Notre Dame Basketball Preview 2021

PreviewsNCAAMACC BasketballNotre Dame Fighting Irish

Oct 29

Our Notre Dame basketball preview 2021 - 22 observes that it’s been four years since the Fighting Irish have made a March Madness appearance. It’s also been that long since they posted a winning ACC record. Last year, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-15 Overall, 7-11 ACC) finished 11th in the ACC. Head coach Mike Brey (448-228 Notre Dame/21 years, 547-330 Overall/26 years) has a lot of talent and depth returning, which should help him get the Irish back to the NCAA Tournament. Still, Notre Dame must play consistently down the stretch. Something they could not do last season.

Fighting Irish Frontcourt

Big Man Juwan Durham, who last season averaged 10.7 PPG and 5.5 RPG, is gone. It’s hoped that graduate transfer and Ivy League Co-Player of the Year Paul Atkinson (Yale) can replace him. In 2019-20 for Old Eli, he averaged 17.6 PPG and 7.3 RPG. Our Notre Dame basketball preview 2021 - 22 notes that Atkinson joined the Irish because he wanted to help them get back to the NCAA Tournament. Nate Laszewski, who had a breakthrough season last year averaging 13.3 PPG and 7.3 RPG while hitting 58.9 percent of his field goals, rounds out the paint. One concern upfront is depth.

Notre Dame Basketball Preview – Backcourt

There is plenty of experience in back, as Prentiss Hubb, Dane Goodwin, Cormac Ryan, and Trey Wertz return. Together, the quartet averaged 47.1 PPG and 15.5 RPG. Plus, the four have played over 300 college basketball games. Hubb was good for 5.8 APG. Recruit Blake Wesley, a top-100 prospect, joins the team. He’s likely to get playing time.