Chat Transcript: You had Notre Dame hoops questions – a lot of them. Here are some answers – Notre Dame Insider

Tom Noie: We're back....and suddenly, it's summer around these here parts. Think it actually snowed the last time we chatted about Notre Dame hoops. None of that today in Northern Indiana, where temperatures will push toward 90. Weather aside, it's always basketball season in these parts. There's plenty to ponder and discuss when it comes to the Irish. To join, be sure to include your name and hometown. And with that, you know the drill - let's light this chat candle.

Bob: Who are some of the top recruits ND has a realistic chance with ? Donovan Clingan a possibility ?

Tom Noie: Bob: Buckle up, because this answer might take some time to chew through. Deep breath. OK, let's go...Notre Dame currently has around 20-25 names on its recruiting board for the Class of 2022. Topping that list are Donovan Clingan, a 6-10, 220-pound center from Bristol, Conn. and guard Rodney Rice, 6-4 from Potomac, Md. Notre Dame's immediate needs are twofold - a point guard and a big man. Who else might be on the short list? It's odd to say but it's true - it's too early to tell given that the staff has not been allowed to recruit off campus, really for the last two recruiting cycles, because of the pandemic. Recruiting finally will get back to some semblance of normalcy when college coaching staffs can get back out on the road in July. The Irish staff wants/needs that time to actually see kids in person. Recruiting solely off video and getting to know kids through Zoom is a tricky proposition. So July's going to be big to focus even more on a core group of maybe 10 guys that they feel are best fits.

Tom Noie: But, alas, it's not that easy given where we are in college basketball. Notre Dame will have seven players - Paul Atkinson, Robby Carmody, Dane Goodwin, Prentiss Hubb, Nate Laszewski, Cormac Ryan and Trey Wertz - in line to graduate in the spring of 2022. Seven guys is a lot, but hold on. Of those seven, only Atkinson is out of eligibility. The other six have the option of returning for another year (and maybe more). That kind of muddles the recruiting crystal ball. What if Hubb returns? What if Ryan and Wertz? Do the Irish still need to find a point guard? Dane Goodwin already has indicated a desire to return for a fifth year. Then, with all that, there's also the ever-present transfer portal. This offseason, there were some 1,500 players in the portal. How will Notre Dame use that moving forward? Some schools will recruit the portal with more of an emphasis than high school kids. It will be fascinating moving forward how the Irish will construct their roster.

Bob: What does Anthony Solomon bring that some of the other assistant coaches have lacked ?

Tom Noie: Bob: First, let's cover this base - Anthony Solomon is expected to return for his third stint as an assistant coach. He'll replace Scott Martin, who will rotate back to video/recruiting coordinator. Martin was supposed to serve in that role last year before Ryan Ayers left for personal reasons. Solomon's hiring could be official as soon as the end of the week. What does he bring that the current assistants lack? How about everything?

Tom Noie: One reason - maybe one big reason - Notre Dame has found itself on the outside of the NCAA tournament looking in for the last four years is there was nobody on the staff that could/would really challenge Mike Brey or the players. Solomon will do that. He has an edge. He has experience. he has wisdom. He has an attitude and mentality that this program has lacked, really since he left following the 2015-16 season. If you want to say he's the "bad cop" on the staff, that fits. He just has that something that can reach guys. He's tough. He's fair. People respond to him. Notre Dame hoops hasn't been past the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament under Brey without Solomon. That's not a coincidence.

Joe /Granger: How big of an addition will Coach Slo be on the recruiting trail!!...

Tom Noie: Joe: On a scale of 1 to 10, how about a 12? He'll go get guys that guys on the current staff haven't been able to get.

Dwight, NC Arkansas: I believe having Anthony Solomon returning to the staff is a real positive. Given Mike Brey's age, is it conceivable that Solomon was getting valuable coaching experience elsewhere and is now returning as a viable head coach at ND at some point in the future? He certainly knows ND as well as anyone not named Brey.

Tom Noie: Dwight: Good points on knowing this culture and this university, but it would be a hard sell to the Irish hoops fan base to bring in someone who went 24-88 in his only head coaching stint at Saint Bonaventure. And the Atlantic 10 as we know is nowhere near the Atlantic Coast Conference. No, I think Solomon's best as an assistant who can be a great resource for the head coach.

Eddie: What is the status of Robby Carmody? How many years of eligibility does he have left?

Tom Noie: Eddie: Robby Carmody has yet to play a full season of college basketball, which means he has at least four years of eligibility remaining - five if you count the additional year the NCAA has given student-athletes because of the pandemic, but that's sort of silly. He's not going to be in college - be it at Notre Dame or somewhere else if he chooses to reset his college experience - for eight years. Carmody was close enough health-wise to contribute last season, but it got too late in the season where there was little benefit to bring him into the mix. He's expected to be full go certainly for preseason camp in fall. Maybe for summer pickup sessions.

ND Hoops Addict, South Bend: Any news or rumblings on crowd expectations for football or basketball games? Will I get to use my season tickets this year?

Tom Noie: ND Hoops: look around at what's happening elsewhere in college football. And even, NFL or Major League Baseball. News that Pro Team A, B and C or college D, E and F are slowly upping attendance capacities or opening them up to 100 percent is a really good sign for Notre Dame. I'd be shocked if Notre Dame wasn't close to 100 percent by the Sept. 11 home opener against Toledo and at capacity for all sports for the 2021-22 school year. That's where all this is trending. If - and that's a big IF - there are no setbacks from coronavirus numbers, it should be business as usual from a fan experience at Notre Dame this season. In all sports.

Guest: Do you expect notre dame to make the tournament next year. Bill Tinley park

Tom Noie: Bill: The baseline expectation for this program should be to make the NCAA Tournament. Will they in 2021-22? I want to say yes, but the core of this group is going to have to show something and do something that it has yet to do the last three years. Maybe the additions of Paul Atkinson at center and Anthony Solomon on the coaching staff should be enough to push this program back to Selection Sunday. Unless there's marked improvement from the core, it's going to be difficult to get there.

Jim from Berlin, CT: Tom it's great to hear from you after a long pause following the end of the basketball season. In your opinion has Mike Brey basically worn out his welcome in South Bend? I worry that mediocrity has now become the norm for Irish men's basketball and reaching the Big Dance is now nothing more than a pipe dream. How many more losing seasons do we have to put up with before Brey finally calls it quits?

Tom Noie: Jim: Good to hear from you. Let's get a "normal" season to really drill down on where this is all headed for Mike Brey and the future of the Notre Dame men's basketball program. Missing four straight NCAA Tournaments is inexcusable and unacceptable, and everything else, but rewind to each of those seasons - Notre Dame lost Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell to injury in 2017-18 yet still was the first team out of the Field of 68. Lose those two guys, and it's a tough sell to get back to the NCAA. Next year, lose Rex Pflueger and turn the program over to freshmen who weren't ready. Yeah, they weren't getting in that year, or the following. You just don't go from 3-15 in the ACC to tournament team in one year. 2019-20, pandemic aside, that team should've done more to get in with seniors T.J. Gibbs and John Mooney and Rex Pflueger. Last year? Too many unknowns in a pandemic to point to the NCAA and say gotta get there. Let's have a "normal" season when everyone stays healthy (on and off the court).

Real Rob in Dallas: Tom, now that Coach Solomon has been brought back for the 3rd time and this time as an Associate Head Coach, it sure looks like Balanis is the odd man out. Do u see him moving into an ops role so we don't have too many cooks in the kitchen?

Tom Noie: Rob: This feels like an answer I'd give about the starting lineup, but if the season started tonight, Rod Balanis would be the associate head coach, Anthony Solomon and Ryan Humphrey would be the assistants and Mike Brey would be the head coach. Still think there has to be one more move - if they could create a different role (non-coaching) for Balanis and bring in another veteran assistant coach as another voice/recruiter that would align nicely I believe there's value in having Rod Balanis on this staff, but maybe in a different kind of role at this stage of his career.

mike: I.U gets a new coach and there recruiting goes wild. So is it that Brey is not able to recruit or is it the higher ups just will not allow it. Attendance at most games is real bad but why would you expect people to go to games if the school will not allow the team to be competitive. I have season tickets for thirty years thinking ever year it will be different but I think I am done.

Tom Noie: Mike: Indiana is Indiana, one of the top five or six blueblood programs in college basketball. Are we really comparing what happens down in Bloomington to what happens in South Bend as apples to apples? Because it's way different than apples to oranges or anything else. Attendance at Notre Dame games has been average at best (even in the best of years). And Notre Dame believes it can and will be competitive in the ACC, but it's going to do it on its terms. It's not a one-and-done destination. It's not going to take recruiting risks that other schools in the ACC can take. It's going to do it its way. Look at Notre Dame for what it is and not what others are doing and the frustration level might fade. Might.

Nick Ventura: How is Robby Carmody progressing and is there hope that he can contribute this year and if so in what role?

Tom Noie: Nick: Touched a little earlier in the chat about Robby Carmody's health. His role remains a blank slate. Notre Dame went out and added two more guards to an already crowded perimeter with J.R. Konieczny and Blake Wesley. That right there tells you that the window of opportunity may have closed a bit on Carmody. It's up to him to push it back open and carve out a role for himself. Stay healthy and figure it out.

Tony: Tom, coach Brey talked about getting a defensive asst coach. I dont see any movement. Have you heard anything? Bringing back Slo is good if it happens but soon this staff will be able to hit the road to recruit.

Tom Noie: Tony: Anthony Solomon will be hired as an assistant coach and will be in charge of overhauling the Irish defense. He's going to earn his salary, because that end of the court is a complete teardown/start over. If anybody can do better, it's Slo. He'll get those guys' attention and get them to compete. That right there is a start on that end.

Tony: Tom, how come it seems Brey puts out fewer offers and is always later than other coaches. I understand the academics need to be good. But, shouldnt this be checked on a head of time. Any rumblings that he leads for any recruits?

Tom Noie: Tony: Academics is a BIG reason for that. Like, everything has to be right and up to date on the transcript before the Irish proceed. And for anyone to hang their hat on getting offer A before offer B is kind of silly. Like, this kid's going to go to this school because they offered first? But what if the other school is a better fit? Don't get so hung up on offers. In journalism, it's often better to be right than to be first. Same can be said for hoops recruiting. Be right instead of first. What does first really mean? Not a whole lot. And it's too early in the recruiting cycle for reasons explained above to think Notre Dame leads for any given recruit. Recruiting has been on ice since the pandemic. It will get back to some sort of normalcy in July where coaches can actually get out and see kids. That's huge.

Dan - Chicago: I assume that there will be no more additional players (specifically, transfers) added to this year's team besides Atkinson and the freshmen?

Tom Noie: Dan: Given what the transfer portal looks like (currently about 1,500 kids) I'd not assume anything. Cormac Ryan was a late portal addition (June 2019). As of now, Notre Dame has no plans to utilize that last scholarship, but if a perfect guard jumps into the portal this afternoon or next week or next month, the Irish certainly will have interest.

Dan - Chicago: Will anyone sit out this year to preserve eligibility. I assume only the freshman would be potential candidates for this.

Tom Noie: Dan: Good question - and it may not be open only to freshmen. The plan last year was to play the long game with Tony Sanders, who in a normal year would've gone the five-year route. What if the perimeter is too crowded for him this year? What if power forward Elijah Taylor struggles to get up to ACC speed? I don't see one of the two freshmen going on the five-year plan. At least, not now. What if the returning guys are lights-out good and efficient and operating as one? Might be a consideration down the line. Would be a good problem to have.

Joe Asbury Pk Nj: Why does Coach Brey believe not carrying a full roster of scholarship players is a good strategy ? It seems we are constantly down to under 10 healthy players . This has to effect practice along with games no ?

Tom Noie: Joe: Personal preference for Brey, who would rather have 10-11 guys all relatively happy with their roles than carry 13 guys and have two leave after season's end. Brey comes from the Mike Krzyzewski way of thinking that a shorter bench is a better bench. Brey also believes that the law of injury averages that have crippled this program since 2017-18 HAVE to eventually turn. The Irish were under 10 healthy guys last year because Elijah Taylor underwent ankle surgery and Robby Carmody cracked his kneecap. Brey still believed nine was enough - if he didn't, he wouldn't have sat Carmody the entire year. The injury thing's gotta swing back the Irish way this year, doesn't it?

Bruce, Centralia, IL: Tom, I doubt that anyone doubts Coach Breys ability or his fit with the program. That said, I have observed a distinct drop off in energy from him over the last few seasons, on the sidelines and especially in the postgame. Have you observed the same thing, and if so, do you ascribe it to age, to this group of players being frustrating to coach, or to some other factor that might not be visible to the rest of us? Thanks very much.

Tom Noie: Bruce: Welcome to the grind that is college basketball. It's hard enough to be up and energetic all the time when your team is winning and all is going good. When it's not - and that's certainly been the last four years - everything about it is hard. Last season, especially because of COVID and the uncertainty staffs operated sometimes not day to day but hour to hour. Losing takes a toll on every head coach, especially someone like Brey who always seemingly had the right answer or button he could push. That's been draining since this core group were freshmen - he hasn't been able to reach them to the point where they can produce. There's something missing, and still might be this season. I thought two years ago that Mike Brey would contemplate leaving. He didn't. Same this year. Didn't happen. When you talk to him away from the coach-media setting, he's got all the same energy and juice he did in 2015-16. He believes he can get back to that. That's half the battle. Now actually go do it.

Andrew from Plymouth, IN: Do you anticipate a transfer sometime between the end of summer workouts and the beginning of the season? There aren't enough minutes for everyone so atleast one player is going to be frustrated with their lack of expected minutes. Someone like Tony Sanders is also probably headed for a redshirt season, which will be difficult to swallow coming off a season in which he actually got minutes on the court. I don't imagine Brey changes his philosophy and starts rotating in the way a team like Florida State does in that up to 10 players get significant minutes. How do you think this shakes out?

Tom Noie: Andrew: Whatever rotation writing that might be on the wall in summer and preseason already is there. It's no secret who the main guys are and will be. The returning guys know that, so it's not going to reach a point in August or September where someone says, whoa, didn't see that coming. That includes Tony Sanders. He played a total of 79 minutes last season, so that might be a reach to say it will be difficult for him to be handed a lesser role - especially if a bigger role awaits down the road. That's the kind of guy Notre Dame gets. They know what the current picture looks like and what the bigger picture will look like.

Tom Noie: And Florida State? Funny you brought up that program. What the Seminoles have done the last few seasons in-season has been remarkably consistent, but man, what happens in the NCAA? Too many guys who don't really look like they know their roles. There is a such a thing of having TOO many guys. That's an example. Regular season, it works in their advantage. Post-season, it works to their disadvantage.

xmustico: Do you think Elijah Taylor could be an underrated part of next year's team? Could he be the Colson (as a freshman) that comes off the bench and provides good minutes while guys like Atkinson and Laz get some rest. Big fan of Philly players and think they could use more of that toughness on this team.

Tom Noie: X: That would be a great story in a program really void of great stories the last few years. For too long, it's been we get what we see and we haven't seen anything close to what we need to see for this program to be considered among the top half of the ACC. Maybe Elijah Taylor hits the college basketball ground running with his surgically-repaired left ankle and becomes that junkyard-dog type of guy that Bonzie Colson was early in his career. That would be a wrinkle we haven't seen from the Irish in too long. I've tired of seeing the same old guys do the same old stuff. Some new energy is a must.

P. Rose: The starting five is pretty set, we assume, with some possible fluctuation on number 5 and first off the bench. Who do you anticipate being the 7th and 8th man of 2021-22 season?

Tom Noie: P: Your standard late-spring answer is coming....ready. Too early to tell. We just have no idea about the 7-8-9-10 spots in the rotation. As mentioned in the previous question, can Elijah Taylor take a role and run with it? If so, he's a main guy. What can Robby Carmody provide? If anything, given his age, he's going to have a case for bench minutes. How about Matt Zona? Then you have the two freshmen. Where/How do they fit? I'm anxious to see this team play in summer (if we're allowed). We usually get a really good indication on how all the pieces fit in June and July.

Andy from Bryan,Ohio: Thanks for taking my question...Mike Brey has been a God send for ND hoops and very few coaches could do what he has done.But everything eventually comes to an end...in your estimation/opinion,what does Mike Brey's successor look like?..What is that snapshot?..Not necessarily asking for possible names as much as strengths to build on the last 20 years?

Tom Noie: Andy: A young guy with a pedigree of success - either as an assistant coach (like the NBA) or a head coach at a mid-major who has the potential to make that leap to the elite that is the ACC. What I don't see is a coach who's been around the block and we're doing this same possible coaching dance four or five years later. Brey took this job 21 Julys ago with the belief of making it his own. There's someone out there that has the same dream - and potential. Who's going to find him? Can they find him?

Pat, Springfield, IL: Thanks for offering this opportunity. Any idea what the non-conference schedule will look like? Will the season start around the usual time, mid-November?

Tom Noie: Pat: Good question, and from every indication in this pandemic world, college basketball is going to look a whole lot more like college basketball in 2021-22. That means fans in the stands. That means closer to 30 games. That also means the return of the November MTEs (multi-team events). Notre Dame is part of one and will go back to Maui for the first time since winning it in 2017 (and Brey going shirtless with the lei). The Maui field is Butler, Texas A&M, Wisconsin, Oregon, Houston, Chaminade, Saint Mary's and Notre Dame. I'd think a first-round game between Notre Dame and Wisconsin or Notre Dame and Butler might be in the works. Notre Dame also will play a non-league road game at Howard (MLK Day) while it looks like the game against Kentucky will be at home (Dec. 11) instead of Madison Square Garden. There's the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge where Notre Dame is on the road (maybe Ohio State???) and the Crossroads against Indiana. That's seven non-league guarantees to go with a 20-game ACC schedule.

Steve Duff: Thanks for your great work on Irish hoops Tom. Two questions for you. In my view, player development has stagnated for several years. Do you think there will be marked improvement from the old guys on the roster or have they hit their ceilings and this is who they are? Also, how much impact will Atkinson and the two South Bend freshmen have this season? Thanks and keep doing your thing!

Tom Noie: Steve: Great to hear from you and really great stuff. You nailed it. Player development has stagnated. Guys that are supposed to get better or are expected to get better haven't gotten better (outside of John Mooney who became a backboard beast). Maybe some of that is coaching. I don't know if Ryan Ayers ever reached any of the guards in his time. Let's see if Anthony Solomon can take a run at elevating Prentiss Hubb's game or Dane Goodwin's game. My concern about this season is that this core is what it is - an average outfit. I'd love to be wrong about that and would be pleasantly stunned to see this core chase an NCAA bid. Atkinson's going to be a main guy the minute he arrives on campus - just plug him in and let him play. Konieczny and Wesley, I'll go the wait-and-see route. Both are talents whose talents are nowhere near ACC ready. Yet.

Mike,New Jersey: Hey Tom, Any chance we see an ND alumni team in the TBT this summer? Bonzie, Mooney,Auguste,Farrell,Abro etc. all having solid careers overseas. It would be a shame it they never got together to compete.

Tom Noie: Mike: Good call. Maybe throw in there V.J. Beachem and Demetrius Jackson and Steve Vasturia and Martin Geben as well. Jerian Grant too. I know there have been early discussions about getting a team together (my source is pretty connected....lol), but haven't heard anything lately. May reach out to my guy and see where that sits. John Mooney likely wouldn't be an option - he's got NBA options coming after his season in Australia. A lot of the Notre Dame alums have discussed a team last year. It didn't materialize because of COVID. Hopefully it does this year.

Guest: Gary From Elkhart; I read where Hunter Dickinson went to Michigan because his girlfriend was going there.Sounds like a last minute package deal to me what say you?

Tom Noie: Gary: That and Cost of Attendance (where student-athletes are offered a financial stipend on top of their scholarship) was better than what Cost of Attendance student-athletes get at Notre Dame. The girlfriend angle was only part of the story, but why let that ruin the narrative? Mike Brey walked out of his last meeting with Hunter Dickinson convinced he was coming to Notre Dame. Like, he he had a verbal commitment. And then he didn't. Ahhhhh.....recruiting!

joe from the south side: Tom: First question on FB, then strictly hoops. Recently, you had the chance to meet with or talk to Marcus Freeman. I forget which. Seems like you were extremely impressed. What about him made you so effusive with praise?

Tom Noie: Joe: Wasn't me. None of his have actually done anything face-to-face with anybody with Notre Dame football (or any athletics) since March 2020. I have listened in on some of the Zoom pressers that Marcus Freeman has participated in. Extremely well spoken. Grounded. Measured. Gets it. You can tell why kids want to play for him.

joe from the south side: Tom: Your thoughts on Solomon returning. Remember, you laughed at me for suggesting Grant and Solomon as a package.

Tom Noie: Joe: And I'm still laughing. Anthony Grant's a UD guy with really strong connection/relationship with Don Donoher. He's not going anywhere. I'm surprised it will be third time around with Anthony Solomon. He was really good the first two stints, but this one will be tougher for myriad reasons. Let's see how it plays out. I'd be stunned if it didn't work.

joe from the south side: Tom: Let's assume the first 6 are set (Atkinson, Hubb, Ryan, Nate, Dane, Wertz). IYO, who are the next in line candidates to contribute? Two guys with at least some experience---Sanders and Zona? Or, the second coming of Vasturia, (JRK) or arguably the best athlete on the roster but a pretty big ego (Wesley)? I am assuming that the injuries to Carmody and Taylor remove them from the discussion, at least for today. Pretty hard to see Carmody coming back from all of those injuries, and Taylor missing a whole year puts him in a hole, I think.

Tom Noie: Joe: Too many unknowns up and down and all around the next-in-line guys after the first six. All have potential, but all have red flags that say, no, not happening right away. I'm not aboard the Sanders-Zona experience train. They barely got a taste last year - certainly not enough to say yeah, they're ready. And then, like you said, have the two injured guys and the two freshmen. Summer workouts/pickups will offer a better idea how these pieces fit.

Greg in Chicago: Do you see ND starting an annual series with one or two schools (say Marquette or DePaul) now that the IU/PU/ND/Butler classic will appear to go away?

Tom Noie: Greg: And not a moment too soon for the Crossroads, which long wore out its welcome as a hoops doubleheader destination, at least for Notre Dame, which runs a very distant fourth (or fifth) in terms of fan support at Bankers Life. Anyway, I digress. Notre Dame and Marquette will renew its rivalry beginning in 2022-23 with a home and home (one game in Fiserv, one game in Purcell). Then it would be time to jump back and do something with UCLA. DePaul's got to get a little better (OK, a whole lot) to make that series worthwhile. But anything in late December would be better than Indianapolis. There's only so much IU a guy can take.

Greg in Chicago: What do you see as the 1 thing that absolutely must happen with this team to make it back to the NCAA tournament and conversely, what do you think is the biggest hurdle the program currently faces?

Tom Noie: Greg: This core has to show SOMETHING from a competitive/cruel standpoint where they just go and beat people. They play as one. They move the ball and get rolling confidence-wise and just run through with wins for long stretches. That's a big ask because we've seen next to nothing in that department the first three years. The biggest hurdle will be the confidence game - last time these guys were on a court together, they trailed an ACC opponent by 50. FIFTY! That's hard to do. The Irish did it. Can't do it again.

Erik (Granger, IN): Thanks for being here! What makes UVAs packline defense so good, why dont other teams (ND) try something similar, and what does it take to defeat it?

Tom Noie: Erik: Tony Bennett recruits to it - getting smart guys who embrace defense and aren't enamored with stats. You want to play 35 minutes and score a lot of points and showcase your skills, Virginia's not going to be for you. It's a greater good type of approach. Come to Virginia, embrace defense, frustrate opponents and win a lot of games and the personal accolades will come. Too many kids today don't want to play that way, which is why it hasn't caught on. To beat it? Think one and two and three plays ahead. Be so decisive in the post that you don't give them time for the double team to come. I covered Baylor's second-round tournament game against Wisconsin at Hinkle in March. You could just feel that the Bears were thinking a play or two ahead AS a play was unfolding. Be quick, be decisive, be sure and it eliminates the effectiveness of the packline. Oh, and shot-makers also don't hurt!

Erik (Granger, IN): Has Anthony Solomon had success at the coaching stops between ND stints? If not, why do you think hes been more successful here at ND?

Tom Noie: Erik: Only at Dayton, where the Flyers were Final Four caliber before the pandemic wiped clean that season. He's had success at Notre Dame because he understands the type of kid who chooses that place. He can reach them. He can relate to them. That's why he's headed back for stint No. 3.

mschleet: Will Notre Dame hire another new coach? If so, any names that may be considered?

Tom Noie: Eventually. A few. How's that for to the point? LOL

Dwight, NC Arkansas: IU has in recent weeks picked up 2 apparent quality portal transfers which may help them greatly. Does ND have needs that a transfer could help fill? I understand there are a LOT of transfers out there. I realize the 'proper fit' is of prime importance/

Tom Noie: Dwight: Not really. Not yet. Here comes the standard Mike Brey loyalty response in a chat. The perimeter's packed. The low post will be Paul Atkinson's to man. Notre Dame could go out and get another veteran transfer big or veteran swing guy but Brey wants to see what he has in Elijah Taylor and Matt Zona, and Tony Sanders and Robby Carmody to an extent. There's no shortage of possible rotation guys on the current roster. How that shakes out, that's going to the be $64,000 (and more) question.

GEorge from El Segundo, CA: HI Tom; hope you and yours remain safe and well. Monty Williams appears to be on his way to NBA Coach of the Year. Just wondering if there Is there any current relationship between Irish basketball and Coach Williams? Thank you.

Tom Noie: George: Notre Dame hoops held a Zoom call during the pandemic (want to say early or mid summer last year) with Monty Williams and the members of the basketball team, which was cool to see. Outside of a quick conversation or text, there hasn't been much between Mike Brey and Monty - mainly because their seasons overlap. Monty hasn't been able to get back and be around the program and the program's a little far away from PHX.

Bruce, Centralia, IL: Tom, Im excited about Atkinson coming in as a grad transfer. Can you give us a profile of his game please - strengths and limitations, and what his ceiling might be in the ACC? Thanks very much.

Tom Noie: Bruce: Start with the fact that the last time he played a college basketball season (he sat out 2020-21 after the Ivy League shut down because of COVID) he was the league player of the year. Ivy League or not, that's pretty impressive. He's been a double-digit scorer and rebounder at Yale. That should translate to the ACC. And he's older, which means a more mature body to absorb the pounding bigs take in this league. At one point, he was the most sought-after transfer before the portal blew up. He had his share of suitors. He'll be a consistent presence in the post. Right there is a good start. There's a lot to like, but also a lot we don't know.

Guest: Why do we struggle to recruit big physical skilled players?

Tom Noie: Outside of North Carolina, which seems to grow guys who are 6-11 and rebound and are athletic on trees down there in Chapel Hill, it's become a guard/perimeter game. It's hard to find a 6-11 guy with the skills that are needed in today's game. Though Notre Dame's run of bigs - Jack Cooley, Zach Auguste, Martin Geben - was pretty good, and pretty underrated. Those guys were big and physical, but also understood that to become skilled was a process and it was going to take time. Bigs today - like many elite prospects - want to play right away and get their NBA clocks started. Notre Dame's more developmental when it comes to that area. Might always be.

John from Orlando: Will Monty Williams be the next Head Basketball Coach at the University of Notre Dame? And does Jack Swarbrick have a mediocrity fetish, as express by the long tenures of Mike Brey and Brian Kelly?

Tom Noie: John: Might be out in the sun too long down there. Why would someone just named NBA Coach of the Year give up the paycheck and the lifestyle at the game's highest level to go coach in college? Not seeing it. Also funny that you can go 43-8 in the last four years as Brian Kelly has and be considered mediocre. Been reading too many internet message boards. Get out of the dark ages my man!

Lee from Lancaster, SC: Hi Tom, which player must have a MVP type season if the Irish are to get back into the NCAA tournament?

Tom Noie: Lee: Prentiss Hubb. Not from a stats standpoint, but from a leadership standpoint. An Alpha standpoint. From a jump on my back and I'll carry us where we need to go standpoint. Here's the rub - I don't know if that's in his nature - or anybody else's on the roster - to be that needed Alpha like a Pat Connaughton or Jerian Grant or Ben Hansbrough or Troy Murphy. You can add all the guys you want and shuffle the staff all you want, but if you don't have that one guy who others will run through a wall with, it's going to be really hard to go where you need to go.

Guest: Hi Tom. Been a follower for years & appreciate your work & dedication to the ND program. Just quick question: is it difficult to follow the baskelball program right now, as closly and passionately you do, without having or sharing a gut feeling that we're all just waitung for a change, whether warranted or not? Thanks, Tom.

Tom Noie: Guest: Great name, by the way. To your question, it's absolutely not difficult because that change that seemingly everybody wants or expects or hopes for just isn't happening anytime soon. The season is going to be the season, just like the previous 23 for me as the Notre Dame beat writer. Each one is a journey with so many twists and turns and storylines. There haven't been many where you're like, ugh, I can't muster the energy to cover this team. Hey, I've been there as the last couple seasons have wound down, but if this season started tomorrow, I'd be ready to roll. There's a lot of intrigue, both for the immediate and distant future for the program. Let's go!

Harold Cox: Why cant ND get the big shouldered rebounders other teams seem to have in endless supply? ND relies on three point shots. When those shots miss and become 1 and done plays. ND then doesnt get rebounds? Other teams always seem to have four or five but not the Irish?

Tom Noie: Harold: It's not the big-shouldered rebounders that hurts the Irish efforts on the backboard as much as it is want-to. That will change with Anthony Solomon. Trust me. He'll get guys who haven't rebounded to rebounded.

jimwdi1996@gmail.com: What is the status of ND Men's Basketball going into 21-22, good or middle of the pack??

Tom Noie: Jim: Gotta be middle of the pack, right? For a team that was down by 50 last time out, that's as good as it gets for now.

Tom - South Bend: I'm very unhappy with NDs new ticket policy. Since I do not have a mobile phone, and do not plan to get one, I guess that leave me out in the cold when it comes to renewing my season tickets for all ND sports.

Tom Noie: Tom: Gotta get going and join 2021 or be left out in the cold. It's the way of the technological world. Adapt or get left behind. Kind of like newspapers, so I can relate.

Guest: Steve Diebold, Louisville KY Who is going to be a difference maker for the team next season? Do we have any players with enough talent to carry the Irish to something more than a .500 record with a middle of the ACC pack finish?

Tom Noie: Steve: We've waited three years on this senior class that collectively was ranked among the nation's Top 15 when they signed. We're still waiting. When does that waiting end? There are pieces here and key guys there, but for anything good to happen for this program, it sits on the shoulders of Prentiss Hubb and Dane Goodwin and Nate Laszewski. Like, let's go. If you can't or don't show us this season, then when? They're not the overwhelmed freshmen or uncertain sophomores or want-to-be-good juniors. They're seniors, which means it's their time. Is there enough there to breakaway from the middle of the pack in the ACC? There simply has to be.

Mark from Roswell, GA: Hi Tom. Why hasn't Brey signed a backup point guard behind Hubb. He usually brings a freshman in behind a senior. I know we have a plethora of shooting guards, but no true backup point guard. What if Hubb goes down, we are in big trouble. I know Cormac can play point, but he is too slow to keep up with the ACC point guards.

Tom Noie: Mark: Good to hear from you, but a question first - how do you go about finding a "backup" point guard? Most point guards believe they're good enough to be lead guards, right? There's just not a specific market for a "backup" point guard. You recruit a guard at a school like Notre Dame and in a league like the Atlantic Coast Conference, that guy's going to want the ball in HIS hands. Not wait for someone else to hand it to him. As a result, it's backup point guard by committee. Brey pushed Trey Wertz into that role last year. He'll be better in it this year. So will Cormac Ryan. Keep an eye on Blake Wesley. There are enough handlers to be handlers, even in the ACC.

Adam: Tom: When Slo was on staff during the Elite 8 run, was he doing a lot of defense then?

Tom Noie: Adam: Probably, because it seldom was an issue those two seasons the way it was last year. There may have been only a game or two along the way where you thought, sheesh, they're not guarding anybody in 2015-16. Last year, it was an every-day issue. That has to change.

Guest: Is Robby Carmody expected to be 100% by fall? Any other injury updates?

Tom Noie: Easiest answer of the day - yes and no. Thanks for stopping by! LOL

Bill from Orlando: Tom, Thanks for holding these chats. They are an interesting and welcome diversion from the daily tedium. I have an opinion and a question to offer.

Bill from Orlando: oops. First to the opinion: Looking over the roster of returning players, I see a team with a NIT ceiling; to return to the NCAA I think Paul Atkinson will have to be better than Durham was, and at least one of the two freshman will have to consistently provide quality minutes. Now the question: Do you think Anthony Solomon will make that much of a difference for ND's defense? I know they performed better in that area in his previous stints, but that is relative (they have never been great on D during Brey's tenure). When I saw the announcement of Solomon's return, it struck me as a comfort-level hire. Best.

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Chat Transcript: You had Notre Dame hoops questions - a lot of them. Here are some answers - Notre Dame Insider