Notre Dame 2024-'25 Post-Season Thread

[cancontent]

She wants to be a 3, but doesn't have the shooting or ball handling to. Her 3PT shot has improved some, but she can't hit dribble pull ups or anything mid range. She also doesn't look that comfortable in the post. She has some success driving and cutting, but with Miles gone She may not get as many passes.

Her skills aren't really highlighted in the offense. The offense is a lot of ISO, and she doesn't have those skills yet.

She has a lot of potential though. I'm hoping this year she can put more pieces together. We'll need her to not foul as often.

I'm excited to see how Bransford has developed. She looked in shape last off season, and i was getting excited to see her mesh with the team. Her freshman season she showed flashes, sophomore year she was coming off a summer injury and regressed. Those two will need to be 10+ PPG scorers for ND.

Some of this stems from her high school days and AAU play because she changed programs going into her senior year. She should be a wing/forward, but somewhere she was told she should be a guard.

When she was at Capital Courts, as the best overall athlete, she was allowed to be a primary ball handler. It was necessary based on the roster at the time. While with Kia Nurse, she was more of a wing as they would have Swords and Gibb be the primary ball handlers. However, when she switched to BecomeOne (now known as Become One Canada Elite), that coach had her as a primary ball handler along with Deniya Prawl.

Then add in Canada Basketball and the different ways she was utilized in U17, U19 and the Olympic squad. She's gotten a lot of mixed messages as to the type of player she should be. What I hope she does with her last two seasons is take a page out of Aaliyah Edwards' development at UConn which focused on improving range and ball handling to improve her draft prospects.

 

[Frankus]

It’s for sure a rebuilding year for Notre Dame but I don’t think it’s a hopeless situation. They have one of the five best players in the country in Hidalgo who has decent efficiency as a lead option. I was pretty worried about their guard rotation but Moore’s commitment helps. We’ll see what de Jesus can bring, the real benefit I see there is she’ll enable Hidalgo to play off the ball and be a scorer first which is where she’s best.

Proposer and Bransford are some nice wing pieces, definitely not elite but help balance the roster. I think the issue is at the 4 and 5. Neither Cowles nor Sanchez have been particularly productive at their previous schools, but we’ll see what Carol Owens can get out of them.

Macy is recovering from an ACL so I doubt we’ll see her at all this year, although the roster is so thin I could see her playing if she’s ready by the 2/3rds mark of the year.

ND not making it past the Sweet Sixteen this year was as big an underperformance as I can remember in the last four or five years, but I think the potential is there for this year’s team to get back there or close to it. Probably the ceiling though.

Other than Cowles, who is going to defend and rebound inside? This is one of the major question marks for me going into the season.

I do not want to see another year of "positionless basketball". It failed spectacularly last year imo, despite having Citron, Hidalgo and Miles.

 

[Steelerone]

I wonder if all those people who were hoping Muffit McGraw would retire are having second thoughts?

 

[Dillon77]

I wonder if all those people who were hoping Muffit McGraw would retire are having second thoughts?

Hell's bells! That was five (long) years ago. As one of the longer-standing posters who are affiliated with ND in some capacity (either as an alum and/or one who follows them closely), I don't think there were a lot of true fans that were hoping MM would hang up her heels . However, that fashion statement, tough instruction and love and the modified Princton offense have moved on.

Something that I hope new GM Pat Garrity will bring (back) to the mix is a willingness to develop (some) players over the course of a few years, which used to be a staple of many Muffet McGraw teams. Coach Ivey seems be aiming high, higher, highest for her high school recruits and certainly should be in many instances (see Citron, Miles, Hidlago, etc.). But there should also be another level of recruit that shows promise and a desire and willingness to "be there" at ND, which would behoove the team in this day of the portal.

 

[BRS24]

Whatever that was from Notre Dame women's basketball to end 2025, don't expect a repeat

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua believes what happened to the women's basketball program to end last year won't happen again.

www.ndinsider.com

“When you’re on that plane flying home from that (TCU) game and the world is changing underneath you, you have to get out ahead of it,” Bevacqua said. “Going forward, we’re going to be better prepared to manage that moment of change.” ​

​

There it is − a non-National Enquirer explanation of what happened to Notre Dame. Everyone around the program was so focused on winning ― an ACC regular season championship, a league tournament championship, an NCAA regional and a national championship ― that they were oblivious to everything else in the college basketball world. ​

​

The future didn’t matter. Relationships didn’t matter. At that point ― February and March ― all that mattered was winning. Change hit Notre Dame hard because Notre Dame had never been affected so much by change. It’s long been a program that players ran toward. ​

 

[TheFarmFan]

Whatever that was from Notre Dame women's basketball to end 2025, don't expect a repeat

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua believes what happened to the women's basketball program to end last year won't happen again.

www.ndinsider.com

“When you’re on that plane flying home from that (TCU) game and the world is changing underneath you, you have to get out ahead of it,” Bevacqua said. “Going forward, we’re going to be better prepared to manage that moment of change.” ​

​

There it is − a non-National Enquirer explanation of what happened to Notre Dame. Everyone around the program was so focused on winning ― an ACC regular season championship, a league tournament championship, an NCAA regional and a national championship ― that they were oblivious to everything else in the college basketball world. ​

​

The future didn’t matter. Relationships didn’t matter. At that point ― February and March ― all that mattered was winning. Change hit Notre Dame hard because Notre Dame had never been affected so much by change. It’s long been a program that players ran toward. ​

That was a lot of words to basically say nothing I didn't already know, other than that there were two long locker room huddles after losses prior to media appearances. If there's actually juicy stories from last season, apparently they aren't getting aired.

 

[Plebe]

“When you’re on that plane flying home from that (TCU) game and the world is changing underneath you, you have to get out ahead of it,” Bevacqua said. “Going forward, we’re going to be better prepared to manage that moment of change.” ​

​

Not a Notre Dame alum here, but probably best to wait at least until the plane lands before you get out ahead of it.

 

[visitingcock]

Whatever that was from Notre Dame women's basketball to end 2025, don't expect a repeat

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua believes what happened to the women's basketball program to end last year won't happen again.

www.ndinsider.com

“When you’re on that plane flying home from that (TCU) game and the world is changing underneath you, you have to get out ahead of it,” Bevacqua said. “Going forward, we’re going to be better prepared to manage that moment of change.” ​

​

There it is − a non-National Enquirer explanation of what happened to Notre Dame. Everyone around the program was so focused on winning ― an ACC regular season championship, a league tournament championship, an NCAA regional and a national championship ― that they were oblivious to everything else in the college basketball world. ​

​

The future didn’t matter. Relationships didn’t matter. At that point ― February and March ― all that mattered was winning. Change hit Notre Dame hard because Notre Dame had never been affected so much by change. It’s long been a program that players ran toward. ​

That reads of a poor or inexperienced coach who failed to prepare her team for a loss such as TCU. Nobody should let her team live on a dream of going undefeated. Her team should have been mentally prepared to lose a game ANY game and shake it off.

UConn had regular season upset losses like Tennessee and shook them off. No known team meetings - and destructive finger pointing -following them. Shake it off. Corrections to be made in practice and future games. Scar lost in a huge upset to Mizzou in 2022 and in the SEC tournament championship game to Kentucky but rolled through the tournament.

But Neille has plenty of time to learn how to handle upset losses and keep her team focused on the ultimate goal.

 

[Bone Dog]

UConn had regular season upset losses like Tennessee and shook them off. No known team meetings - and destructive finger pointing -following them. Shake it off. Corrections to be made in practice and future games. Scar lost in a huge upset to Mizzou in 2022 and in the SEC tournament championship game to Kentucky but rolled through the tournament.

Good points. I suspect Dawn and Geno achieve this by demanding self-discipline from their players and challenging them. It may seem counterintuitive at first glance. But players shake off immense disappointment by digging deep inside and by bonding intensely with their teammates. There aren’t a lot of coaches who can teach that, and to do it they may have to be a taskmaster more than a friend.

 

[Dillon77]

I doubt if Ivey is going to be on the hot seat this year, but it is obvious to me that Sonia was underutilized, and those kinds kind of personnel decisions have to improve.

I watched a lot of post-game pressers featuring Ivey -- often with Soni Citron next to her -- and Ivey would often refer her to the glue and would say something to the effect that "..we really don't have to set up that many plays" for her, per se. Now I know Ivey wanted a "read and react" type of offense, but Citron often had to react to how the point guards were doing that. As such, she was at the mercy of Hidalgo or Miles.

This didn't hurt Citron or the team too much her first three years because it was only Miles or Hidalgo at the PG. But senior year, there were both. You don't have to look back in retrospect to see that having a double read and react approach cut down on the other three players on the court. And when one of them averages 15 ppg at the next level...well, Ivey and/or new GM Garrity should make note.

 

[ucbart]

I doubt if Ivey is going to be on the hot seat this year, but it is obvious to me that Sonia was underutilized, and those kinds kind of personnel decisions have to improve.

Why? Her recruiting has been less than stellar and her team imploded this year. She has two years left of Hidalgo and not much coming in.

 

[Jumper33]

I watched a lot of post-game pressers featuring Ivey -- often with Soni Citron next to her -- and Ivey would often refer her to the glue and would say something to the effect that "..we really don't have to set up that many plays" for her, per se. Now I know Ivey wanted a "read and react" type of offense, but Citron often had to react to how the point guards were doing that. As such, she was at the mercy of Hidalgo or Miles.

This didn't hurt Citron or the team too much her first three years because it was only Miles or Hidalgo at the PG. But senior year, there were both. You don't have to look back in retrospect to see that having a double read and react approach cut down on the other three players on the court. And when one of them averages 15 ppg at the next level...well, Ivey and/or new GM Garrity should make note.

I just looked and she is shooting 47/44(!)/87. Maintained over the course of an entire rookie season in the WNBA. Frankly I don’t think it took a genius basketball mind to see that they should have played through her more last year. I watched about 10 or so ND games last season and it was obvious to me.

Efficient shooter who always makes good decisions with the ball = pass that player the ball. Who cares if it’s not flashy. It’s a shame Westbeld was injured the first part of the season and couldn’t get going. She was quite good the season before.

I really think ultimately Miles and Hidalgo were never going to work out even if Hidalgo’s social media thing didn’t happen. They are both too ball dominant and function best as the alpha, not 1A and 1B.

 

[Dillon77]

Why? Her recruiting has been less than stellar and her team imploded this year. She has two years left of Hidalgo and not much coming in.

Pay attention to how this recruiting cycle plays out (2026). She's apparently put a lot of effort into this class. So far, she's got wing Bella Ragone and a lot of finalists. This is where ND has faltered since Hidalgo's class...closing the deal on the finalists.
Why is Class of 2026 so important? The early deadline is before most (all?) '25-26 games and this season -- in part, due to that implosion that possibly contributed to many transfers -- is probably not going to turn out well.

Ivey has two new full-time bosses in GM Pat Garrity and an athletic director who didn't hire her....stay tuned.

 

[YoDore]

Pay attention to how this recruiting cycle plays out (2026). She's apparently put a lot of effort into this class. So far, she's got wing Bella Ragone and a lot of finalists. This is where ND has faltered since Hidalgo's class...closing the deal on the finalists.
Why is Class of 2026 so important? The early deadline is before most (all?) '25-26 games and this season -- in part, due to that implosion that possibly contributed to many transfers -- is probably not going to turn out well.

Ivey has two new full-time bosses in GM Pat Garrity and an athletic director who didn't hire her....stay tuned.

I like Ragone. A lot.

 

[Dillon77]

I like Ragone. A lot.

I do, too, fwiw. The Irish just need a few more players to go with her.

 

[TheFarmFan]

I just looked and she is shooting 47/44(!)/87. Maintained over the course of an entire rookie season in the WNBA. Frankly I don’t think it took a genius basketball mind to see that they should have played through her more last year. I watched about 10 or so ND games last season and it was obvious to me.

Efficient shooter who always makes good decisions with the ball = pass that player the ball. Who cares if it’s not flashy. It’s a shame Westbeld was injured the first part of the season and couldn’t get going. She was quite good the season before.

I really think ultimately Miles and Hidalgo were never going to work out even if Hidalgo’s social media thing didn’t happen. They are both too ball dominant and function best as the alpha, not 1A and 1B.

Soni reminds me of the shooting guard version of Nneka Ogwumike. She almost never takes bad shots, she almost never makes bad passes, she does whatever her team needs on the court, she has an endlessly high motor, and despite all that she's pretty mellow off the court. In other words: what's not to love? Of all the Stanford recruiting misses of the past half decade Citron is the one I was (and continue to be) most sad about.

 

[Dillon77]

Soni reminds me of the shooting guard version of Nneka Ogwumike. She almost never takes bad shots, she almost never makes bad passes, she does whatever her team needs on the court, she has an endlessly high motor, and despite all that she's pretty mellow off the court. In other words: what's not to love? Of all the Stanford recruiting misses of the past half decade Citron is the one I was (and continue to be) most sad about.

Agree. She's also a dedicated team player...almost to a fault. Last night, I was watching parts of the Liberty-Mystics game and Citron had a nice run. Then, in the fourth quarter, she dutifully kept moving the ball while other players would hoist up ill-advised shots rather than swing the ball back around (something the Liberty do flawlessly, btw).

Soni might be advised to be a bit more "selfish" at crunch time (and for her, that would be a good shot for others). And/or, Coach Johnson -- assuming he's back -- should work on ball movement around the perimeter, I think most of his players would be ready and willing (although I miss Aaliyah Edwards in this hoped-for set-up.)

BTW, there is a residual emotional drop-off for this Irish fan now that Soni is in the pro's. (And also for "no more Westbelds") It's a bit harder getting back into Irish mode knowing we won't see #11 on the court.

 

[Dillon77]

Oops, a tad late on this entry, but ND Women's Hoops has another commitment.
Isabella Sangha (#83 Hoopgurlz), 6'3" forward from Florida who plays both basketball and volleyball. Last season, she averaged 27.5 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game at Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale, FL). Although Sangha has long had interest in ND (big Arike Ogunbowale fan), she got to know Coach Ivey more this summer and committed last week. Apparently -- at least initially -- she plans on playing both volleyball and basketball in South Bend.

According to this attached article by Talia Goodman, Sangha can already see how she’ll fit into this Notre Dame play style.

“Especially with how I run the court, I think it wouldn’t be a situation where I’m just a big and I stand there,” Sangha said. “I think it would definitely be using a lot of my athleticism and, kind of like how Maddy [Westbeld] played…She’s very versatile and she has good moves and mid-range and she’s around my size, maybe a little bit taller, I would say. But I think that is kind of the big thing – when they were able to play with her so well and have players that use their athleticism. Also, they have a lot of really good guards, so I know that if I’m in the right spot, or if I’m running the court, that they’ll get me the ball…Being able to develop under a really good coaching staff was important to me.”

This is Niele Ivey's 2nd commitment for the Class of 2026, following small forward/wing Isabella Ragone.
I'm now wondering if Coach Ivey will go for a hat trick of recruits with the first name, "Isabella."

MSN

 

[Dillon77]

And here is Isabella Sangha's commitment announcement on X.

 

[Dillon77]

Julia Scott, 2026 Frontcourt Prospect, Taking OV at ND Sept. 12-13
Scott, the 6'3" forward from Albertus Magnus High School in New York, is taking her official visit to Notre Dame during the Texas A&M football game weekend. She has previously visited her other two finalists, Michigan and Clemson, so this will be the proverbial third and final.

Her "guide," so to speak, is Class of 2025 Leah Macy, the frosh forward from Kentucky, who is recuperating from -- get this -- double ACL surgery last winter. This link is to her Instagram story account, showing Scott getting her picture done.

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[Bone Dog]

Leah Macy, the frosh forward from Kentucky, who is recuperating from -- get this -- double ACL surgery last winter.

Double!? Whoa! I had no idea. That’s really tough for a kid. I can’t help wondering what the early recuperation for that was like. Did she have to spend a long time in a wheelchair?

 

[Dillon77]

Double!? Whoa! I had no idea. That’s really tough for a kid. I can’t help wondering what the early recuperation for that was like. Did she have to spend a long time in a wheelchair?

Not according to the pics that came out, but you never know. She's apparently now walking smoothly and even taking part in HORSE games, but no formal workouts of any sort. No one on McGraw's Bench expects to see her on a court until practice for the 2026-27 team. However, she's apparently living frosh life to the fullest and being an active member of the team; from community outreach and service, to accompanying Class of 2026 prospects. (After all, she'll probably be in the same class, athletically.)

 

[Geew1992]

 

[GoChips20]

This season is probably going to be a frustrating one at times for Hidalgo, but she should have a nice supporting cast for her senior year. Hopefully get Leah Macy healthy and then have Jacy Abii and Bella Ragone as freshmen.

 

[cancontent]

 

[Dillon77]

Hey, that's my job! ;-)
Excellent -- and necessary -- get by Head Coach Ivey, Recruiting Coordinator Michaela Mabrey and new GM Pat Garrity.
Abii is the third '26 recruit for the Irish, along with Wing Bella Ragone and Forward Isabella Sangha.

Still in play for Addison Bjorn, Amari Byles (apparently coming to visit campus next weekend) and Jenica Lewis.
Struck out at all post/paint recruits, which will have to be addressed in the portal.

btw, Abii is the first Texan to commit to ND since one Brianna "Breezy Bri" Turner, now of the Indiana Fever.

 

[JellyBean]

This season is probably going to be a frustrating one at times for Hidalgo, but she should have a nice supporting cast for her senior year. Hopefully get Leah Macy healthy and then have Jacy Abii and Bella Ragone as freshmen.

I doubt Hannah is going to get frustrated this season. She understands that there is a learning curve involved going from high school level to college level and that each player brings to the team their skill and mental level. Hopefully all the players had a healthy and productive off-season. We shall see.

 

[Dillon77]

Looks like Jacy Abii and family surprised Coach Ivey with the timing and location (err, ND) of her commitment:

 

[triaddukefan]

Interview with Hidalgo

 

[Reypl21]

Interview with Hidalgo

This interview definitely asks the messy questions everyone wants to know about last season, Olivia Miles, and Revenue Sharing at ND. Only asked a few questions about this year's team.