Notre Dame in 2012-13.

[doggydaddy]

While ND has been a top team (and possible NC this year) the last two years, next year will be much different. Losing 3 starters even with a great player like Loyd coming in will have a HUGE impact on how well ND does next year.


Probably starters next year - Diggins, Loyd, Achowa, McBride and either Turner or Wright. Their other returning players are RS freshman Cable (didn't play at all this year), Braker and Holliway.

Some problems jump out at me.

Lack of height. Achowa (6'3") is really the only player that is capable of playing the middle. How will she deal with the jump from 17 minutes a game to 25-30? Who backs her up? The only other players on the roster over 6' tall are Braker (6'1") and Wright (6'2") and they had minimal minutes this year with fair results.

Defensive pressure. This has been a calling card for this team the last 2 years. Peters won't be there to cover when the guards get beat. Losing the 3 senior starters will be huge here. It takes experience to run that kind of defense.

I'm thinking they will be a very good but no where near as good as the last two years.

Any thoughts from ND visitors?

 

[speedoo]

Had a brief discussion with rjp on this the other day. Obviously hoping for a big contribution from Loyd, but worried about the post.

 

[alexrgct]

They're going to live and die with Skylar, and she's going to be in the difficult position of trying to run the offense AND be the primary scorer. McBride is a good sidekick, Lloyd's an obvious talent but not a KML-like impact player as a freshman, and Achonwa has not taken the step forward I expected her to this year.

Losing Mallory and Peters is going to hurt them significantly on D.

They're a top 15 team, maybe top 10, but I'd be very surprised if they flirted with being top 5.

 

[speedoo]

They're going to live and die with Skylar, and she's going to be in the difficult position of trying to run the offense AND be the primary scorer. McBride is a good sidekick, Lloyd's an obvious talent but not a KML-like impact player as a freshman, and Achonwa has not taken the step forward I expected her to this year.

Losing Mallory and Peters is going to hurt them significantly on D.

They're a top 15 team, maybe top 10, but I'd be very surprised if they flirted with being top 5.

Well, next year's top 5 will include Baylor, Uconn, Duke, maybe Maryland. Not sure who else because I have not looked that far ahead. I would not necessarily rule out ND from a top 5 expectation.

 

[doggydaddy]

If they don't meet in the NCAA's this year, it will be quite a while before ND is competative again with UConn.

 

[msf22b]

Have to agree with Alex, Big things were expected of Achonwa, she looks a little lost.

 

[Vowelguy]

Well, next year's top 5 will include Baylor, Uconn, Duke, maybe Maryland. Not sure who else because I have not looked that far ahead. I would not necessarily rule out ND from a top 5 expectation.

Other top 10 contenders:
- Kentucky.
- Louisville. Only lose Burke (assuming Reid comes back).
- Delaware. No seniors start.
- Possibly Stanford. Yes they lose Nneka, but those young guards will be more experienced.
- Cal. No seniors.
- Nebraska. Return 4 starters + top 4 reserves.

 

[alexrgct]

Other top 10 contenders:
- Kentucky.
- Louisville. Only lose Burke (assuming Reid comes back).
- Delaware. No seniors start.
- Possibly Stanford. Yes they lose Nneka, but those young guards will be more experienced.
- Cal. No seniors.
- Nebraska. Return 4 starters + top 4 reserves.

Maybe A&M as well? Young team, but stellar recruiting class coming in.

To Speedoo's point, I wasn't even really thinking about it in terms of who the actual teams in the top five will be so much as whether ND "feels" like a top five team to me next year. At this point, I'd say no.

 

[doggydaddy]

Other top 10 contenders:
- Kentucky.
- Louisville. Only lose Burke (assuming Reid comes back).
- Delaware. No seniors start.
- Possibly Stanford. Yes they lose Nneka, but those young guards will be more experienced.
- Cal. No seniors.
- Nebraska. Return 4 starters + top 4 reserves.

What, no Tennessee on your list?

 

[speedoo]

Other top 10 contenders:
- Kentucky.
- Louisville. Only lose Burke (assuming Reid comes back).
- Delaware. No seniors start.
- Possibly Stanford. Yes they lose Nneka, but those young guards will be more experienced.
- Cal. No seniors.
- Nebraska. Return 4 starters + top 4 reserves.

Well, with Diggins and McBride, ND certainly has a top 5 backcourt especially if Loyd is any good. And if Achonwa can add some muscle and toughness over the off season, that will certainly help. But even without a big improvement from Achonwa, I think I like ND better than all those teams listed, plus aTm.

But they will certainly not be in the same group with UConn and Baylor or even Duke.

 

[Vowelguy]

Well, with Diggins and McBride, ND certainly has a top 5 backcourt especially if Loyd is any good. And if Achonwa can add some muscle and toughness over the off season, that will certainly help. But even without a big improvement from Achonwa, I think I like ND better than all those teams listed, plus aTm.

Agreed. Wasn't excluding them from the discussion; was just listing other teams that could be strong next yr.

 

[doggydaddy]

Well, with Diggins and McBride, ND certainly has a top 5 backcourt especially if Loyd is any good. And if Achonwa can add some muscle and toughness over the off season, that will certainly help. But even without a big improvement from Achonwa, I think I like ND better than all those teams listed, plus aTm.

But they will certainly not be in the same group with UConn and Baylor or even Duke.

Top 5 backcourt, but top 50 frontcourt. Achonwa is their only experienced frontcourt player and she is weak. Might even be only top 100 frontcourt.

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

I really enjoy watching Natalie Novosel maximize her athletic talents on the court...she is quite the competitor. ND will miss her the most of any player.

 

[Goodies07]

I really enjoy watching Natalie Novosel maximize her athletic talents on the court...she is quite the competitor. ND will miss her the most of any player.

All three of their seniors play such important roles...and play them extremely well. It's hard for me to say who they will miss most, but I think they'll miss Mallory just as much as Novosel.

 

[speedoo]

All three of their seniors play such important roles...and play them extremely well. It's hard for me to say who they will miss most, but I think they'll miss Mallory just as much as Novosel.

I don't know how she does it but Mallory is a great defender. They will definitely miss her.

 

[winlots]

I really enjoy watching Natalie Novosel maximize her athletic talents on the court...she is quite the competitor. ND will miss her the most of any player.

OZ -- you are right on: she is certainly a tremendous competitor, along with Mallory who is cut from he same cloth. Both BIG losses for the Irish. As a stickler for playing by the rules (which, unforunately, the refs often do not enforce) and for sportsmandship, I thought both of them were over the line alot in turns of blatant shoving, etc etc. So, while admiring their abiity and tenacity, I didn't "like" them and savored our victory over that entire squad and coach.

Would be inclined to add Penn State to the list of teams that could have big years next year....see them as being on a strong upswing????

 

[jsloanjr]

ND is like a number of WCBB teams that have a good team for a year or 2. ND will always be a very competitive, but not in the elite class. UCONN reloads and next season will be very special to watch........We lose Tiff and we gain MJ, Tuck and BS.......

 

[Ozzie Nelson]

"we gain MJ, Tuck and BS"...Mojo, Truck, and Stalwart

 

[cardfan]

Other top 10 contenders:
- Kentucky.
- Louisville. Only lose Burke (assuming Reid comes back).
- Delaware. No seniors start.
- Possibly Stanford. Yes they lose Nneka, but those young guards will be more experienced.
- Cal. No seniors.
- Nebraska. Return 4 starters + top 4 reserves.

Stanford gets back 3 injured players (Camp, Green and Ruef), something folks, and certainly the national media rarely mentions. I'm not sure if Boothe will come back for her 5th yr. We 2 frosh centers in next year's class.

We are top ten for sure, probably around 6 or 7, imho.

 

[Sonny44]

Great teams don't just fall off the edge of the earth. ND has been building up steadily to this their pinacle year. Next year they will falter, but not anything like what TAMU (not a great team) did. Certainly in or near the top 10 I think.

 

[triaddukefan]

Other top 10 contenders:
- Kentucky.
- Louisville. Only lose Burke (assuming Reid comes back).
- Delaware. No seniors start.
- Possibly Stanford. Yes they lose Nneka, but those young guards will be more experienced.
- Cal. No seniors.
- Nebraska. Return 4 starters + top 4 reserves.

What about Rutgers?? Maybe Georgia? I know Vandy is very young... maybe top 15 for them.

I agree that Uconn, Baylor, Duke, and Maryland are no-brainers top 5. Stanford, UK would be the next in line in my opinion.

 

[alexrgct]

What about Rutgers?? Maybe Georgia? I know Vandy is very young... maybe top 15 for them.

I agree that Uconn, Baylor, Duke, and Maryland are no-brainers top 5. Stanford, UK would be the next in line in my opinion.

And UConn will be playing Baylor, Maryland, Stanford, and Notre Dame, as well as A&M and Rutgers!

Wish we were playing Duke again too.

 

[Vowelguy]

What about Rutgers?? Maybe Georgia? I know Vandy is very young... maybe top 15 for them.

I believe RU loses Sykes, Rushdan, & Speed - that's a lot to recover from.

But good point on GA & Vandy - I wasn't aware. Vandy, in fact, returns its top 7 in terms of minutes

 

[Scotter]

And UConn will be playing Baylor, Maryland, Stanford, and Notre Dame, as well as A&M and Rutgers!

Wish we were playing Duke again too.

Did I miss something? The series with UNC and Oklahoma did not get renewed, but the Duke series will continue as far as I know. With the recruiting classes that Duke has put together it is a series that ESPN would like to continue. I'd be very surprised if the Duke series doesn't continue.

 

[triaddukefan]

I believe RU loses Sykes, Rushdan, & Speed - that's a lot to recover from.

But good point on GA & Vandy - I wasn't aware. Vandy, in fact, returns its top 7 in terms of minutes

Oh ok.. I didnt realize RU was losing that much. I just knew they had a great recruiting class last year, and another good one coming in the fall. Maybe they are a 15-20 type team at the beginning of the season.