After a few unproductive Marches for Notre Dame, Mike Brey's team finally has an opportunity to make some real noise in some tournament settings.
The veteran head coach seems to like his team's chances to do just that. After Saturday's win against Pitt Brey said that he's "never been more excited about taking a team into the postseason… this group excites me as much as Hansbrough's group or Jerian and Pat’s group”
Mike Brey seems to think his group has the makings of a team that can play deep into March. When looking at his roster, there's a few glaring reasons as to why he thinks that.
The Offense
Notre Dame's offensive numbers haven't quite been as good as in past years, but the system and talent haven't dropped off.
Mike Brey has an offense built for March, at all times Notre Dame has at least four high level shooters on the floor and if they can't get any of them going they have a polished safety blanket to turn to. This year's team has also learned to play like veterans, they share the ball, they don't turn it over much, they take good shots, and on top of that they have two guys who can create offense for others at a high level in Blake Wesley and Prentiss Hubb.
This year's Notre Dame offense has multiple dimensions as well, Brey has had explosive offenses plently of years, but his best teams have had a big man they can dump it down to in order to get a quick bucket. This group has that in Paul Atkinson and it's been the difference between an offense that can be really good and one that is really good.
Explosive offenses win in March and Notre Dame fits that bill.
Guard Play
There's a simple saying, Guards win in March...
If this Notre Dame team has had anything to hang their hat on over the course of the season, it's just that... guardplay.
Nearly 70% of Notre Dame's total points in 2021-22 have come from their five rotational guards. Mike Brey hasn't been entirely reliant on anyone to win games, but it's clear that as his guards go the Irish go. The veteran coach built this team around having an abundance of old guys, with one young guy mixed in, that know how to play with each other, who can put it on the floor, shoot it at a high level, and who make good decisions.
It's all started to come together at the right time for Notre Dame and it's largely been because of their high level guards hitting their stride and making plays when they need to.
If the Irish put together a magical run, it'll likely be on the back of their deep backcourt, and by all accounts Mike Brey is comfortable with that.
They Know How to Win
Notre Dame's experience has been obvious this season through the way the Irish have closed games, even when they haven't been at their best they've rarely dropped league games.
Whether it's come from a big shot by Prentiss Hubb or Blake Wesley, the Irish getting a stop when they need to, or a few big free throws from Dane Goodwin, the Irish have found ways to win even when they aren't at their best. This hasn't gone unnoticed from Mike Brey either "We love hard games. We've been in them more than anybody else. I think it has been an advantage."
Notre Dame's "old guys" are finally playing like veterans at the end of games and the way Notre Dame has learned how to close out games could help them to sneak out a win or two in March.
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