As of this moment, Notre Dame's hoop team looks solid and offers lots of promise. But it would be wise to withhold judgment about Mike Brey's spirited team until much later. After all, the treacherous Big East schedule is barely underway and there are plenty of potential landmines laying in ND's path.
Yes, the early returns are encouraging and trending toward the positive but it would be prudent to wait before coming to any concrete conclusions. If the Domers were a political candidate, we'd say he's looking good but we would also suggest a cautionary viewpoint about his chances because not all the precincts have reported. There are still a lot of votes, err, games out there.
But right now, the signs are truly hopeful for the Irish cagers. Winners of 10 straight, the Domers took care of some critical Big East business last week by downing two solid clubs in West Virginia and Connecticut. Holding serve at home in conference games is critical for the Irish if they have serious aspirations of making the NCAA Tournament.
ND has now won 30 consecutive contests at the Joyce Center dating back to 2006. That's an impressive run and a clear indication that the Irish have established a real home court advantage. As mentioned above, it's essential that they maintain it if their current season is to conclude in a successful fashion.
One reason why the Irish are rolling is that they are getting huge contributions from two key players. While big body Luke Harangody was the stud versus West Virginia with a monster effort (29 points, 16 rebounds ), it was the determined and savvy Kyle McAlarney who saved the day against UConn.
With ND hemorrhaging badly during a tentative second half, it was the confident 6'1" guard from Staten Island who nailed vital shots down the stretch that kept the Irish afloat and ultimately put them in the winner's circle.
McAlarney is really coming on in this his junior season. He brings a presence and cocksure attitude off of which his teammates feed. When he's in a groove and stroking it from the outside, the guy's electric.
McAlarney could have taken the easy way out and bailed South Bend after his much ballyhooed suspension of last year. Instead, he took his medicine and came back a vastly wiser and more mature young man. Now, highly motivated and energized by how his peers and the Domer fans have welcomed him back into the fold, he's on the verge of a breakout season. It couldn't happen to a more deserving kid.
Though the pair of Big East wins at home bodes well, that doesn't mean ND didn't experience any hiccups. Most disturbing was the fact that the Irish blew a 21-pt. lead to UConn and actually allowed the Huskies to overtake them. If not for some heroics from McAlarney and Rob Kurz, who drilled a massive trifecta, ND would have suffered one of the most demoralizing losses in their history.
Flat out, there's no excuse whatsoever to permit a lead of that size to dissipate. By doing so, the Irish raised a red flag about their defensive competency. As the Huskies were rapidly getting themselves back into the game, ND was springing leaks in all sorts of ways. The Irish allowed way too many interior passes, did a poor job of negating deep penetration, were noticeably deficient at blocking out and had a devil of a time getting the big stop when they needed it. If the Domers had just been sounder at the defensive end, they would have won in a breeze instead of having to sweat out a nail-biter.
You can't always count on your offense because on occasion it will wane and disappear but you must be able to rely on your "D" to be a constant and keep you competitive. If the Irish are to be a serious factor in the Big East, they must shore up and tighten their effort at the defensive end.
While watching the UConn-Irish tilt, another observation came immediately to mind. When it comes to pure athleticism, ND can't measure up to teams like the Huskies and plenty of others in the league. The Irish simply don't have the raw physical skills possessed by many of their opponents. They lack the quicks, size, jumping ability and sheer power of more than a few of their foes.
But that doesn't mean that the Domers are without talent. Far from it. Harangody is an effective banger and a handful underneath. The seasoned Kurz is an active and productive player. Guard Tory Jackson is a wonder at times with his multitude of skills although he does need to rein himself in a bit and show more self control. McAlarney is a legit threat with both his shooting and passing. And role players like Ryan Ayers, Zach Hillesland, Luke Zeller and Jonathan Peoples are all capable of having their moments.
Yet, when it comes pure physical ability, the Irish won't often win on that basis. So they must continue to take games in other ways. Such as with their offensive execution, their smarts, their tenacity as well as with their perseverance and heart. Thus far, they've been able to do so and excelling in these areas must be sustained. Throw in a more determined defensive commitment and this team might be on to something. But only time will tell because though the early returns look good, they're hardly conclusive.
This Saturday's match-up with Marquette looms large in the big picture. It will provide the Domers with a major test. If the Irish can continue their momentum and steal a road win from the No. 16 Golden Eagles, then it might be time to get on the bandwagon. The Irish would then have to be considered for real and would surely make their way into the Top 25.
If not, then it figures to be a weekly struggle to determine whether ND has the wherewithal to make it to the Big Dance. In that case, we probably won't know about Mike Brey's squad until that final conference game is in the books. Or, to use a political analogy, until all the votes are in.
Here's hoping the Irish won't be in need of a recount.