Has anybody heard or think that Sam Brunelle is leaning to ND?

[Sluconn Husky]

It was in the past week that I saw a comment from Geno that the 2019 class is not as strong as the past two classes and the 2020 class is much stronger.

You sure about that? I haven't seen that and it would kinda amaze me that he would talk in-depth about the strength of future recruiting pools.

 

[Charliebball]

The three starting guards -- Mabrey, Ogunbowale and Young -- are all back next year. While grad transfer Lili Thompson does not have any further eligibility, freshman PG Jordan Nixon comes aboard to possibly join that rotation (as Thompson was doing).

well it looks like you have the guard position covered.............how about those forwards?

 

[mhshuskies]

ND could very well be national champs next year. They get B. Turner and M.Vaughn back to go with Shepherd.
Vaughn is going to be much better than her Hoopgurlz 50’s rating.
I think they lose that good sg that is being forced to play pg this year though.

...uh, no

 

[DefenseBB]

You sure about that? I haven't seen that and it would kinda amaze me that he would talk in-depth about the strength of future recruiting pools.

Yes, and the more I think about it, it might have been the video with the annoying reporter in the Ranger t-shirt that Rocky so kindly pointed out to me...

Thanks Rock!!! Aaarrrrggghhhh...

 

[Dillon77]

well it looks like you have the guard position covered...how about those forwards?

It's a bit strange with the injuries, recoveries, transfers out and in, but it goes something like this up front:

High post Kat Westbeld graduates and grad student Koko Nelson has her final year of eligibility. Nelson has backed up at both the high and low post this season and has had a wonderful and timely final season.

Next year (2018-19), expect to see (knock on wood):
- At low post: Brianna Turner, backed up by Mik Vaughn.
- At high post: Jessica Shepard, with back-up furnished by one or the other (or both) of the two Danielles from Long Island: sophomore Patterson or frosh Cosgrove.

Patterson is pretty nimble and athletic and can see her being used when MM wants to go up and down the court. Cosgrove has a bit of Shepard's ability to play inside and outside. But she is a frosh, so some patience will be necessary. Of course, MM will probably be overjoyed to have Turner and Shep on the floor at the same time....

 

[Charliebball]

It's a bit strange with the injuries, recoveries, transfers out and in, but it goes something like this up front:

High post Kat Westbeld graduates and grad student Koko Nelson has her final year of eligibility. Nelson has backed up at both the high and low post this season and has had a wonderful and timely final season.

Next year (2018-19), expect to see (knock on wood):
- At low post: Brianna Turner, backed up by Mik Vaughn.
- At high post: Jessica Shepard, with back-up furnished by one or the other (or both) of the two Danielles from Long Island: sophomore Patterson or frosh Cosgrove.

Patterson is pretty nimble and athletic and can see her being used when MM wants to go up and down the court. Cosgrove has a bit of Shepard's ability to play inside and outside. But she is a frosh, so some patience will be necessary. Of course, MM will probably be overjoyed to have Turner and Shep on the floor at the same time....

what about wings..........is Young going to play there ?

 

[Dillon77]

what about wings.....is Young going to play there ?

Wings? I'm sorry, this year things are a bit crazed with our three guards transposing roles often during quarters. In 2018-19, I would imagine that Young is the designated wing or large guard per se. Jackie could be backed up by Abby Prohaska or -- if ND wants to go big -- perhaps Danielle Patterson.

 

[Orangutan]

what about wings.....is Young going to play there ?

Young and Ogunbowale. Mabrey on the wing when Nixon covers PG. Gilbert and Prohaska off the bench.

Taking wing to mean SG and SF (2 and 3) here.

 

[Dillon77]

Young and Ogunbowale. Mabrey on the wing when Nixon covers PG. Gilbert and Prohaska off the bench.

Taking wing to mean SG and SF (2 and 3) here.

I usually interpret as the small forward, but under your take, totally agree.

 

[DefenseBB]

I usually interpret as the small forward, but under your take, totally agree.

Next year, ND will be formidable but I don’t think Cosgrove will see much time. Given your style, with Shepard, Turner, Patterson and Young, not much opportunity will be afforded to her.
Your back up guard play will be more critical given you will have 2 Seniors.

 

[shizam]

The three starting guards -- Mabrey, Ogunbowale and Young -- are all back next year. While grad transfer Lili Thompson does not have any further eligibility, freshman PG Jordan Nixon comes aboard to possibly join that rotation (as Thompson was doing).

I may be crazy but I think ND really has as good a shot as anyone to be champs next year. L’ville better take care of them in the ACC tournament. If they don’t take advantage of ND’s injuries I don’t see them getting it done next year against them. I thought Mabry was a senior.

 

[Bascomfan]

...uh, no

Roger that

 

[Dillon77]

I may be crazy but I think ND really has as good a shot as anyone to be champs next year. L’ville better take care of them in the ACC tournament. If they don’t take advantage of ND’s injuries I don’t see them getting it done next year against them. I thought Mabry was a senior.

Perhaps because that's because there always seems to be a Mabrey around and one figures "
"she's got to be graduating this year." In addition, Marina (this Mabrey) has been playing steadily since her freshman year and virtually non-stop this season. Lastly, she's recently started doing something during games that her older sister, Michaela, did. She'll start off the game with her hair flowing, then after the first quarter or half, will put it up in that "Cindy Lou-Who" bun that her older sister was known for. Makes you lose sense of time.... (I know, that's an ND thing....)

You're right about Louisville...with Hines-Allen graduating and Turner/Vaughn coming back to join Shepard, this is the year to pounce.

 

[kat0189]

I don't see Brunelle landing at Notre Dame. I don't think she's one of those "UConn or bust" girls, but I do think ultimately she'll end up there.

She's got 4 schools on her final 9 that are near home. If it were 1990, she might be going to UVA. If it were 2000, maybe Duke. But I don't see her passing up UConn in 2018.

She eliminated Stanford despite having the grades to get in. I don't think the academic prestige of Notre Dame is enough to lure her to South Bend.

But I was surprised when Brianna Turner picked Notre Dame. So maybe McGraw can pull off another coup with Brunelle.

 

[Charliebball]

I usually interpret as the small forward, but under your take, totally agree.

right..............my antiquated terminology

 

[Charliebball]

Young and Ogunbowale. Mabrey on the wing when Nixon covers PG. Gilbert and Prohaska off the bench.

Taking wing to mean SG and SF (2 and 3) here.

interested to see Gilbert and Prohaska play in college................can't tell if they are going to be quality reserves or big time players for ND

 

[Dillon77]

interested to see Gilbert and Prohaska play in college......can't tell if they are going to be quality reserves or big time players for ND

...or players that mature, pickup/refine some skills and manifest them in the way ND plays offense. Gilbert's a combo guard, who has a good handle and drives to her right well (needs to work on the left). Fine mid-range jumper. Plus she and 2019 commit Anaya Peoples are tight as thieves from AAU ball. MM likens Gilbert to K-mac. If she even comes close to that, South Benders will be pleased.

Prohaska is a Brittany Mallory-Hannah Huffman spark-plug who seems to do everything for a good HS program. I hear she brings it has hard in practice as in games and that's something MM adores. We'll see if there's some scoring ability there, as well.

On one hand, the bigger splashes look to be in 2020, but have no trouble with any of the 2019'ers if there is continual development, improvement and contributions. I comment on Brunelle in detail below but am interested to see what happens with the rest of the prospects in which there's mutual interest.

 

[Dillon77]

I don't see Brunelle landing at Notre Dame. I don't think she's one of those "UConn or bust" girls, but I do think ultimately she'll end up there.

She's got 4 schools on her final 9 that are near home. If it were 1990, she might be going to UVA. If it were 2000, maybe Duke. But I don't see her passing up UConn in 2018.

She eliminated Stanford despite having the grades to get in. I don't think the academic prestige of Notre Dame is enough to lure her to South Bend.

But I was surprised when Brianna Turner picked Notre Dame. So maybe McGraw can pull off another coup with Brunelle.

Kat0189: Good post. I'd be interested in a bit more of your thinking on the "lure" not being enough.

I've written in posts in the past that I thought Brunelle was a UConn lean and I totally get and still understand why. However, having paid attention to Brunelle a bit more over the course of the last few months have made me be, well, a bit more optimistic for considering the Irish.

A lot of this has to do with Brunelle herself. She is taking in what she wants to and then making decisions. As you noted, she did this once with Stanford and then, saying "thanks but no thanks" to Louisville after visiting.

As for ND: She was part of the large group that went to ND and has been spotted in ND wear. That's probably part of the grand tour for folks like she and Paige B, but she did enjoy it. What's more of an interest to me is her active participation with ND-related social media and folks that pop up on them.

Hoops-wise, I'm on record as saying she'd do well working in either Geno's or MM's motion offense. However, the more I watch Shepard, Nelson and Westbeld move the ball to each other and/to from the guards as the season progresses, I can see Sam B. fitting in, taking that to another level, and, putting her own imprint on it.

It's interesting for an Irish fan to see our current posts flourishing offensively after Turner went down and Boley transferred. I thought Erin had a good frosh year and she was the "finisher" in whatever happened. What this version of offense does is emphasize all aspects and talents of the offensive tool kit of each player (to varying degrees). Brunelle could excel at all of them....for some reason, I think this would appeal to her tremendously.

Heck, while it's not early in the process, there's still some more day breaks ahead. Onwards and upwards.

 

[HuskyBandDad]

I never understood Coach McGraw's recruiting strategy of bring them to football games. Is she recruiting for the football team or the women's basketball team? Maybe this is why she can't land a #1 recruit?

All the big football schools do it.

 

[Orangutan]

interested to see Gilbert and Prohaska play in college......can't tell if they are going to be quality reserves or big time players for ND

My guesses are:

Prohaska: quality reserve
Gilbert: solid starter, though maybe not a star

Of the currently committed Irish, Peoples is the one that I have the highest expectations for.

Prohaska seems like someone who will be great for a team's culture and almost as valuable off the court as she is on it. She also fills a role for Muffet. She'll be the player Muffet subs in to send a message to a starter who isn't working hard enough i.e. "THIS is how hard you need to play".

I do think ND could use at least one more elite level recruit in '19. It's funny to say given that there are 3 McD's AAs in those two classes but I don't feel like ND got any superstars in the '17 or '18 recruiting classes (though Vaughn's potential is through the roof if it all comes together).

 

[BobbyJ]

Kat0189: Good post. I'd be interested in a bit more of your thinking on the "lure" not being enough.

I've written in posts in the past that I thought Brunelle was a UConn lean and I totally get and still understand why. However, having paid attention to Brunelle a bit more over the course of the last few months have made me be, well, a bit more optimistic for considering the Irish.

A lot of this has to do with Brunelle herself. She is taking in what she wants to and then making decisions. As you noted, she did this once with Stanford and then, saying "thanks but no thanks" to Louisville after visiting.

As for ND: She was part of the large group that went to ND and has been spotted in ND wear. That's probably part of the grand tour for folks like she and Paige B, but she did enjoy it. What's more of an interest to me is her active participation with ND-related social media and folks that pop up on them.

Hoops-wise, I'm on record as saying she'd do well working in either Geno's or MM's motion offense. However, the more I watch Shepard, Nelson and Westbeld move the ball to each other and/to from the guards as the season progresses, I can see Sam B. fitting in, taking that to another level, and, putting her own imprint on it.

It's interesting for an Irish fan to see our current posts flourishing offensively after Turner went down and Boley transferred. I thought Erin had a good frosh year and she was the "finisher" in whatever happened. What this version of offense does is emphasize all aspects and talents of the offensive tool kit of each player (to varying degrees). Brunelle could excel at all of them....for some reason, I think this would appeal to her tremendously.

Heck, while it's not early in the process, there's still some more day breaks ahead. Onwards and upwards.

I probably missed it since I don't follow ND closely but do you know whatever happened with Boley?

 

[Bills Fan]

I never understood Coach McGraw's recruiting strategy of bring them to football games. Is she recruiting for the football team or the women's basketball team? Maybe this is why she can't land a #1 recruit?

How do we know her parents weren't with her when she visited ND? Her hometown is approx. 630 miles from Notre Dame regardless of who else was there.

According to Google, 643 miles, to be exact-caught you rounding down there (10hrs, 28 minutes driving time. Her hometown to Storrs is only 465 mi, 7hrs 31 minutes. Advantage, UCONN!

 

[Dillon77]

I probably missed it since I don't follow ND closely but do you know whatever happened with Boley?

Sure. After being granted a full release by ND, Erin Boley transferred to Oregon, where she is sitting out the year. Next season, she'll hop on the court and get perfect set-up passes from Sabrina Ionescu for that picture-perfect release of a jump shot. Miss having her on the Irish team, but have moved on (having Jessica Shepard this year helps immensely) and wish Erin the best next year, save for when the Ducks meet the Irish.

 

[robaust10]

Bruney as she calls herself, sure must be taking in how this year's freshman group has fared.

It takes a strong mental approach to play at Uconn.

And ND seems to have a more harmonious atmosphere.

And ....Not sure if a #1 recruit has ever followed two other #1s. Walker Williams ... Will that help or hurt?

 

[CocoHusky]

Bruney as she calls herself, sure must be taking in how this year's freshman group has fared.
It takes a strong mental approach to play at Uconn.
And ND seems to have a more harmonious atmosphere.
And ....Not sure if a #1 recruit has ever followed two other #1s. Walker Williams ... Will that help or hurt?

ND more harmonious than UCONN? You eyes are clearly deceiving you. ND top recruit is playing less than UCONN's top recruit.
ND has been struggling at the PG position since Thompson got hurt.
ND got curb stomped by Louisville.
ND has same number transfers as UCONN in the past couple of seasons.
ND had double digit 4th quarter lead against UCONN and couldn't seal the deal.
There is plenty of harmony at UCONN it is also a myth to think that it takes a weaker mental approach to play at ND than it does at UCONN.
When Chistyn Williams comes on board next year she will be the third #1 on the same roster for the first time ever-unless you count EDD, Tina & Maya for that very brief couple of days.

 

[JS]

When Chistyn Williams comes on board next year she will be the third #1 on the same roster for the first time ever

With the odd woman out being (for shame) a #3.

 

[UConnCat]

ND more harmonious than UCONN? You eyes are clearly deceiving you. ND top recruit is playing less than UCONN's top recruit.
ND has been struggling at the PG position since Thompson got hurt.
ND got curb stomped by Louisville.
ND has same number transfers as UCONN in the past couple of seasons.
ND had double digit 4th quarter lead against UCONN and couldn't seal the deal.
There is plenty of harmony at UCONN it is also a myth to think that it takes a weaker mental approach to play at ND than it does at UCONN.
When Chistyn Williams comes on board next year she will be the third #1 on the same roster for the first time ever-unless you count EDD, Tina & Maya for that very brief couple of days.

Ask Boley and Patberg about harmony.

 

[Tonyc]

If you really want to have an idea on how Sam feels about UConn watch for a couple of things. Number 1 is UConn and Geno spending time watching her play ... attending her games. Number 2 is Sam attending UConn games. The bottom line as is with every recruit. UConn will continue to set records and continue to develop players and continue to win NCs. The question is will recruits embrace that or go elsewhere. With or without any recruit UConn will continue to roll. Hey they did it this season without Lou in the lineup against some pretty good teams.

 

[Orangutan]

ND has been struggling at the PG position since Thompson got hurt.

Massey ranks ND #2 in offense. The Irish are one of 3 teams shooting over 50% on the season (UConn, Baylor). They are 4th among P-5 teams in Offensive Points per Possession (9th overall in D-1) while playing the 2nd-hardest schedule.

Not bad for "point guard by committee."

That's a minor quibble as I agree with your takeaway:

There is plenty of harmony at UCONN it is also a myth to think that it takes a weaker mental approach to play at ND than it does at UCONN.

 

[UConnCat]

There is plenty of harmony at UCONN it is also a myth to think that it takes a weaker mental approach to play at ND than it does at UCONN.

I think it is tougher to play at UConn than any other program. The banners hanging from the rafters and the names on the walls make it so.