IFP Hoops - Week 1

This Week
Notre Dame beat St. Ambrose (109-53) and St. Edwards (71-56) in exhibition play this week. Senior forward Rob Kurtz led the team in scoring in both games. Junior forward Zach Hillesland had a double-double vs. St. Ambrose and sophomore forward Luke Harangody had 15 points and 8 rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench vs. St. Edwards.

Next Week
The Irish open the 2007-08 regular season on Monday Nov 12 at the Joyce vs. Long Island from the Northeast Conference. The Blackbirds lose their top 2 players (to graduation) from a 19-loss 2006-07 squad that was decimated by injuries and finished 10th (second to last) in the league. 6-5 forward Eugene Kotorobai is likely the Birds’ best returning player (40% three point FG accuracy last year).

Miscellaneous Irish Hoops
Harangody, the Irish’ 2nd leading rebounder and Big East All Rookie team member last year as a freshman, tore a ligament in his right thumb in practice on Oct 15 and was initially not expected to return before Thanksgiving. His early and healthy return is great news.

Kurtz, the lone senior on the roster, was named captain for the second straight year.

Junior guard Kyle McAlarney returns to school and to the Irish lineup this season following last year’s pot possession rap. He will need to be both a scorer and playmaker for Notre Dame this season given Colin Fall’s graduation and Brey’s reported up tempo intentions. McAlarney played major minutes and knocked down 5 three pointers in the two Irish exhibitions. A good start.

Other Week 1 Games of Interest
DePaul at Creighton (Friday Nov 9)
Illinois-Chicago vs. Bradley (Sat Nov 10)
Illinois-Chicago vs. Illinois-Springfield (Tues Nov 13)
Butler at Ball State (Fri Nov 9)
Butler vs. Indiana State (Wed Nov 14)
Indiana vs. Chattanooga (Mon Nov 12)
Illinois vs. Northeastern (Mon Nov 12)

Chatter
Given that the Big East has gone to 18 conference games (from 16), IFP is not sure why DePaul feels the need to start their season on the road in front of 15K+ Blue Jay faithful in Omaha. The Demons’ schedule would more than tough enough to appease the RPI gods without this trip. Sammy Meija and Wilson Chandler (both NBA draftees last June) will be missed – DePaul will very likely start a true freshman at point guard and could frankly use a little Long Island Blackbird love in a home opener rather than a ritual spanking in front of a frothed-up MoVal crowd.

It’s always something, when you’re a UIC Flames fan. Either your head coach is having a aneurysm and passing out on the bench, or your assistant coach is getting sued by a player for sexual harassment (yuck), or your best returning player and one of the better returning players in the Horizon League is transferring to a local JC after taking a bullet at a summer family get-together. Enough already. Junior guard Josh Mayo, a 40+% three point shooter, and 6-11, 250 junior center Scott VanderMeer (a Bowling Green transfer who was 4th in the nation in blocked shots for UIC last year) should form a decent inside-outside combo for the ’07-08 Flames. Depth will be an issue, however. UIC will likely struggle with Bradley, who returns an experienced and gifted backcourt and a noteworthy infusion of JUCO talent from a 22-win team a year ago, but should have enough for the UI-Springfield Simpsons.

The world is spinning in greased grooves, at least on the near north side of Indianapolis, as the Butler Bulldogs are once again tagged as preseason chalk in the H-League. Last year’s historic run will be tough to top (Preseason NIT title, Horizon League regular season title, #5 seed in the NCAA tournament, and a Sweet Sixteen appearance where they pushed eventual NCAA tournament champ Florida harder than anyone in the dance including Ohio State, in IFP’s view). Having by far the best returning guard tandem in the league is a good place to start, however (Graves and Green).

Gardner-Webb never trailed at Kentucky on Wednesday night, led by 11 at half, out-shot the Cats, out-rebounded the Cats, and got to the FT line more than the Cats. Tough night for Billy Clyde. An ass whipping home loss to the Running Bulldogs was probably not exactly what the “can Tubby” contingent had in mind.

Sources/References
2007-08 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook
Sporting News 2007-08 College Basketball
www.espn.com
http://und.cstv.com