October 13, 2011

Pete Sampson
IrishIllustrated.com Editor

Notre Dame might not want this kind of preseason anti-hype, but it's used to it.

Another Irish hoops media day came and went Wednesday, questions focused more on what Notre Dame lost than what it returns.

Minus Big East Player of the Year Ben Hansbrough, uber-athlete Carleton Scott and reliable rebounder Tyrone Nash, the Irish lost plenty from last season's 27-7 team that made the Big East title game and grabbed a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

As for what the Irish return, not even Mike Brey knows how he'll round out his starting lineup or where he'll turn on his bench first, second, third or fourth.

If Notre Dame's rotation was a finished product at this time last year, it's still shrink wrapped in the box today.

"I think it's like last year when people are going to underestimate us and we can kind of prove that we're as talented and as capable as anybody out there," said co-captain Tim Abromaitis. "I don't know if we like it, but it's kind of something we've gotten used to.

"It's definitely nice being the underdog sometimes because it keeps some of the pressure off of you. But I think we all have high expectations for ourselves and I think we're going to live up to them."

If Notre Dame makes its third straight NCAA Tournament it might require Brey's best coaching job. Beyond Abromaitis, Scott Martin and Eric Atkins, the Irish have a roster of question marks.

Can Jack Cooley stay in the starting lineup for more than five minutes at a time? Brey isn't sure with the junior's conditioning an apparent genetic issue. The Irish don't expect their one true post player to be available more than 30 minutes per game, likely forcing Brey to play small or rely on career reserve Tom Knight.

Can sophomore guards Alex Dragicevich and Jerian Grant become reliable scoring options? Dragicevich scored 20 points all last season. Grant took a red shirt after a stress reaction in his shin made him a non-option. There's a good chance both will play 20 minutes per game this season. If junior wing Joey Brooks can't find his footing, those minutes might increase.

"It's tough to know how somebody's going to respond when you throw them in the game," Abromaitis said. "People react differently."

Can Martin, Abromaitis and Atkins job share leadership, replacing the alpha dog void left by Hansbrough? The seniors are lead-by-example personalities, although Atkins may be finding his voice, essential as the team's only ball handler.

"Probably in my 12 years the most I've got to keep reminding myself about patience," Brey said. "Never have we counted on so many (inexperienced players) to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. I wouldn't say we're younger, we're just newer."

Standard to Brey's success will be a reliance on the old, captains Abromaitis and Martin likely on the bench only during timeouts. It wouldn't be a surprise if both played nearly 40 minutes per game, with Martin a potential post presence if Cooley lags.

With Abromaitis suspended for the first four games by the NCAA, the Irish will find out what they have early. Notre Dame opens Nov. 12 against Mississippi Valley State followed by three more home games against Detroit, Sam Houston State and Delaware State.

Abromaitis will return against Missouri in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 21.

"If we played tonight I feel we'd have four guys that have been in the battles," Brey said. "That's a pretty good place to start in college basketball, four guys that have really been in the battles and have had success in them."

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