So, I've been watching ND play some hoops this year, and only one word really describes it well: frustrating. Our offense is hot and cold (and more often cold this year, hence our struggles), and we simply just don't play great defense. Our ability to rebound offensively is just flat out weak, and our defensive boards are just average.
That said, this is a team with HUGE potential - hence the early Top 10 rankings. Luke is a beast, and has carried the team at times. Our back-court has such great shooting potential, it's crazy. But that's been the problem - all the offensive firepower has been potential this year, and hasn't resulted in points. At one point, I tuned in for 6 losses in a row. Ugh, it hurt.
Granted, all 6 of those teams were quality Top 25 teams, and that's one thing ND has going for it as we get down to crunch time - the SOS is ridonculous. It seems that every week we play another Top 20 team - largely bc of playing in the Big East, easily the best conference in hoops - but also because of our tough OOC schedule, which included a trip to UCLA.
ND needs to get to 8-10 in Big East League play to have an outside shot at making the tourney. In most leagues you have no shot at that record, but the Big East is freaking stacked. At latest count, the BE featured 5 teams in the Top 10, with Pitt at #1 and UCONN at #2. Louisville is at 6, Marquette 8, Villanova 10. Madness, right?
The 4 remaining games on the schedule are Rutgers (tomorrow), which should be a W, UCONN (28th) which will be a tough matchup once again, 'Nova (March 2nd) which is another tough but winnable game, and St. John's on Mar 6th which should be a W (but should've been last time too). If we lose both 'tough' games in a close battle with our offense showing its potential, and take care of Rutgers and St. John's, we have a decent shot at 8-10. With the same record and lackluster play, we're out. If we can pull off a win against 'Nova or especialy UCONN and get to 9-9 I think we have a really good shot, and if we somehow magically run the table we are a lock.
So tune in and keep supporting the Irish. This is when things get exciting. I think we'd all admit that hoops hasn't gone as we'd expected (heck, in November I was calling us a 'basketball school' which I do every few years for about a week), but we still have a chance. And if this team gets hot on the shooting side, watch out.
