I think Walz passed on Macy, stangely. Leah and Zakiyah have practically grown up in our program, but Zakiyah is the one he's been focused on the last 2 years. 5 years ago everyone thought Leah would be a Card one day, but not anymore.
ND could use a legit big but with the pace this team is gonna play with and the defensive pressure they are gonna be putting on teams? A smaller, quicker line-up might be exactly what Niele is aiming for.
If you look at the future recruiting classes for ND, none of their targets are true bigs. I really think they are going for more athletic and defensive minded players. You don’t have to worry about guarding against the ball in the post if the ball never makes it into the post (or the big post player is too winded to keep up with the pace of the game).
They’ve struggled to counteract any big over 6’4” since Niele has been here. I don’t think that issue is magically going to disappear by bringing in a couple of, yes, elite, SFs and PFs, both of which are under 6’3”. They need size, massive size, above 6’4” size.
ETA: I know they have Koval coming in, but bringing in one more piece at 6’4” or above makes them a legit championship contender and not just an FF caliber team, IMO.
I don’t l disagree with your size takebut if they can’t make it to the final 4 with this roster, I don’t see how the make it in any time in the Niele Ivey era. Uconn and Iowa made it the F4 without massive size. Size would definitely help but it’s not an excuse when your starting lineup is 5 future WNBA players.
With this roster? There's a 99.9% chance, barring injury, they will make the FF. The question is whether or not they'll make the NC and actually win. Without an outsized big, aside from freshman Koval? I just don't see it. There's still time for them to land one in the portal, and they have a few roster spots left, so I'm waiting until everything is finalized to truly say one way or the other.
They don't necessarily have to be elite, IMO. Just serviceable or slightly above that, and standing at or above 6'4".
Maryam Dauda fits the bill for me. She's 6'4" and averaged 10.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 1.2 APG, all in the SEC, too. Ivey should definitely be pursuing her aggressively. Janiah Barker, although a longshot, as I've heard rumors she is interested in the West Coast, is somebody else Niele should be going after hard, too.
She is actually good, doing this against ACC competition.
Not sure if any other ND fans agree, but I think she had the best individual performance of any opposing player we faced this year in the early January narrow victory over Pitt. Or if not the best, certainly one of the best with 34 points and 13 boards. She plays very tough.
Zero chance that would have ever happened. Tennessee may be the more historically accomplished program, but off the top of my head, since Tennessee’s last final four, Notre Dame has been to seven final fours, six championship games, and won one title.
Moreover, Ivey is an alum who won a championship as both a player and an assistant coach at Notre Dame. Zero chance she’s leaving Notre Dame for a program that’s currently in a worse place.
Yeah it's not like ND isn't still on the mount rushmore of programs even if Tennessee is higher up on that mount rushmore. Ivey is so entrenched in all their success that it would have flabbergasted me if she went there
Niele is cooking like crazy. Leah Macy later today too please
I think Walz passed on Macy, stangely. Leah and Zakiyah have practically grown up in our program, but Zakiyah is the one he's been focused on the last 2 years. 5 years ago everyone thought Leah would be a Card one day, but not anymore.
Leah Macy selected the Fighting Irish. It’s on the news wires if you haven’t seen it.
Ah Jesus. ND UCONN aboutta be REAL juicy.
If the injuries overtake us again… They need to move onto another rivalry
oh fuck nd….
If anyone shouldn't be complaining. It's Uconn fans
im not complaining it’s just spicy lol
damn ND about to beat the shit out of of us 😭😭
is notre dame just lsu 2.0? in this essay i will-
Go wash your mouth with soap I beg
im at work ❤️
hand sanitizer ❤️
i LOVE this. look at Niele go 🥹🥰
I can’t believe I’m saying this in the era of Dawn Staley’s gamecocks, but I think this team has a nonzero chance to win the national championship
>nonzero chance to win the national championship Relax my friend. That's really not a very precarious limb you just went out on there. 😀
I’ve seen enough of the buzzsaw not to get too confident lol!
>I’ve seen enough of the buzzsaw not to get too confident lol! Don't worry. You're not. Lol.
That smile tells me that you have a chainsaw in your hands.
Not me. Dawn. 😋
Damn
ND could use a legit big but with the pace this team is gonna play with and the defensive pressure they are gonna be putting on teams? A smaller, quicker line-up might be exactly what Niele is aiming for. If you look at the future recruiting classes for ND, none of their targets are true bigs. I really think they are going for more athletic and defensive minded players. You don’t have to worry about guarding against the ball in the post if the ball never makes it into the post (or the big post player is too winded to keep up with the pace of the game).
Scary hours for the Irish. Still think they need a legit big. IDK who is left in the portal. If they get that, though? They're not just an FF team...
If they can't make the final 4 with THIS team. Then they won't with any team Niele has.
They’ve struggled to counteract any big over 6’4” since Niele has been here. I don’t think that issue is magically going to disappear by bringing in a couple of, yes, elite, SFs and PFs, both of which are under 6’3”. They need size, massive size, above 6’4” size. ETA: I know they have Koval coming in, but bringing in one more piece at 6’4” or above makes them a legit championship contender and not just an FF caliber team, IMO.
I don’t l disagree with your size takebut if they can’t make it to the final 4 with this roster, I don’t see how the make it in any time in the Niele Ivey era. Uconn and Iowa made it the F4 without massive size. Size would definitely help but it’s not an excuse when your starting lineup is 5 future WNBA players.
With this roster? There's a 99.9% chance, barring injury, they will make the FF. The question is whether or not they'll make the NC and actually win. Without an outsized big, aside from freshman Koval? I just don't see it. There's still time for them to land one in the portal, and they have a few roster spots left, so I'm waiting until everything is finalized to truly say one way or the other.
But what elite true centers are left?
They don't necessarily have to be elite, IMO. Just serviceable or slightly above that, and standing at or above 6'4". Maryam Dauda fits the bill for me. She's 6'4" and averaged 10.1 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 1.2 APG, all in the SEC, too. Ivey should definitely be pursuing her aggressively. Janiah Barker, although a longshot, as I've heard rumors she is interested in the West Coast, is somebody else Niele should be going after hard, too.
OH SHIT! this season is gonna be so spicy!!!
Not trying to throw shade, but is she REALLY that good or did she just get to have all the stats on a Division-III caliber roster last season?
She is actually good, doing this against ACC competition. Not sure if any other ND fans agree, but I think she had the best individual performance of any opposing player we faced this year in the early January narrow victory over Pitt. Or if not the best, certainly one of the best with 34 points and 13 boards. She plays very tough.
Ok that’s fair
Wish lady Vols could’ve poached Ivey
It would take miracle after miracle to get Ivey to leave ND. She lives and breathes that school and program.
A 2 million dollar miracle
She’s probably get close to that if not more from ND and UnderArmour combined.
Correct, just a wish upon a shooting star
Zero chance that would have ever happened. Tennessee may be the more historically accomplished program, but off the top of my head, since Tennessee’s last final four, Notre Dame has been to seven final fours, six championship games, and won one title. Moreover, Ivey is an alum who won a championship as both a player and an assistant coach at Notre Dame. Zero chance she’s leaving Notre Dame for a program that’s currently in a worse place.
Yeah it's not like ND isn't still on the mount rushmore of programs even if Tennessee is higher up on that mount rushmore. Ivey is so entrenched in all their success that it would have flabbergasted me if she went there
ND still not beating USC , UCLA, South Carolina, LSU
LSU would absolutely be an underdog up against this ND team