Another valiant comeback, another dramatic finish, another heartbreaker at the Joyce Center. My thoughts:
1. What was Chris Quinn thinking, taking that loooong three-pointer on our final possession, with the game tied and plenty of time still left on the shot clock, without even making any attempt at dribble penetration? “Redick Lite” my ass. Terrible, terrible, terrible crunch-time possession. Just like the Marquette loss. Argh.
2. After Villanova took a 2-point lead with 1.7 seconds left, we had a timeout left. Why didn’t we use it? Why didn’t Mike Brey make it crystal-clear to his players during Villanova’s timeout that, if they score, and there’s time left on the clock, we need to call timeout!?
3. Why, oh WHY, did we inbound the ball under our own basket, thus forcing ourselves to take a desperate 70-foot heave (which was too late anyway), instead of throwing a long pass down to Villanova’s side of the court and then trying to get off a more reasonable shot? This isn’t rocket science, people! This is very basic stuff!
There’s a reason Notre Dame always loses close games — the Irish are 1-6 in the Big East now, with their six losses coming by a total of 22 points, including two in double overtime — and it’s not just bad luck. Our coach sucks at calling good plays at crucial times, and our players don’t have enough basketball sense to know what to do when the game is on the line (probably because our crappy coach doesn’t instill it in them).
Harumph. I’m all about loyalty to my school, but I’m beginning to regret buying season tickets. Following a team that plays well enough to win, but just doesn’t know how to finish, and thus consistently loses heartbreakers because of bad play calls and bonehead mistakes, is the very definition of sports hell.
P.S. Fire Mike Brey.
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Categories: Uncategorized
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January 28th, 2006 at 9:00:22 pm
I tend not to argue with those calling for Brey’s head after the Irish’s performance over the last few years (enderachieving, spending March in the NIT, etc.). One question I haven’t had answered, though, is just who the **** we’re going to get to replace him! With our current situation as a mediocre team with aged facilities, I’m not sure what legitimate coach would take a chance at ND. Do you have a few suggestions, Brendan?
January 28th, 2006 at 9:23:26 pm
bren dog … couldn’t agree more … ‘nova let us back in the game … carter played the best game of his career at ND … and Quinn’s wasted shot sums up Brey’s career … someone who prays for luck. Depending on how recruiting goes, we are three years away from another tourney bid … and that is being way too optimistic.
January 28th, 2006 at 10:37:24 pm
Your litany of bad clock management/bad decision making is eerliy reminiscent of the 2004 football squad. It is also correct.
We need a firebrand who would come crawling on his/her knees to coach for Our Lady. Digger is the template.
If we lose by being gutty and fighting for every last advantage in a game, I doubt anyone would complain. Doherty created such a style.
So who is the politically incorrect basketball lifer who knows every gym in every small town, who understands aggression/fearlessness is winning ball, who loves what ND stands for?
And don’t give me that claptrap about facilities. Ya wanna play at the next level? Ya wanna become a man? ND is for you. Facilities are your priority? We don’t need you.
I’ll bet you anytihng Dickie V. could give White 10 names who would excel here - and who would cherish the opportunity.
January 28th, 2006 at 10:42:51 pm
I don’t think you’re all about your school, unless your school is USC.
January 28th, 2006 at 10:57:45 pm
Anon, considering I root for ND in every game except when they play my alma mater (because I’m not a bandwagon fan who just adopts whatever school I’m at now and abandons all previous loyalties — are you such a fan? do you think such fans are good fans?), I’m not sure what you’re complaining about.
January 29th, 2006 at 1:16:04 am
I saw the end of the game, and I totally agree with your assessment Brendan. I was so confused when they didn’t call a time-out. What kind of team doesn’t call a time-out when you’re two down and have less than 2 seconds on the clock?? You have to have some sort of strategy. In any case, I’m sorry they couldn’t pull it out.
P.S. Instead of Quinn being Redick Lite, I’d personally say he’s Morrison Lite. ;)
January 29th, 2006 at 3:41:48 am
Morrison Lite could kick Quinn’s ass. :)
P.S. Would Morrison Lite have Moustache Lite? :)
January 29th, 2006 at 9:39:41 am
I don’t know how much lighter of a mustache is humanly possible….Morrison’s is hardly there already! :)
January 29th, 2006 at 9:59:47 am
Brendan,
I am a fan who roots for the Irish against any other team. I do have another undergrad that I went to, but to my knowledge they have not played Notre Dame since like 1900. Even if they were to play Notre Dame, I would root for Notre Dame. I followed Notre Dame as a child and rooted for them long before I ever came here for school. I still root for my college when I’m able to see them play (which has been like once in the past three years since I left). But I don’t call myself a Bear-Irish or whatever.
The point is, that if you are all about one school, it’s USC. You always root for U.S.C. If I’m all about one school, it’s Notre Dame. That’s fine, obviously I’m not going to force you to root for the Irish against USC (though I’d like to), but you can’t use statements like “I’m all about this school” because fact of the matter is you aren’t. You’re all about USC, and then you are mostly about USC. Now, if the two schools never played each other, that would be a different situation. But considering that USC is probably one of the biggest hated schools on this campus, you can’t get away with claiming to be all about both schools.
January 29th, 2006 at 10:47:48 am
Just become a Duke fan, it’ll be easier on you.
(I’m joking.)
January 29th, 2006 at 11:12:42 am
if you are all about one school, it’s USC. … you can’t use statements like “I’m all about this school” because fact of the matter is you aren’t.
You’re taking my words out of context, anon — and, indeed, misquoting me. I didn’t say I’m “all about Notre Dame” or “all about this school,” either of which would have implied, as you say, that I’m loyal to ND to the exclusion of all other schools. But I didn’t say that. I said I’m “all about loyalty to my school.” Notice the immediate object of the word “about” is loyalty, not the name of the school. So it’s nonsensical to argue that I was claiming to be “all about” Notre Dame to the exclusion of all other schools, because I didn’t simply say that at all. Rather, I was saying that I am “all about” the concept of loyalty to my school. That’s literally what I meant by what I wrote… which is convenient, since it’s also what the words say. The whole point wasn’t to compare my loyalty to School A with my loyalty to School B, my point was “I’m a loyal fan, but jeez, this team is driving me nuts.” That was it. USC is not remotely relevant to that thought process.
But okay, I’ll take the bait — if I’m “all about” loyalty to my school(s), what does that mean exactly? Well, as you know, I’m loyal to the Trojans as well, and at the end of the day, my loyalty to the Trojans supercedes my loyalty to the Irish — but that’s not remotely relevant here. Notre Dame and USC are not basketball rivals, and there’s very little chance they’ll play in the NCAA Tournament because, as of this moment, neither team is going dancing. Yes, they have a huge football rivalry, but what relevance does that have in a post where I’m talking about how I’m so frustrated with Notre Dame’s basketball team that I’m beginning to regret buying season tickets?
Honestly, you’re inventing an issue where there is none. I didn’t say what you say I said, nor did I even imply it.
By the way, I respect that you still root for the Irish, as they were your childhood favorite team etc. I didn’t mean to imply that anyone who, for any reason, roots for some other team than their undergrad alma mater is a bad fan. I was just saying that, if I did that, given my situation (having had no prior history with either school before attending them), I would feel like a bad, disloyal fan… and, if my motivation was “well, I’m here now, I guess I should root for the team that’s here,” that would be blatant bandwagoning. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t legitimate reasons to root for someone other than your college. They just don’t apply to me.
That said, if you really want to gum up the works and shoot holes through all my blanket statements about school loyalty and such, ask me who I’d root for if either ND or USC played Gonzaga in the tournament… ;)
January 29th, 2006 at 11:13:19 am
To East Coast Girl: Heh. Only one problem… I hate Duke. :)
January 29th, 2006 at 11:20:11 am
P.S.
I still root for my college when I’m able to see them play (which has been like once in the past three years since I left). But I don’t call myself a Bear-Irish or whatever.
I’m not sure if you’re objecting to my calling myself the Irish Trojan, or if you’re merely explaining why you don’t do the same but casting no aspersions on my doing so. But just in case you are objecting to my use of the dual-loyalty moniker, I’d just like to point out that the difference between your rooting habits and mine perfectly exemplify why it makes sense for me to call myself the Irish Trojan whereas you don’t call yourself the Irish Bear or whatever. You’ve seen your undergrad school play one game since you graduated… I’m not sure if you mean in person or on TV. Me? I’ve seen the Trojans play in person five times since I graduated in 2003, and have watched nearly every other game on TV. Meanwhile I’ve also attended most of ND’s home games and watched almost all of the road games (and the home games I had to miss, for one reason or another) on TV. So, as you can see, I, unlike you, am an active follower of both teams. I’m not criticizing you for that — to each his own — I’m just pointing out how my level of interest in the two teams makes my use of the “Irish Trojan” label sensible, whereas your use of an equivalent dual label would probably not make as much sense. Maybe that was your whole point, and if so I apologize for being redudant, but it wasn’t clear to me whether you were comparing or contrasting.
January 29th, 2006 at 11:20:59 am
Only one problem… I hate Duke. :)
As all true Americans should ;-)
January 29th, 2006 at 12:05:35 pm
Let’s not give up on this team yet and show some support. These players are playing their ass off every game, and hanging in there against the best in the country. Its gonna turn into wins, maybe too late, but maybe they can run the table losing 1-2 the rest of the way and get some momentum for the BE tourney (which they WILL make). Brey coached a hell of a game against Nova, his gameplan was well done, and if it wasnt for bad 3pt shooting and missed FTs, we would’ve won. Lets keep on supporting this team and hope we can get some big road wins.
January 29th, 2006 at 12:17:25 pm
My brother made a good observation at yesterday’s debacle. Coach Brey comes to games looking like a “Las Vegas casino owner.” The difference between Brey and Nova coach Jay Wright was obvious. Jay Wright presents himself as an impeccable professional. He always wears a sharp, well coordinated suit and paces his team’s bench with a calm intensity. Mike Brey, on the other hand, dons a sport jacket and a black T-Shirt, squats on the court, constantly yelling at both his players and the refs, and looks entirely unprofessional. When I heard the “Vegas casino owner” moniker, it immediately registered as accurate.
January 29th, 2006 at 12:55:36 pm
well, except for the fact that there was a technical against the Nova coach….
January 29th, 2006 at 2:06:18 pm
A return to the Dome. Bill Laimbeer for coach.
January 29th, 2006 at 2:50:46 pm
I didn’t say I’m “all about Hillary” or “all about my wife,” either of which would have implied, as you say, that I’m loyal to Hillary to the exclusion of all other women. But I didn’t say that. I said I’m “all about loyalty to my wife.” Notice the immediate object of the word “about” is loyalty, not the name of my wife. So it’s nonsensical to argue that I was claiming to be “all about” Hillary to the exclusion of all other women, because I didn’t simply say that at all. Rather, I was saying that I am “all about” the concept of loyalty to my wife. That’s literally what I meant by what I wrote… which is convenient, since it’s also what the words say. The whole point wasn’t to compare my loyalty to Woman A with my loyalty to Woman B, my point was “I’m a loyal husband, but jeez, this lady is driving me nuts.” That was it. Monica is not remotely relevant to that thought process.
January 29th, 2006 at 3:34:57 pm
the foul was against the Nova bench, I don’t believe it was actually called on their coach, anon
January 30th, 2006 at 12:55:16 pm
We need more Black athletes. Too many white guys.
February 6th, 2006 at 10:01:59 am
Why does Mike Brey get a “free pass”. Players get worse under him. He is “Ty-lite”. Chris Thomas went from sure to be drafted to never heard from again - Torin Francis went from sure to be drafted to better get that GPA up and get a nice suit for interviews. Mike Brey has lost a TON of close games over the years. He was lucky in his first couple of years that Doherty had set the table for him with some decent talent and coaching. Once Doherty’s players left, you ended up with not much. Fire Brey and get a coach in here that knows how to recruit, how to develop players, and how to coach. Brey loves to get a 10 point lead and then stall (turn the ball over) until the game is close at the end.