Notre Dame Basketball: Can we realistically expect an ACC Championship?
Notre Dame basketball shocked the world on their way to the 2016 ACC title game, which leaves debate open as to whether or not they can pull of a Championship in 2017.
With the return of Bonzie Colson and Matt Farrell, Notre Dame basketball already has the upper-hand on plenty of ACC teams. As numerous teams lose key players to the NBA Draft, the Fighting Irish are keeping their two biggest components to success.
Is an ACC title realistic with Colson and Farrell leading the way? Maybe. Depending on how much Rex Pflueger and T.J. Gibbs improve this offseason, Notre Dame could have one of the best teams in the country. Add freshman, DJ Harvey, to the mix and the Irish have just as much, if not more, talent than last season.
There’s a lot of upside to this team. They’re more experienced, didn’t lose anyone too important, and bring in one of the best freshman in the 2017 class. They may need to fill two starting positions, but with the roster they have, there are options to fill voids.
For teams like North Carolina and Duke, they’ll still be serious contenders. With the return of Grayson Allen, the Blue Devils may be the biggest threat the ACC has to offer. So, naturally, that means Notre Dame’s hardest obstacle is Duke.
Chances are the Fighting Irish are a top three team in the ACC once again. Mike Brey knows how to win and the Irish have two players who will be in contention for All-American teams. Even if the conference in the best in college basketball, Notre Dame has enough to pull out a championship.
When you break it out, Notre Dame’s ACC Championship chances are high. At bare minimum, they should be in a position by the end of the year to at least compete in the title game. Whether or not they can win will depend on who they play and how well they’re playing at the time.
Is an ACC title realistic for Notre Dame? Yes. This team will be a top 25 team all season, should be at the top of the conference from day one and has everything they need to be a dominating squad in 2017-2018.
Next: Colson, Allen return could mean ACC rematch
Expect a lot from the Irish this season. Coming off of an impressive 2016-2017 year with their best two players returning, Notre Dame basketball is in for one of the program’s best seasons yet.