Tag: Kentucky

Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament: No. 2 Seed – 2010-11 Irish

One of the purposes of the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament is to give disappointing teams a shot at redemption.

One of the purposes of the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament is to give disappointing teams a shot at redemption. That’s not to say the 2010-11 Irish were a letdown given their 27-7 record. Still, you have to wonder what would have happened if a few things had gone differently.

The Irish took care of business early on with an Old Spice Classic championship and an 11-1 nonconference record, their only loss coming against a ranked Kentucky team. Then, after splitting their first six Big East games, they went 11-1 the rest of the regular season. One of those wins came on the road against Pittsburgh, then ranked second. Though the Panthers ultimately finished one game better than Notre Dame’s 14-4 conference record to win the Big East title, Mike Brey had impressed enough voters to be named national coach of the year.

Though the Irish, then ranked fourth, lost in overtime to Louisville in the Big East semifinals, their resume still netted them a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Playing their first set of games in Chicago should have given them some of the best crowd support in the first weekend of the tournament, and that should have helped them advance past that, but it wasn’t to be. After taking down 15th-seeded Akron in their first game, the Irish were stunned in a 14-point loss to 10th-seeded Florida State. To be fair, that year’s Final Four had no team seeded higher than third, but that was of little consolation to the Irish, who were fifth in the final ranking.

Big East Player of the Year Ben Hasbrough paced the Irish with 18.4 points and 4.3 assists a game and shot a team-high 43.5 percent from 3-point range. Tim Abromaitis made third-team all-conference after averaging 15.4 points a game. Though he didn’t net any honors, Carleton Scott was well-rounded with an 11.2 scoring averaging and team highs in rebounding (7.4) and free-throw percentage (.889).

Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament: No. 1 Seed – 2014-15 Irish

Now, we get to the heavy hitters in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament, beginning with the top seed.

Now, we get to the heavy hitters in the Notre Dame 15 Years Tournament, beginning with the top seed. The 2014-15 Irish represented the program’s second season in the ACC, but they made it clear to everyone that they intended to compete in perhaps the best conference in college basketball, not simply lay down for the likes of Duke, North Carolina and Syracuse. No one could deny it when this season was over.

En route to a 32-6 record, the program’s best since going 33-7 in 1908-09, the Irish jumped out to a 15-1 start and ended up winning 20 of their first 22 games, including eight of their first nine ACC games. That run ended with a four-point win over the No. 4 Blue Devils, at which point the Irish were ranked eighth, as high as they would get during the season. In spite of their 14-4 conference record, it only netted them a No. 3 seed in the ACC tournament. That didn’t matter, however, because the Irish squeezed out wins over Miami, Duke and North Carolina by an average of 8.3 points to win Mike Brey his first championship and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The close but meaningful games continued in March Madness. Seeded third in their region, the Irish needed everything to get by 14th-seeded Northeastern in a four-point first-round win, and the second-round win over in-state rival Butler required overtime. They breathed a little easier in an 11-point win over Wichita State in the Sweet Sixteen, setting up an Elite Eight matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns, Willie Cauley-Stein, Devin Booker and top-ranked Kentucky. The game was a classic, and the Irish would have made their first Final Four in 37 years had Jerian Grant not air-balled a corner 3 at the buzzer, giving the Wildcats a two-point victory.

Jerian Grant was named to the Consensus All-American First Team alongside Stein, Jahlil Okafor, D’Angelo Russell and Frank Kaminsky. He led the Irish with 16.5 points and 6.7 assists a game. Zach Auguste, Pat Connaughton and Demetrius Jackson all had scoring averages in the neighborhood of 12, and Steve Vasturia averaged 10.1 points a game. All of this made the Irish the second-best shooting team in the nation (50.9 percent), the third-best scoring team (2,963 points) and the ninth-best passing team (576).

Notre Dame Makes Cut for Four-Star Defensive End

A lot to consume in those schools but what sticks out to me is that yet again, North Carolina is in on a top-recruit.  The Tar Heels already have 14 commitments in the 2021 class and rank behind only Ohio State nationally for the class.  I made fun of the Mack Brown hiring initially but there is no doubt he’s raising the amount of football talent in Chapel Hill.

Notre Dame has offered a good amount of defensive ends in the 2021 recruiting class but David Abiara of Texas remains the only commit at the position so far.  However, the Fighting Irish got good news over the weekend as they made the cut to eight for a four-star end from North Carolina.

Zaire Patterson, a four-star senior-to-be from Winston-Salem Prep in North Carolina announced his final eight teams over the weekend and Notre Dame is one of the eight.

Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Notre Dame and South Carolina were the eight to make the cut.

The 6-6, 215 pound defensive end is regarded as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and was originally offered a scholarship by Notre Dame in January, just days before Alabama, Louisville and Texas A&M followed suit.

A lot to consume in those schools but what sticks out to me is that yet again, North Carolina is in on a top-recruit.  The Tar Heels already have 14 commitments in the 2021 class and rank behind only Ohio State nationally for the class.  I made fun of the Mack Brown hiring initially but there is no doubt he’s raising the amount of football talent in Chapel Hill.

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Patterson recorded nine sacks, 27 tackles for loss and 109 tackles overall last season while forcing nine fumbles as well.  Patterson would be a welcome addition to a Notre Dame program who has done a strong job turning out talent on the defensive line of late.

NBA Draft: Kentucky’s Tyrese Maxey is a name to watch for the Golden State Warriors

If the Warriors decide to trade back in the draft, Kentucky’s Tyrese Maxey is an intriguing prospect to watch.

With the college basketball season over, and no-live NBA action until further notice, eyes have shifted to the draft ahead of schedule. Their league-worst record has set the Golden State Warriors for a chance to land a top-caliber prospect for the first time in years.

Names like Anthony Edwards, Obi Toppin and Onyeka Okongwu have become popular at the start of mock projections for the Warriors, but what if the team decides to move back in June’s draft? In an interview with Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, owner Joe Lacob mentioned the Warriors are looking into “all scenarios” for their selection — including the possibility of a trade down.

Depending on where Golden State lands in the draft order, Kentucky’s Tyrese Maxey is an intriguing prospect that could be available beyond the top five picks.

The SEC All-Freshman Team selection averaged 14 points on 42.7% shooting with 4.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in his first season in Lexington. Maxey burst onto the scene quickly, dropping 26 points against the top-ranked Michigan State Spartans in the opening contest of the season. The Texas product continued his success against top-rated teams, scoring his season-best 27 points against the third-ranked rival Louisville Cardinals.

At 6-foot-2, Maxey can navigate through defenses to get to the cup. The 19-year-old isn’t afraid to throw his body around in the lane to finish off an acrobatic layup around bigger defenders. One of Maxey’s favorite weapon’s in his toolbox is his silky floater — reminiscent of a guard from Golden State.

The former McDonald’s All-American is a creative scorer that isn’t afraid to let it fly from beyond the arc. Although he only shot 29.2% from 3-point range, Maxey has a quick release that can heat up. The Kentucky freshman nailed multiple long-range jumpers in nine games for John Calipari, but he did go without a 3-pointer in 13 games.

Maxey is a willing defender that understands spacing on the floor. The stout guard relies on his strength to help with physical attackers on offense — something that will help at the next level on defense.

The young Wildcat will have to tighten his shot selection and consistency when he gets to the NBA. However, Maxey could be the next player to come from Calipari’s program to excel at the professional level, like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bam Adebayo and PJ Washington.

Maxey could immediately fit in Steve Kerr’s rotation behind Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The Kentucky guard would give Golden State’s a formidable young trio off the bench with Eric Paschall and Jordan Poole. If the trade down rumors heat up as the clock ticks down during draft season, Maxey is a name to keep an eye on for the Golden State Warriors.

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NBA Draft: Auburn’s Isaac Okoro is a name to watch for the Golden State Warriors

Could Auburn’s Isaac Okoro be a trade down target for the Golden State Warriors in the 2020 NBA draft?

For the first time in years, the Golden State Warriors are expected to hold a high lottery pick in the 2020 NBA draft. With mock draft season heating up, the Warriors have been connected to several noteworthy prospects. Obi Toppin and Anthony Edwards have been popular names at the top of projections to the Warriors, but what if the team decides to trade back?

Golden State owner Joe Lacob recently mentioned the Warriors are “looking at all scenarios” – including the possibility of trading back. If the Warriors decided to use their top selection as an asset, there’s a group of intriguing prospects that could fit Golden State outside of the top three.

After an impressive season in eastern Alabama, Auburn’s Issac Okoro has quickly been trending up draft boards. The 19-year-old wing averaged 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.0 assists during his freshman season. Yet, it’s what he does off the stat sheet that makes him a name to watch for the Golden State Warriors.

Okoro is labeled as one of the best defenders in the prospect class. With the right blend of strength and athleticism, Okoro proved he can guard nearly every position on the floor at 6-foot-6. The freshman’s best tool in his defensive arsenal is his basketball IQ. The wing prospect consistently showed off an understanding of spacing, passing lanes and defensive angles. Okoro earned a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team.

Okoro only recorded more than 20 points once in 28 games during his freshman season, but he does possess positive potential traits on offense. While he’s not much of a shooter — 29% from beyond the arc, Okoro is explosive at the rim. Although he’s not a threat from long distance, Okoro is active without the ball in his hands to get open. The Auburn product’s basketball IQ translates to the offensive side of the floor with his cutting ability. When Okoro starts to attack with the basketball, he’s a missile when it comes to getting to the hoop.

Okoro would provide a defensive chess piece off the bench for Steve Kerr in Golden State. On the offensive side of the ball, Okoro wouldn’t have to worry about shooting playing with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.

If the Warriors move from the top of the draft, Auburn’s freshman Tiger needs to be a name to consider outside the top-three. However, with Okoro’s upside, he won’t be available for long once the clock starts in June’s draft.

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Joe Lacob: Warriors looking at all scenarios in NBA draft, including a trade down

Could the Warriors be eyeing a trade down scenario in the 2020 draft?

While the NBA season is on hold, the Golden State Warriors have turned their attention to the draft. With a bottom record in the standings, the Warriors are expected to own a top selection for the first time in years.

Most teams with high picks in the draft are typically going through a rebuild, forcing them to use their top pick on a prospect to jumpstart their franchise for the future. Yet, the Warriors are in a different situation.

Although injuries derailed Golden State’s chances at returning to the NBA Finals for the sixth straight season, the trio of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green are still on the roster for 2020-21. The Warriors could explore a bevy of directions with their pick to maximize their championship core’s run.

Golden State owner Joe Lacob joined Tim Kawakami of The Athletic on “The TK Show” to discuss the Warriors plans for the draft. Lacob mentioned trading down in the draft could be a possibility.

Via The TK Show Podcast:

We’re going to look at all scenarios. Honestly, it’s been, look — I’m not going to hide this — we’re going to look at drafting someone at our position, we’re going to look at, maybe we trade down, I mean that’s a possibility. I’m not saying it’s even preferred or not preferred. I’m just saying it’s something we’re going to have to look at. We’re going to look at all options, and we’re going to figure out a way to have our team be the best possible team that it could be for this year, but still with an eye towards building for the future.

With no basketball on the calendar until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic, Lacob and the Warriors’ front office will have plenty of time to prepare how they’ll navigate through June’s draft.

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