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Notre Dame Basketball: Bahamas Trip is all Business for Brey’s Irish

By Chase Eyrich

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 06: Rex Pflueger #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish works against Parker Stewart #1 of the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the first round of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 6, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 06: Rex Pflueger #0 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish works against Parker Stewart #1 of the Pittsburgh Panthers in the second half during the first round of the ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 6, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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A young Notre Dame Basketball team packed their bags and headed to the Bahamas in one of the most important foreign trips of Mike Brey’s tenure.

This season, Notre Dame basketball brings back two returning starters, Rex Pflueger and T.J. Gibbs. There have only been two other seasons (2002 and 2009) that Head Coach Mike Brey has had this little of experience returning.

But the excitement of this team is the six newcomers joining this year’s squad. With five incoming freshmen and one transfer, this trip is about finding their identity.

As the wheels went up Tuesday morning, the team started their journey to Nassau. Quickly, one day later, it was back to business.

The Irish, as expected, dominated IBA Elite 119-61 Wednesday night. Six players scored in double-digits, three of which are newcomers. While it was the transition game that was working well for Notre Dame, it was Juwan Durham with an impressive night. His 16-points nine rebounds should give Irish fans hope for their new big man.

Thursday night was much more of the same. The Irish beat NPBA All Starrs 111-34. NPBA was held to just nine points in the second half led by Druham’s four blocked shots.

We can take the stats as pocket change. With one more game on the trip, which is likely to have the same result, it’s more about answering questions rather than padding stats for Brey’s squad.

Trips like this are important for setting the culture that Brey creates in his programs. In 2014 the team took a trip to Italy. That season the Irish won the ACC Tournament, made the NCAA tournament Elite Eight and finished 32-6.

While this team is young, they’re talented. ESPN ranked the incoming freshman class 10th in the nation, the highest recruiting class in Brey’s tenure.

There should be nothing but positives with this trip welcoming the young talent to the program.

dark. Next. Notre Dame Football Playoff Outlook: By the Numbers

Leaders will become leaders and culture will be established as the Irish answer some of their questions heading into the new season.