empire of Thad Matta and Ohio State basketball. I don't know what is going on with his program, but they can't seem to hold onto guys or create any stability. They've now had 4 one and dones (Oden, Conley, Cook, and Koufos), one more likely one and done (Mullens) who is whispering that he wants out, and two high-profile transfers who left in their freshmen years (Crater and Evan Wallace). That is some serious turnover. If Mullens leaves after this year, this vaunted 2008 recruiting class will basically be wiped out. In other words, it was a complete waste to spend 3-4 years recruiting those guys.

I don't know how Thad is going to ever build a stable program at Ohio State when he has to revamp the roster every year. Matta is creating a scenario where he is going to be relying on freshmen and sophomores every single year. You can't win that way. One of the most important aspects of being a head coach in college is that you need to be a good program manager. You need to have a long term plan for how to build a program in terms of recruiting and roster management. I think Thad Matta is a very good basketball coach, but we've never really had a chance to see him at a program for more than a couple of years. He was only at Butler for 2 years and only at Xavier for 3 years. Now that he's in his fifth year at Ohio State, he's starting to show some serious flaws in terms of building a roster. It seems like Thad is either chasing one and done superstars or JUCOs and marginal guys. There's no middle ground of 4 year quality starter types.

Managing your roster is half the battle in college basketball. If you can't get your players to commit to the team and think long term as being part of the program, you aren't doing your job. Even though I knocked Rick Barnes for his coaching abilities, there is no denying that he knows how to manage a program and keep his blue-chip recruits happy and hungry. Can I take back what I said about Matta compared to Rick Barnes? That might be the dumbest thing I've said.

If I was Thad Matta, I would get out of the AAU scene for awhile. He somehow convinced himself that he needed to get into the AAU scene to win at Ohio State, and I just don't think he's an AAU kinda guy. Matta is a young guy, but he's more of an old school coach who likes to win with defense. And yet I'm getting the impression from the players and their AAU coaches that Matta was out on the recruiting trail promising all these guys that they'd be starting from day one and that the team would be up-tempo and that they'd build the offense around them. Those are flat-out lies. It's almost like Thad told his recruits whatever they wanted to hear just to get them to come to Ohio State even though he had no intention to follow through with his promises. You can't do that with players, and Thad is going to start getting a bad reputation in the AAU world if he doesn't watch it. Koufos's high school coach was bashing Thad last spring, and now we have Crater's AAU coach just killing Thad in the paper. Not a good sign. He has 2-3 "Burger Boys" coming in for 2010, but why wouldn't a guy like Tom Crean or some other coach be calling those guys right now and saying that Thad can't hold onto his players?

If you are going to recruit AAU types, you better be prepared to deal with egos and handlers and all that. And if you tell recruits that you are going to be up tempo and then play slowdown Big 10 basketball, you better be prepared for players to start getting upset and wanting out. Thad is a good coach who can win with rugged Midwest kids who are team players, and that's the type of kids he should be going after for the next few years. Get the 3-4 star types to build a foundation and then go after the right fits from the elite level.

As an ND fan, I like what Mike Brey has done with regards to recruiting. I know he gets some flak from ND fans about his recruiting, but I'd rather have underrated, committed 3 stars than some hot dog 4-5 star who doesn't want to play team ball and starts griping if he isn't getting his shots or minutes or whatever. Brey finds these underrated kids who know how to play the game and care more about the team than their stats.

On second thought, I don't know if I'd even want somebody like Crater on ND's roster unless he really just didn't like Thad and needed a change of scenery. His AAU coach was basically implying that Crater was on the "2-3 year plan" to the NBA, which is complete nonsense. That kid is going to be LUCKY to get drafted after a four year career no matter where he goes.

Finally, I wanted to put in a plug for my man Bob Huggins. When it's all said and done, Bob Huggins will go down as the most underrated basketball coach of the last 25 years in my opinion. He absolutely took Thad Matta to school on Saturday. I've seen him do it for years, so it wasn't exactly a surprise. And for anyone who thinks that Huggins can only win with "thugs", take a look at his WVU teams. Those kids are regular college kids, and he went to the Sweet 16 last year and most likely will have another dangerous team this year.

Huggins is a WINNER, period. He could win anywhere. He won at Walsh College, he won at Akron and took them to the NCAAs, he won UC when they were a hoops dormat, he won at Kansas State, and he is now winning at West Virginia. Huggs is an Ohio guy, and I actually think Ohio State should have hired him a decade ago after Randy Ayers got fired in 1997. He would have been phenomenal at Ohio State, and it's a shame that OSU didn't have the guts to go after him back then.

Notre Dame-Ohio State at the Luke

Man, there are some great sporting events this weekend. I couldn't be more excited about the college football and basketball that we'll have at our disposal on Saturday. I'm headed to Indy for the Lucas Oil doubleheader. Should be an outstanding event.

Some quick thoughts on the ND-Ohio State game.

1) No Harangody - How will we respond to playing without our best player on Saturday?? With the announcement that Harangody is not playing on Saturday, it seems like people are starting to worry about the game against the Buckeyes.

Guess I'm just not that worried about how we'll play without Harangody. Luke is obviously a very important part of our team, but Mike Brey coached teams have never shied away from lighting it up on the perimeter. Until Harangody arrived on campus, we were a perimeter-oriented team. As long as guys like McAlarney and Ayers are knocking down shots from the outside, we'll find ways to score plenty of points. Ohio State relies on a zone defense this year, so KMAC and Ayers will get plenty of looks from three point land. Harangody will be missed, but I expect that we'll use a Harangody-by-committee to make up for him.

Harangody is not exactly a premier defender, so we won't suffer much if at all defensively. I am a little worried about our rebounding, but Ohio State is even shakier on the boards than us. I've watched every Buckeye game this year, and they are not a good rebounding team at all. They are starting a 6'4" power forward (David Lighty) who is not exactly a power rebounder. BJ Mullens and Dallas Lauderdale are their other big men, and both those guys are very raw and still learning how to play college basketball.

2) Tory Jackson - Tory is always a key player for the Irish, and he has a great matchup on Saturday. Ohio State is currently starting a junior college transfer, Jeremie Simmons, at the point, and their backup point guard is a highly-touted freshman, Anthony "Noopy" Crater. Simmons is a pretty good shooter, but he's still getting into the flow of the Buckeye offense. He doesn't appear to be a guy who can get to the bucket and distribute. Crater looks like he has some potential, but he hasn't played that many minutes so far.

Either way, Tory Jackson is an experienced, All Big East caliber junior. Big mismatch in favor of the Irish.

3) ND supporting cast - With no Harangody, we are going to need the Zellers and Hilleslands and Nashes to step it up.

Just a hunch, but I have a feeling that Hillesland might have a nice day on Saturday. With his size and skill set, he has a potential mismatch on Lighty if he takes advantage of it.

4) Experience - KEY factor in this game. Ohio State is a VERY young team. Ridiculously young. They start 3 true sophomores, 1 junior, and a JUCO transfer at point guard. Their bench is basically all freshmen. I think they will be much better at the end of the year, but they are going to have some struggles until guys discover their roles on this team.

From what I have seen about Ohio State, they are very streaky. When they get a little confidence, they can get into a rhythm offensively. But on the whole, they have problems scoring. In that Miami game, they could not do anything offensively in the first half, and they had a lot of games like that last year. It just seems like they are going to need some time until they start to gel as a team. In college basketball, you need defined roles, and you need to know who can rely on game in and game out. While I think Ohio State has some big time talent, they've had issues last year and this year with guys being on the same page.

On the other hand, this Notre Dame team seems like it has been together for 10 years. Ayers, Jackson, KMac, Hillesland, and Zeller have been playing together for 3 years. They have experienced just about every situation in every environment. There are very few teams in the country as experienced as this Notre Dame team. The Maui trip was a great way to get our team ready for the season right out of the chute, so we should be in midseason form heading into Saturday.

5) Buckeyes young guns -

I've watched most of the Buckeyes' games so far, so here's my quick rundown on their key players.

Evan Turner - sophomore shooting guard; probably the best all-around player on the team, but he is still very inconsistent. Case in point, he picks up two charges in the first five minutes of the Miami game, sits out for about 18 minutes, and then dominates the last 15 minutes of the game. He's going to be a star if he stays all four years at Ohio State, but he's not ready to be the go-to guy just yet. He's a slasher with a good mid-range game, but probably needs to work on his shot. Turner is a good defender, good passer and playmaker, but he's not quite ready to carr the team at this point.

Jon Diebler - Probably the most controversial player on the Buckeyes team; highly-touted, all time leading scorer in Ohio high school hoops history, but he was turrrrrrible last year. He just didn't seem to be ready physically for D-I hoops, but he has looked much better this year as a sophomore. Very streaky shooter who can absolutely light it up when he's hot. Should be an interesting matchup with Ryan Ayers.

BJ Mullens - Mullens came to Ohio State as a five star recruit and likely NBA lottery pick, but I haven't seen it with this guy yet. He's a legit 7 footer, but I haven't been as impressed with him athletically as I thought I would be. He's still pretty raw, and sort of lumbering. I don't know, maybe he's just not comfortable in D-I hoops yet, but Mullens is a long way from being a big time player. At the moment, he's not even starting for the Buckeyes. His biggest strength at the moment is rebounding, but he's pretty soft defensively and hasn't shown much offensively yet.

Dallas Lauderdale - Yet another sophomore. This dude is a physical freak with a big time body and a 7'3" winspan. Looks like he should be playing tight end for the Buckeyes. He's still very raw though and has limited offensive skills. He's been starting at the center spot, but he's basically splitting time with Mullens. Lauderdale has a bright future if he keeps working on his game.

William Buford - Five star freshman recruit who has not played a whole lot so far. I'll say this about Buford. He might be the most talented player on the team. Honest to god, he has a Lebron type body, and he can jump and shoot. But he also looks like a typical freshman who doesn't know what he's doing. I don't expect to see him much in the game against ND though.

The Buckeyes have some serious talent in the freshman and sophomore classes, but these guys are all really inconsistent. If Thad can actually hang onto some of them, they could be a real good team down the road.

6) Michael Montgomery Brey vs. Thaddeus Montgomery Matta!! -- Two of my favorite coaches in all of sports and two of the classiest guys you will ever see. Should be fun to see those two pacing the sidelines on Saturday. Hopefully Brey will be sporting his trademark mock turtleneck, and hopefully Thad will be chomping on that bubble gum.

Quick Thad update: It seems like his foot still hasn't healed. His limp has been even worse this year. Sounds like the nerve damage in his foot may not ever be fixed, so the talk is that his condition may become permanent. He's been using a cane at times this year. Very sad stuff. I hope for the best for Coach Matt.

Pick: ND 75 Ohio State 65

ND has too much experience for the Buckeyes in this game. We obviously need some people to step up without Harangody, but I feel confident about this game. The Buckeyes could be formidable down the road, but they are still growing up as a team. ND has already grown up, and guys like Tory and KMac have been playing in these types of games for years. We are battled tested, and will be ready to go.

ND is a Basketball School

Last thing I'm saying about ND football this year - missing from Jack Swarbrick's announcement to retain Charlie Weis for another year was removing Notre Dame's name from bowl game consideration. This decision should be made on principle by the university, not Charlie. The "it's valuable practice time for the young guys" argument is hooey when clearly that same practice time saw the team regress during the course of the season. In any sport, it's worthless and counter-productive to practice and drum into a player's head the wrong thing. If a tennis player hit forehands on a ball machine for 3 hours a day, but used the wrong grip, footwork and stroke technique, the swing will eventually need to be deconstructed and re-learned through better coaching. It's delusional to think that just because you "practice", it makes you better. The same applies to football. If the O-line couldn't block anyone consistently all season, what's going to change with three more weeks? The same wrong message only stunts the growth of the team. Give the players a break to clear their head and come back fresh in the spring with new coaches teaching and drilling the right stuff. Are the players going to be motivated to play in a 3rd tier bowl game, knowing they blew their chance at a 2nd tier game? If Charlie couldn't get the players ready to beat Syracuse on Senior Day, what makes you think they'll be amped to beat the tar out of Rice in the Texas Bowl? DECLINE ALL INVITATIONS!

Moving on to a coach who does have his program moving in the right direction, basketball season has started. Campus should unleash the negative energy accumulated on the gridiron and make this a season to remember for Mike Brey's Top 10 ballers. The team is 6-1 with the only blemish to #1 North Carolina, who make everyone they play look like a JV squad. On the heels of their strong showing in the Maui Invitational with wins over Indiana and Texas, the team has one more test this weekend against Ohio State followed by three gift-wrapped victories before Christmas. Big East play kicks off Dec. 31st in Chicago against DePaul. To recognize the school record for 19 3-pointers in a game, I'll throw some early season impressions at you, naturally, in threes.

What we have Learned
1. This team has "dancing shoes." The games against the Longhorns and Tar Heels proved they belong on the same court with the best teams in the country. The 15-point deficit to UNC is the closest anyone has come, and this was with a sick Harangody only playing 27 minutes. Heck, Luke might have been playing at 50% as he went straight from the hospital to the arena. Were they to play UNC again, we'd be a different team with Gody at full strength.
2. More scoring threats. In The Mongoose's absence, the team is finding new ways (and people) to score. Look no further than Ryan Ayers scoring 19 and 35 in back-to-back career performances. It's very encouraging to see other guys step into the spotlight and assert themselves. It will be important to have the ability to spread the floor with multiple options, creating more space for Tory and Gody to operate.
3. Ty Lawson is on a different level than Tory Jackson. Tory gambled a little too much playing against one of the premier PGs in the country, and got burned. It was a humbling experience, but a learning experience all the same. Tory's competitive fire will drive him to become a better defender.

Team Strengths
1. Let It Rain. Like it or not, this team has a heavy reliance on shooting from downtown. McAlarney's limitless range, Ayers developing confidence and Zeller's smooth stroke are all weapons. Even Tory knocks down the open 3 when he's feeling it. If teams don't extend their defense, they will pay for it.
2. Ball Control. The stat that jumped out to me from the Texas game was 6 turnovers in the entire game. That's pretty incredible. Following that with only 8 TO's against UNC shows great team concentration and solid execution of the game plan. They play within themselves very well. That will be pivotal in Big East play.
3. Chemistry. This might be their biggest strength in tough games. There's a great camaraderie among all the players. They truly want to win for each other. They also know each other's games inside and out, which will prove invaluable in clutch situations.

Team Weaknesses
1. Free Throw Shooting. Surprisingly, the team is shooting 60% from the charity stripe. McAlarney needs to find ways to get to the line and drive off ball fakes. Tory, Hillesland and Zeller are all shaky at the line. Even Harangody has been inconsistent early on. This needs to improve - no excuses.
2. Defense. Nothing new as Brey's focus has been more on outscoring teams rather than not allowing them to score. Though they are effective creating turnovers, especially steals, they still can't lock teams down on a given possession. We'll know more about their defensive capabilities once conference play starts.
3. Rebounding. Looks like Rob Kurz' biggest impact hasn't been substituted yet. Against Texas and UNC, they were -19 in rebounding margin. The Big East will feast on us if we don't bring a lunch pail attitude to hitting the boards. We may not be as physically gifted as many of the teams on the schedule, but the fundamentals of boxing out and positioning need to be executed if they want to win the rebounding edge. This needs to be a team commitment to rebounding. Harangody can't do it himself.

Most Invaluable Player
1. Tory Jackson - the little engine that makes everything happen. Tory plays with his heart on his jersey. When he's in the zone, we're nearly unstoppable. He wills himself to the basket, sets up teammates, hits clutch shots, and wreaks havoc on defense. His play is infectious. I contend he's the most unappreciated player in the Big East. His due is coming.
2. Kyle McAlarney- It took a couple games to heat up, but now that he has, look out below. K-Mac can singlehandedly keep us in games with his streak shooting. His scoring output in the last 5 games: 18, 19, 39, 32, 27. Not bad for the "2nd option." It's imperative, though, that Kyle develops a mid-range game to draw some fouls and opposition away from the bigs.
3. Luke Harangody - The guy with the biggest target on his back every time ND steps on the court, The Mongoose needs to be sure he plays within his comfort zone. He's most effective when he lets the game come to him - offensive rebounds and putbacks, short range 'Gody hooks, quick mid-range jumpers and beating his man down the floor for easy buckets. Oh yeah, and 40-foot bankshots. When he forces the action, like he did in the 1st half of last year's first game against UConn, his impact becomes obsolete.

Wildcard
1. Zach Hillesland - his all-court ability is integral to the flow of our offense and disrupting the opposition. He's gaining confidence in his mid-range shooting, though I'd prefer if he just drove to the hoop. His offensive impact is best in the open court, while his defensive assignments are the lynchpin for defensive success.
2. Luke Zeller - The wily veteran needs to use his experience and smarts to make an impact on games. He's dangerous drifting out beyond the arc and knocking down open looks. He'll be counted on to hit a number of momentum changing shots this season. But his greatest need is to become a true banger down low. He got to watch Rob Kurz in action, now he needs to emulate him. If we can count on 7-9 points and 6-8 rebounds a night from Zeller, we'll be in good shape.
3. Carleton Scott/Tyrone Nash - Nash played sparingly and Scott redshirted last year. Both are long and capable of good things on offense. They have yet to be tested on the defensive side, though. As Brey works them into the rotation, we may find surprising results from each. Scott could be counted on as another energy guy with his high-flying ability while Nash could become a tough scorer with his deft lefty touch. There isn't much of a book on either for teams to game plan for, so we may surprise teams with their production.

What to Look Forward To
1. Setting the Big East record for consecutive home victories. The Grim Reaper might as well have been welcoming the team bus the last two years as Brey has led two straight seasons of undefeated league play. The streak stands at 18 games, 3 shy of the record. The first two home games won't be easy, with Georgetown and a scrappy Seton Hall. Get by those roadblocks and a Saturday night showdown with UConn is on tap for January 24th. The Leprechaun Legion will be deafening. Harangody vs. Thabeet. What a matchup!
2. February 7, 2009. The team travels to LA again to battle UCLA in Pauley Pavilion. A super matchup that gives the team much needed tournament experience against a different style of opponent in a new venue. Ben Howland's teams are always prepared, so this will mimic better than anything a Sweet 16 type game.
3. Big East Tournament, March 10-14, 2009 - Historically, the Irish have laid stink bombs in MSG. Two years ago, it looked like they were turning the corner with a tough win over Syracuse followed by a thrilling defeat at the hands of eventual champ Georgetown. But they followed up that success with a 1st game exit to Marquette. If the team plays up to their potential, the BET could be a fitting send-off for McAlarney and a precursor to a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

ND Hoops, Michael Brey, and Bob Davie

Just wanted to give a shout out to the ND basketball team tonight as we embark on the most anticipated season in many years. The #9 team in America and best current program in the state of Indiana plays its first exhibition game against Briar Cliff tonight at 9 pm at the JACC. The game is not on tv, but you can watch the action on http://www.und.com/. Should be interesting to see how this team looks. No Hillesland tonight, so maybe the young guys will get a little more time.

As we get ready for another successful season under Coach Brey, I wanted to revive the petition that was started a couple years ago on this site to rename the JACC after Coach Michael Montgomery Brey. I still can't believe there are only 8 signatures on this petition. Mike Brey is the most underappreciated coach in the country, and we are lucky to have him. If you support the Irish and The Mock, sign the petition and send a message to ND that we want his name on the building.

http://www.petitiononline.com/Brey/petition.html

Other than toughening up the football schedule, my biggest priority for the ND administration in the next decade is to give Coach Brey his lifetime contract and start laying the groundwork for the "Michael Brey Fieldhouse." It is long overdue!!

One other nugget of information for you ND hoops fans. Tyler Hansborough is hurt with shin splints and may even have a stress fracture in his leg. I like Tyler Hansborough and wouldn't wish injury upon him, but I'm not going to complain if he has to sit out in Maui and open the door for a possible ND title in the Maui Invitational. If we end up making the finals of that tournament, we're staring at UNC. No Hansborough would make our chances of winning a whole lot easier. If we win the Maui Invitational, our goals for a high NCAA tournament seed could be within reach.

Speaking of petitions, I felt like unveiling a new petition for you ND fans out there. The official "Bring Bob Davie to the NBC Booth" petition is now out there for you Bob Davie fans. It would be "YUUUUUUUUUUUUGE" if we could pry him away from ESPN and get him in there with Pat, Tom, and the boys.

http://www.petitiononline.com/WEISND/petition.html

Davie to NBC! YES WE CAN! Si se puede! That is a change in the booth that I can believe in. Someday the dream of Davie in the booth and Brey's name on the JACC will come to light. If we accomplish anything on this blog, I hope those two things happen on our watch.

To email the blog, we can be reached at weisnd.blogspot.com@gmail.com