For the Notre Dame basketball team, this was supposed to be a memorable season. Expectations were sky high and a preseason top ten ranking seemed to indicate the Irish were primed to take a spot among the nation's elite.
Everything looked to be in place for a splendid year. But, needless to say, things aren't playing out the way the Domers had hoped. Right now, coach Mike Brey's team is scuffling and struggling.
On the heels of consecutive Big East losses to Louisville and Syracuse, ND is currently saddled with a disappointing 3 and 3 conference mark. And with a murderous stretch of games still awaiting them, the Irish could be in a world of hurt if they don't make an immediate correction.
It's not out of the realm of possibility that this once promising season could deteriorate into something ugly. And that unhappy prospect could happen sooner rather than later.
The reason ND finds itself in such an underachieving state is quite obvious. It doesn't take a chalkboard genius to diagnose what ails the Irish. To put it in a nutshell, Notre Dame is a team with a real and serious issue. One that must be remedied quickly or else this group might not even make the NCAA Tournament, let alone be a factor in the Big East.
Though there are other areas that could be cited, the most blatant shortcoming of this Irish squad is that beyond the Big Three of stud Luke Harangody and gifted guards Kyle McAlarney and Tory Jackson, the Domers are getting no consistent contributions from anyone else. Too often, it's been the aforementioned trio against the world with scant assistance from other teammates. Suffice to say, Harangody, McAlarney and Jackson could definitely use another helping hand, no matter who is the source.
Oh sure, starters Ryan Ayers and Zach Hillesland as well as top sub Luke Zeller have had their moments but they've been too few and far between. None of these seniors has enjoyed any kind of a sustained run. The harsh truth is that you never know from game to game what you'll get from these three. They're mystery men personified.
Yes, occasionally they're good but more often than not, what they offer isn't nearly enough.
You probably have to accept and just learn to live with the erratic nature of Ayers and Zeller because they're primarily long-distance shooters whose influence fluctuates wildly depending on how they're stroking it from the outside.
But, fairly or unfairly, Hillesland must be considered in a totally different light. He's central to ND's fortunes because so much was expected of him. Also, because he occupies a vital forward spot and primarily operates from down low, his overall importance can't be minimized.
For the Irish to truly thrive, Hillesland must make inroads in multiple areas such as scoring, rebounding, interior passing and on the defensive end. ND can't afford to have him turn in mediocre or lackluster performances. And yet, that's basically what Hillesland has been producing as of late.
When the 6-9 senior had a stellar game against DePaul ( 17 points ) in the conference opener, it looked like Hillesland was ready to become more than just a complementary player. He'd risen to the occasion versus the Blue Demons and promising things appeared in store. It seemed as if the Irish had finally found a viable fourth option.
But Hillesland's boffo effort against DePaul has proven to be the exception and nowhere near the rule. In all probability, it was nothing more than a mirage. There's no getting around the fact that Zach has digressed since that standout game, scoring in order 4,2,5,6 and 0 points in his five subsequent contests.
Much to their dismay, the Irish simply haven't been able to count on him. And his lack of production, across the board, is crippling his team.
No one can question Hillesland's commitment on the court. There's no doubting that the 22-year-old tries and competes hard. But as far as execution and getting it done during crunch time, Hillesland leaves a lot to be desired. And if he hasn't developed into a dependable alternative by now, well into his final year, the chances are he never will.
Hillesland's underachievement only serves to underscore just how crucial the departed Rob Kurz was to the success of the Irish over the previous two years. Constantly undervalued, Kurz was a major contributor who continually put up solid numbers. Kurz was always willing to mix it up and do the dirty work underneath. And unlike Hillesland, he often was at his best during the crucible of a game.
There's no question that Kurz left a sizable hole in the Domer lineup when he vacated the scene. But who knew his loss would be so acutely felt. The consensus around the program was that Hillesland was more than prepared and capable of stepping in and compensating for Kurz's absence. Brey and his lieutenants were convinced Hillesland could become the real deal. Sadly, that has proven to be wishful thinking.
If it's possible, Brey must somehow find a way to awaken Hillesland from his slumber and get him to be a force, instead of just somebody filling out a uniform. The time clock on Hillesland's career is winding down. Whether he'll make the most of the opportunities left to him is the looming question.
But one thing's for sure. If Hillesland doesn't assert himself immediately, the Irish could soon be going down.