Notre Dame 2024-25 Season | Page 4 | The Boneyard

Notre Dame 2024-25 Season

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ND looks great but I wish Hidalgo could hit a shot without screaming and carrying on like she just won the NC.
I think I pasted my comment in the wrong section so I'll try again. Sorry.
If I were on the opposing team, I would either be offended or think she's immature. If I were on her team, I would be motivated by her antics or write it off as her being herself. I can't tell if she's genuinely that excited about every thing she does or if she's trying to pump up her team.

Either way, it probably helps her team more than it hurts, and if that's just how she is, I doubt we'll ever see her any other way. It has been successful for her to date, so I can't see her changing. If she bothers you, my only suggestion is don't watch her.
 
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Olivia Miles Had a Heckuva First Week Back ....


Well deserved. She looks totally healthy.

I see a lot of inquiries about Olivia and Hannah coexisting and here's what I see so far: Notre Dame is running a faster and quicker offense with the addition of Olivia and Liatu King. They are constantly pushing the ball upcourt. Sometimes it's Olivia and sometimes it's Hannah starting with the ball, but both are fast and talented to create or score quick buckets. When they do settle into a half court game, both Olivia and Hannah can beat their defenders off the dribble and either score or dish.
 

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I think I pasted my comment in the wrong section so I'll try again. Sorry.
If I were on the opposing team, I would either be offended or think she's immature. If I were on her team, I would be motivated by her antics or write it off as her being herself. I can't tell if she's genuinely that excited about every thing she does or if she's trying to pump up her team.

Either way, it probably helps her team more than it hurts, and if that's just how she is, I doubt we'll ever see her any other way. It has been successful for her to date, so I can't see her changing. If she bothers you, my only suggestion is don't watch her.

Ah, the old "change the channel" argumant. Tough to do when you're a fan who wants to watch the top ranked teams. Hey, if she wants to look unprofessional that's on her. Have to disagree on the impact. I think what she does is a huge motivator for the other team more than ND. I have no problem with emotion but it can be overdone. I've seen many of these celebrating players do so at the expense of getting back on defense. Time will tell how well this goes over for her.
 

Dillon77

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Well deserved. She looks totally healthy.

I see a lot of inquiries about Olivia and Hannah coexisting and here's what I see so far: Notre Dame is running a faster and quicker offense with the addition of Olivia and Liatu King. They are constantly pushing the ball upcourt. Sometimes it's Olivia and sometimes it's Hannah starting with the ball, but both are fast and talented to create or score quick buckets. When they do settle into a half court game, both Olivia and Hannah can beat their defenders off the dribble and either score or dish.
Sonia Citron just had her first game back from a few weeks off dealing with an ankle injury. Once she gets in the groove, the fast break will look even more downhill to opponents.

Ditto for the halfcourt, particularly as Kate Koval adjusts to, well, everything (she's doing pretty well thus far) and Liza Karlen and one Maddy Westbeld get back. Westbeld has been such a steady force for the Irish for 4 years that she's sometimes taken for granted.
Her excellence will be an exclamation point for the Irish on all fronts: offense, defense and rebounding.
 
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Ah, the old "change the channel" argumant. Tough to do when you're a fan who wants to watch the top ranked teams. Hey, if she wants to look unprofessional that's on her. Have to disagree on the impact. I think what she does is a huge motivator for the other team more than ND. I have no problem with emotion but it can be overdone. I've seen many of these celebrating players do so at the expense of getting back on defense. Time will tell how well this goes over for her.
I will try to note the opposing team's reaction I haven't noticed but I wasn't looking.

Agree with some not getting back but the major celebrations I've seen her do is on the floor after a foul. And I didn't mean to change the channel. I just meant to not notice her "antics". There's usually something else going on except sometimes they zoom in on her, I have no suggestions for that.
 

Dillon77

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ND Doubles Up James Madison, 92-46; Koval Notches Double-Double

  • Kate Koval: 14 pts (5-7 from the field, 4-6 from FT line), 16 rebounds, 2 steals and 6 blocks in 30 minutes.
  • Hannah Hidalgo: 24 points (8-19 from field, 6-7 from FT line) 4 steals, 6 rebounds.
  • Olivia Miles, 16 points (4-7 from the field, 6-7 from FT line), 8 assists, 6 rebounds.

Liatu King, who had 11 points midway through the 3rd quarter, collided with some JMU players then the floor...hard. She left the floor under her own power with no limp, then the bench as she went to the ND locker room. She didn't return. We'll see.

Next game for Irish: Sunday afternoon @ Lafayette.
 

packwrap

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Domers figuring it out. Miles will be playmaker, Hidalgo the shooter. Room for both.

Koval off to a great start.

Hope they can stay healthy, as U$C and UConn games will be outstanding.
 
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Sonia Citron just had her first game back from a few weeks off dealing with an ankle injury. Once she gets in the groove, the fast break will look even more downhill to opponents.

Ditto for the halfcourt, particularly as Kate Koval adjusts to, well, everything (she's doing pretty well thus far) and Liza Karlen and one Maddy Westbeld get back. Westbeld has been such a steady force for the Irish for 4 years that she's sometime taken for granted.
Her excellence will be an exclamation point for the Irish on all fronts: offense, defense and rebounding.
Sonia is interesting because she is going to be our main defensive stopper against taller elite guards due to her height, quickness and experience in key games. She did that last night against James Madison's best player, but her offense suffered. In the best of both world's she will also shoot well.

If not, we have Maddy and (hopefully) Emma Rish as dependable outside shooters who will benefit when defenses have to collapse to contain OM and HH.

I'm looking forward to Liza Karlen's return. In the meantime Kate Koval is getting lots of playing time to enhance her skills at game speed. We need Karlen as inside relief scoring and rebounding, and 5 extra fouls when those will matter against teams with dominant bigs.
 
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I am a Chicago native. It was not even close. A 2 1/2 hour drive to South Bend for a game was much more desirable than seeing the Bears or any other team.

That's great for football. I worked with a NDame grad who told me that there was nothing like S Bend after a football victory but after a loss the only sound was "crickets".
NDame's identity revolves around football. UConn revolves around hoops and recruits see that.
 
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That's great for football. I worked with a NDame grad who told me that there was nothing like S Bend after a football victory but after a loss the only sound was "crickets".
NDame's identity revolves around football. UConn revolves around hoops and recruits see that.
It used to revolve around football until Digger and McGraw started winning. But basketball only holds ~10,000 vs football's 78,000 so there's a big difference in money, people, and the towns attitude. By the way ND is not in South Bend. ND is in Notre Dame Indiana with its own post office police etc. You have to go through SB to get there.
 
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This point has needed to be made every year it seems. Thank you. Meaningless is the word to describe Massey preseason.
After only a few games the Uconn strength of schedule has gotten worse, down to #27 for the year. Again this will change as teams move in the rankings but I was very surprised. The teams that drag Uconn down are:
Boston Univ #210
F Dickinson #203
Holy Cross #184
Georgetown #118
Providence #119
Marquette #82
Butler #75
Louisville dropping to #25 doesn't help either.

I'd say it's still too early to actually consider this as real but the drop surprised me.
 

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After only a few games the Uconn strength of schedule has gotten worse, down to #27 for the year. Again this will change as teams move in the rankings but I was very surprised. The teams that drag Uconn down are:
Boston Univ #210
F Dickinson #203
Holy Cross #184
Georgetown #118
Providence #119
Marquette #82
Butler #75
Louisville dropping to #25 doesn't help either.

I'd say it's still too early to actually consider this as real but the drop surprised me.
The Huskies would be happy to join ND in the ACC. Maybe the folks in South Bend can help us out by lobbying for it. ;)
 

packwrap

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The Huskies would be happy to join ND in the ACC. Maybe the folks in South Bend can help us out by lobbying for it. ;)
How 'bout the yet to come Atlantic Division of the new PAC2?:D

I don't think U$C, ND and SC will drop much in rankings, we should be ok.
 
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How 'bout the yet to come Atlantic Division of the new PAC2?:D

I don't think U$C, ND and SC will drop much in rankings, we should be ok.
That strikes me as trying to resurrect a corpse. No thanks.
 

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Notes on a Sunday Afternoon To/From Easton Pa. and Lafayette College

- To get to Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., you have to drive through Phillipsburg, NJ and cross one of the classic half-moon arched bridges over the Delaware River. The whole area is based on the proximity to each other. Heck, Phillipsburg High is nick-named the "State-Liners." Phillipsburg is also home to Irish point guard Olivia Miles, which is probably a major reason this game was scheduled.

- Once you go over the bridge, you turn right and drive up a steep road to College Hill, where Lafayette is situated. The Kirby Sports Center is located behind the football stadium endzone. It is a 3,500 (?) arena, with seat backs and padded chairs on the side and bleachers behind the baskets.

- While not a sell-out, it was close: 1/3 of the people were Lafayette fans (season ticket holders or students), 1/3 had crossed those bridges from Phillipsburg to see Olivia Miles. (Before going to Blair Academy, 'Liv went to school in Phillipsburg and she is immensely popular.) And I was among the other 1/3: ND fans who had come to see the Irish during their one trip to the Mid-Atlantic region. Prevailing color: Green (even though the Irish wore green).

- This game was essentially over by the end of the 28-13 first quarter and very much done by halftime. Still, credit to Lafayette for playing hard throughout and getting effective performances throughout by Sauda Ntaconayigize from Quebec and Kay Donahue, a tough 5'10" guard from Montgomery, NJ. Once Abby Antognoli -- the Panther's leading scorer -- got her first bucket in the third quarter, she finished with 9 points and a relieved smile not to have to deal with Hannah Hidalgo anymore. Hannah tomahawked an Antognoli jumper into the side seats, resulting in audible gasps from the crowd and AA...laughing.

Highlights for the Irish:

- Scoring-wise, the Irish were simply a force, with superior size and passing. If it wasn't for a sub-par shooting game by Soni and lots of missed chippies (Kate, in particular), the Irish would've scored 110 in this one.

- Watch out for ...Emma Risch. The 6'1" guard shot 4-7 from three and almost all of them looked like they were going in. She delivers up high and no one is blocking that shot.

- She's fast and flexible...Cass Prosper didn't score a lot beyond her two 3's and a layup, but her defense was outstanding. She often joined Hannah harassing the Panthers in the backcourt. She can get low to the ground to cover smaller players than lengthen herself to cover forwards when Kate was out. My wife was impressed: "she works hard. Really hard."

- Wonder if....Sonia Citron's foot/ankle is still bothering her. While her release on jumpers looked ok, a lot were spinning out and she was missing layups she normally cans. On defense, she got beat to the hoop twice by Donahue who, while technically sound, isn't quick.

- ND has four superb passers in the half-court: Miles, Hidalgo, Citron and Koval . Once Koval delivers all of her passes with a bit more zing, it will be lights out.

- You just shake your head ....when the ND bench walks by at halftime and you see Maddy Westbeld, Liatu King, Liza Karlen, KK Bransford and Kylee Watson (also glad to be home in Jersey).

- In the second half, it seemed either Koval (19 rebounds), Miles (11 rebounds) or Citron (9 rebounds) cleared the defensive boards.

-- Every little kid not cheering for Miles was doing so for ....Hidalgo. Multiple signs for #3. When HH hits the floor and slides, they cheer. Loudly. And they all mimic her shimmies. Kids see a lot of them in Hannah.

and lastly...

- I wore a long-steeve gray t-shirt with a blue and yellow map of Ukraine in honor of our starting center. I walked around at halftime and not one Irish or Lafayette fan picked up on this until...a young guy shouts out: are you from there? I said 'no," why do you ask? And he goes, because I am, from Kyiv." He got up and I found myself talking to 6'11" Misha Bednostin, sophomore center for Lafayette's Men's Hoops Team, from Ukraine via Crestwood Prep in Canada. I asked him if he knew (of) Kate and he said "of course." Why don't you go introduce yourself, I asked. "Never, she's busy and so popular." Who knew Kyiv centers are shy boys? Or Koval's fame precedes her?
 
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The Athletic has a mock WNBA draft from 1-12, and the Irish are well represented:

2. Olivia Miles
6. Sonia Citron
7. Maddy Westbeld

I'll be surprised if Liatu King isn't drafted. She's a very athletic stat sheet stuffer.

 
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Nice win against USC. A few thoughts:

In the beginning it felt like Koval was overmatched, but she settled in nicely and played well down the stretch. These early season games against elite bigs are vital for her development.

If OM can shoot this accurately on 3 point shots all year long, we're going to be a very tough team to beat.

This should be a very good learning lesson for USC. Despite being very well guarded by both Sonia and Cass, and hounded by Hannah, Watkins did not move the ball well to create opportunities for her teammates. She seemed irritated that she was being harassed defensively. USC's future will be determined by if their coach can convince Watkins, like Jackson convinced Jordan, that involving/enabling her teammates is in her best interest.

It's hard to believe, but HH is still underrated. Because of her defense she might be the best player and the most complete player in the country.

I wonder if the reason that we're not #1 is that Nielle, in her short tenure as a head coach, has never won a NC. I wouldn't change our roster with anybody.
 
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I wonder if the reason that we're not #1 is that Nielle, in her short tenure as a head coach, has never won a NC. I wouldn't change our roster with anybody.
Has never taken her team past the sweet 16. But, even that is not the real reason you are not #1.

Nobody’s gonna be ranked over an undefeated defending champion until somebody defeats that champion ( the good news for ND is that it will almost certainly happen because that champion has probably the toughest schedule in the country - and could happen today.)

Patience grasshopper!
 
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Has never taken her team past the sweet 16. But, even that is not the real reason you are not #1.

Nobody’s gonna be ranked over an undefeated defending champion until somebody defeats that champion ( the good news for ND is that it will almost certainly happen because that champion has probably the toughest schedule in the country - and could happen today.)

Patience grasshoppert
The team wins the title in April does not automatically start the next season as the number one team
 
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Has never taken her team past the sweet 16. But, even that is not the real reason you are not #1.

Nobody’s gonna be ranked over an undefeated defending champion until somebody defeats that champion ( the good news for ND is that it will almost certainly happen because that champion has probably the toughest schedule in the country - and could happen today.)

Patience grasshopper!
I totally agree. South Carolina should be #1 and it will be a gargantuan task to knock them off their thrown.
 
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UConn fan here- right now if UConn and ND played, I think ND would beat them. UConn really can’t contain HH and they need better rebounding and scoring from their bigs, especially freshman center from Egypt Jana el Alfy. Once UConn gets Azzi Fudd and Aubrey Griffin back, it will be a close contest with two phenomenal players leading loaded squads: Bueckers and Hidalgo. I worry that no one on UConn can stop Hidalgo, and ND has overall height advantage too. UConn is loaded with shooters and in a 3 point shooting match, the team that gets hot will win.
 

Dillon77

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I totally agree. South Carolina should be #1 and it will be a gargantuan task to knock them off their thrown.
Look forward to the South Carolina vs. UCLA game.
 
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I totally agree. South Carolina should be #1 and it will be a gargantuan task to knock them off their thrown.
I don’t think it will be that gargantuan . A loss today would probably do it. As disjointed as we have been playing, that could happen
 

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