Notre Dame 2024-'25 Post-Season Thread

[Frankus]

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.

Ivey and Garrity need to take note of what Marcus Freeman demands of his players, and how he will give them tough love (see Christian Gray vs USC) and demand certain protocols (i.e. hand the ball to the official after a catch/scoring) while also maintaining a tight knitted championship caliber program. Watching Miles shimmy after scoring, as the person she was supposed to guard scored a quick layup, would NEVER happen under Freeman. Ivey needs to be in total control, and I did not sense that last season. I expect this year to be better.

 

[Bone Dog]

I wonder how this season will unfold for Hannah. Part of what makes her great is being allowed to cheat or poach off her defensive assignments to disrupt passes or dribbles. She's quick enough to recover if she doesn't cause a steal or a turnover. But that also depended on who her teammates were and whether they could cover for her. Having a veteran core of stars like Maddy and Soni I'm sure mead a significant difference. I have a feeling this rather new roster may not be able to do that for her. If her poaching causes defensive lapses elsewhere, Niele may have to rein Hannah in on defense. Of course, her offense is still brilliant whatever happens on defense. But if she can't be a true defensive menace to the extent that she's been in previous seasons, it may take a bit of the luster off the season.

 

[Dillon77]

I wonder how this season will unfold for Hannah. Part of what makes her great is being allowed to cheat or poach off her defensive assignments to disrupt passes or dribbles. She's quick enough to recover if she doesn't cause a steal or a turnover. But that also depended on who her teammates were and whether they could cover for her. Having a veteran core of stars like Maddy and Soni I'm sure mead a significant difference. I have a feeling this rather new roster may not be able to do that for her. If her poaching causes defensive lapses elsewhere, Niele may have to rein Hannah in on defense. Of course, her offense is still brilliant whatever happens on defense. But if she can't be a true defensive menace to the extent that she's been in previous seasons, it may take a bit of the luster off the season.

True enough that Hannah's aggressiveness was bolstered by having teammates that could jump passing lanes and defend the rest of the floor if someone got by HH. Citron and Westbeld were two such players, but so were players like Kylee Watson in the middle and Cass Prosper, with her 6'3" frame and very long arms. Prosper will be back, as will KK Bransford, who missed last year but is a tough defender in her own right.

The key is how the rest of the new team will defend, both individually and collectively. The answer is: I have no idea. So we'll have to see how things play out. Mind you, ND wasn't totally having Hidalgo fly out all over the place willy nilly. She can cause havoc just picking up the main ball handler. I suspect that might be option 1 for this season's Irish.

 

[Dillon77]

Amari Byles publicly committed to Notre Dame today at an announcement that ran on You Tube.
However, based on a video segment that was run just after she showed a Notre Dame tee shirt, it looked like she announced to ND Coach and team when she was on-campus; something fellow Texas Jacy Abii did, as well.

2026 Recruits Who Have Committed Thus Far (in chronological order):
1) Isabelle "Bella" Ragone, 6'2" wing from Mill Creek H.S., Georgia who committed on May 22, 2025
2) Isabella Sangha, a 6'3" forward from Pine Crest H.S. in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, who committed in early September 2025.
3) Jacy Abii, a 6'2: wing from Plano, Texas who committed on Oct. 4, 2025
4) Amari Byles, a 6'2" wing from DeSoto, Texas who committed on Oct. 25, 2025

Yes, this is Coach Ivey's "wing" year, but they're all a bit different in the way they play.
In addition, ND is still pursuing yet another wing in Addison Bjorn and a shooting guard in Jenica Lewis.

Still, even at this point, this is a very solid rebounding recruiting class for Coach Ivey, Recruiting Coordinator Michaela Mabrey and new GM Pat Garrity.

Here's an update on ND recruiting by local writer, Eric Hansen:

MSN