Notre Dame Basketball: Adjustments Clearly Needed

Anyone who watched Notre Dame after they returned from Hawaii realizes that they need to adjust if they want to fulfill their lofty expectations.

Notre Dame Basketball Head Coach Mike Brey constantly finds a way to develop his teams in-season. The Irish basketball program almost sounds like a broken record. They constantly find someone at the eleventh hour to make a huge impact. So, how can Notre Dame change this time?

Bench Play?

After the five Notre Dame starters, the scoring from the Irish bench is horrendous. Freshman DJ Harvey leads the group with 5.5 points per contest. However, like all the other bench players, Harvey cannot be counted on to be consistent.

So, how does Notre Dame find more players from the bench? Frankly, Brey can find them by doing what he is doing now; playing them. Today, he played Djogo, Mooney, and Harvey early.

Play More Four and Five Out

Currently, Notre Dame is playing in a more traditional lineup with three guards, a forward and center. However, Notre Dame’s success comes from playing a small, efficient lineup.

Playing with a lineup that includes Farrell, Gibbs, Pflueger, Harvey and Colson might be the best option for the Irish. The issue that Notre Dame must overcome is rebound. The Fighting Irish struggle mightily on the glass.

If Notre Dame can find a way to rebound, using 4-out and 5-out sets on offense should serve them well.

More Rex Contributions

When Rex Pflueger plays well on offense, Notre Dame wins. Against Georgia Tech, Pflueger was the epitome of efficiency. He scored 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. He only turned the ball over once.

Pflueger will probably never be a great scorer but the Irish need to find him. Getting him involved early is critical. He demonstrated that he is able to pass the ball well. He shoots effectively from three.

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Regardless if any of these suggestions mean anything, Mike Brey is one of the best in the country at figure out a solution. Typically, it is a solution that makes everyone sit in awe and admire his brilliance.