Will Notre Dame Win This Game??

[JavaMan]

Oh, I’m not talking about Saturday’s game against us. The Husky faithful know full-well that UConn wins that game.

Notre Dame is undefeated right now, but after Saturday they will have one loss. Then, their next game on Wednesday, the 9th, they play DePaul. Can Notre Dame handle DePaul ball after losing to UConn? It’s been at least five years since Notre Dame has lost two consecutive games.

So, will Notre Dame win this game with DePaul after losing to the Huskies?

 

[sarals24]

Maybe, but can DePaul play at that level again? I guess we'll see.

 

[huskeynut]

Maybe, but can DePaul play at that level again? I guess we'll see.

And that is the $64,000.00 question.

 

[cabbie191]

Maybe, but can DePaul play at that level again? I guess we'll see.

Solid players, solid coach in Bruno. No reason why they can't. Their next game is against Illionois State - I presume they won't have to play at the same pace and will be rested enough to,play against the Irish the same as against us if that is the game plan.

 

[Nuyoika]

I think it depends on how the refs call the game and what strategy DePaul uses on the Irish. Is he planning to sub every 3-5 mins like last night?

 

[HoopsFan21]

Will they be able to keep getting lucky from 23 feet? What did they shoot last night 41% as a team from 3? That was what UConn shot against Texas last year I believe.

 

[Bigpetunia]

Hard not to like DePaul's chances, even though they'll have to do it on the road. I'm feeling pretty badly for ND right now, what with all the key injuries, but I know how much fight they have in them. Still, I think Doug Bruno said it best, that if you leave UConn out of the mix the parity in the women's game at the top right now is virtually unprecedented. Last season, when ND was at full strength, and Jewell poured in, I think, 41 pts., DePaul had them beaten dead-to-rights, but apparently were so scared they might actually pull the upset off that they couldn't make a single game-clinching free throw down the stretch and lost by one in overtime. The current team looks like it has much more confidence and, as we know, is shooting the lights out, so the fear-of-winning factor should, I hope, be history. Bruno seems to have his team truly accepting the belief that they can play with anybody right now, so I wouldn't write off the possibility that they pull this one off. Remember the UConn-Dayton game in the Elite Eight last year when an equally well-coached Dayton team, with Hoover and Mallott draining threes, led The Huskies at halftime before getting worn down? Last night's game reminded me a lot of that...Jabir got his team thinking they could win against the best. Bruno is doing that now with this DePaul team and I'll be pulling for them!

 

[meyers7]

Oh, I’m not talking about Saturday’s game against us. The Husky faithful know full-well that UConn wins that game.

Notre Dame is undefeated right now, but after Saturday they will have one loss. Then, their next game on Wednesday, the 9th, they play DePaul. Can Notre Dame handle DePaul ball after losing to UConn? It’s been at least five years since Notre Dame has lost two consecutive games.

So, will Notre Dame win this game with DePaul after losing to the Huskies?

Could be a good game. If ND is without Turner and Reimer, DePaul should be able to rebound with them.

 

[Dillon77]

Hard not to like DePaul's chances, even though they'll have to do it on the road. I'm feeling pretty badly for ND right now, what with all the key injuries, but I know how much fight they have in them. Still, I think Doug Bruno said it best, that if you leave UConn out of the mix the parity in the women's game at the top right now is virtually unprecedented. Last season, when ND was at full strength, and Jewell poured in, I think, 41 pts., DePaul had them beaten dead-to-rights, but apparently were so scared they might actually pull the upset off that they couldn't make a single game-clinching free throw down the stretch and lost by one in overtime. The current team looks like it has much more confidence and, as we know, is shooting the lights out, so the fear-of-winning factor should, I hope, be history. Bruno seems to have his team truly accepting the belief that they can play with anybody right now, so I wouldn't write off the possibility that they pull this one off. Remember the UConn-Dayton game in the Elite Eight last year when an equally well-coached Dayton team, with Hoover and Mallott draining threes, led The Huskies at halftime before getting worn down? Last night's game reminded me a lot of that...Jabir got his team thinking they could win against the best. Bruno is doing that now with this DePaul team and I'll be pulling for them!

ND played DePaul twice last year...the 94-93 OT win you referenced in which DePaul pretty much did have them dead to rights, before Jewell Loyd pulled it out for the Irish with less than 5 seconds. Maddie Cable also went for 20, inserted into the lineup for Brianna Turner who missed that game with her initial shoulder injury.

They met up again in the 2nd round of the NCAA at South Bend and the Irish had Brianna Turner back in the lineup. Somewhat similar story to the UConn-Depaul game last night: Bruno had them come out with a brisk pace and had his three-point shooters spaced accordingly. Very back and forth in the first half, but DePaul ultimately ran out of gas dealing with the Turner-Reimer-Westbeld troika and bombs away from Michaela Mabrey, who went for 19, virtually all from outside.

Looking ahead, this game will be more like that first game: no Turner and ND is still trying to figure out how to space that 1 forward, 4 guard attack. Westbeld is not a post and efforts to put her there were awkward at best. Allen, then Cable, were red hot last night but that won't happen every night. On the other hand, both Mabreys were ice cold, which won't happen all the time. But they won...using their entire roster.

Bruno is a really good tactician and recruits to fit that style. Root for them virtually all the time

 

[Beemer]

IMO DePaul can defeat ND. As Dillon77 posted, they have come very close only to run out of gas. ND is battered by injury right now and I don't see any one player able to pull them through the way Loyd did.

I'll be cheering for them for sure.

 

[Dillon77]

Could be a good game. If ND is without Turner and Reimer, DePaul should be able to rebound with them.

ND won't have Turner, for sure. Interestingly, ND actually outrebounded Ohio State 45-34 last night and OSU's Shala Cooper nearly had half of the Buckeye's rebounds (15). ND was led by two guards, Maddie Cable (11) and Hannah Huffman (9), both of whom do it with good boxing out and relentlessness. Plus, Cable is quick and has some hops, and Huffman surprisingly strong for a 5'9" guard. This won't help ND against UConn for sure, but should against a long-range shooting team like DePaul.

 

[meyers7]

ND won't have Turner, for sure. Interestingly, ND actually outrebounded Ohio State 45-34 last night and OSU's Shala Cooper nearly had half of the Buckeye's rebounds (15). ND was led by two guards, Maddie Cable (11) and Hannah Huffman (9), both of whom do it with good boxing out and relentlessness. Plus, Cable is quick and has some hops, and Huffman surprisingly strong for a 5'9" guard. This won't help ND against UConn for sure, but should against a long-range shooting team like DePaul.

A lot better than UCONN's 47-27 edge. If DePaul can rebound at Ohio St level, they have a decent shot at knocking off ND.

 

[warbler1055]

ND won't have Turner, for sure. Interestingly, ND actually outrebounded Ohio State 45-34 last night and OSU's Shala Cooper nearly had half of the Buckeye's rebounds (15). ND was led by two guards, Maddie Cable (11) and Hannah Huffman (9), both of whom do it with good boxing out and relentlessness. Plus, Cable is quick and has some hops, and Huffman surprisingly strong for a 5'9" guard. This won't help ND against UConn for sure, but should against a long-range shooting team like DePaul.

ND has always given UConn a great game This Saturday should be no different even with all the injuries. The way Breanna Stewart is playing, it's tough for ND to overcome. DePaul will be a very good game for ND.

 

[pinotbear]

I think it depends on how the refs call the game and what strategy DePaul uses on the Irish. Is he planning to sub every 3-5 mins like last night?

just want to give this a "+1" with regards to the officiating. Last night, a lot, a whole lot of contact was allowed. If that's the case with the Irish, if the ND "flopapalooza" tactic isn't whistled, then I'm more optimistic about Depaul's chances. If the officials buy into the European soccer-style injury drama of the Irish, then ND will go to the line over 30 times, and the Blue Demons job becomes tougher.

 

[Nuyoika]

just want to give this a "+1" with regards to the officiating. Last night, a lot, a whole lot of contact was allowed. If that's the case with the Irish, if the ND "flopapalooza" tactic isn't whistled, then I'm more optimistic about Depaul's chances. If the officials buy into the European soccer-style injury drama of the Irish, then ND will go to the line over 30 times, and the Blue Demons job becomes tougher.

First of all... I have watched a million soccer videos... how have i never seen this lol Second of all the fouls either team gets will be huge! I hope its fast paced and as good as last night.

 

[Orangutan]

Will they be able to keep getting lucky from 23 feet? What did they shoot last night 41% as a team from 3? That was what UConn shot against Texas last year I believe.

They won't have to. ND won't have any rim protection if Turner and Reimer are out. They will be able to attack the basket much more easily than they did against UConn. If Reimer is able to play some, that helps but they still struggled to protect the rim last year when they had a healthy Reimer against DePaul.

 

[cabbie191]

just want to give this a "+1" with regards to the officiating. Last night, a lot, a whole lot of contact was allowed. If that's the case with the Irish, if the ND "flopapalooza" tactic isn't whistled, then I'm more optimistic about Depaul's chances. If the officials buy into the European soccer-style injury drama of the Irish, then ND will go to the line over 30 times, and the Blue Demons job becomes tougher.

I am so glad to have this proof positive of just how brutal a sport soccer can be.

It helps explain why my high school wouldn't let me play soccer, because of an occasional crick in my neck, but they were perfectly fine with my being on the football team!

 

[Dillon77]

They won't have to. ND won't have any rim protection if Turner and Reimer are out. They will be able to attack the basket much more easily than they did against UConn. If Reimer is able to play some, that helps but they still struggled to protect the rim last year when they had a healthy Reimer against DePaul.

Agree completely. Thought OSU would've kept pounding the ball down low last night, but that does not seem to that team's modus operandi(much more drive and dish).

 

[MilfordHusky]

DePaul can give ND a good game. I'm hoping the Blue Demons shoot 80% from the arc and force 30 TOs.

 

[Orangutan]

I think one of the keys will be how ND handles the press. I haven't seen all of the ND-OSU game yet (I was busy attending UConn-DePaul!) but it sounds like ND struggled with the press. I know Allen mentioned that they didn't expect it from OSU. They will expect it from DePaul, of course, so the surprise factor will be gone. Mychal Johnson, Ogunbowale, and the Mabreys will need to be confident and consistent with their ball-handling.

 

[reno tony]

Maybe, but can DePaul play at that level again? I guess we'll see.

I think so. Playing UCONN that way and getting the result they did must be a great boost to their confidence. I'm not sure if they would use the same game plan against Notre Dame but I will certainly be watching.

 

[HGN]

Oh, I’m not talking about Saturday’s game against us. The Husky faithful know full-well that UConn wins that game.

Notre Dame is undefeated right now, but after Saturday they will have one loss. Then, their next game on Wednesday, the 9th, they play DePaul. Can Notre Dame handle DePaul ball after losing to UConn? It’s been at least five years since Notre Dame has lost two consecutive games.

So, will Notre Dame win this game with DePaul after losing to the Huskies?

I think UConn will win too. But ND has a guard oriented team just like DePaul. Guard oriented teams may give us a little more trouble. However , I do not think , and I hope , that ND doesn't have the bench ( with Turner and Reimer missing) to outlast the Huskies.

 

[Dillon77]

I think one of the keys will be how ND handles the press. I haven't seen all of the ND-OSU game yet (I was busy attending UConn-DePaul!) but it sounds like ND struggled with the press. I know Allen mentioned that they didn't expect it from OSU. They will expect it from DePaul, of course, so the surprise factor will be gone. Mychal Johnson, Ogunbowale, and the Mabreys will need to be confident and consistent with their ball-handling.

ND got better against that particular kind of press when one of the Mabreys came back to help Allen. Both of them are adequate enough ball handlers(particularly Marina) and/or see the court (particularly Michaela) to help address the press. Johnson and Ogunbowale were up-court during the press. In fact, the Mabrey's spell Allen at the PG position and/or running the half-court sets, rather than MJ or AO. Injury to Ali Patberg comes back to haunt.

 

[geneticrex]

If Depaul can maintain 40 minutes with the same intensity they displayed playing UCONN, make 13 25 footers, many with hand in face and have ND miss almost a dozen from point blank...................................yes, Depaul can win that game.

 

[Orangutan]

In fact, the Mabrey's spell Allen at the PG position and/or running the half-court sets, rather than MJ or AO.

Do I really come off as knowing that little? I tossed in Mychal and Arike because it's a team effort to beat the press and they both have good handles. Micheala's lack of athleticism worries me against DePaul's press.