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Notre Dame Fighting Irish (Last Year: 23-12, 10-8 in Big East)
2010-11 Projected Depth Chart:
F/C: Tyrone Nash (Sr)/Mike Broghammer (So)/Thomas Knight (Fr)
F: Carleton Scott (Sr)/Jack Cooley (So)
SF: Tim Abromaitis (Sr)/Scott Martin (Jr)/Alex Dragicevich (Fr)
SG: Ben Hansbrough (Sr)/Joey Brooks (So)/Jerian Grant (Fr)
PG: Eric Atkins (Fr)
Gone: F/C- Luke Harangody, PG-Tory Jackson, G-Jonathan Peoples, F-Tim Andree
2010-11 Outlook:
With a 6-8 Big East mark and Luke Harangody sidelined for an undetermined time, it seemed the Fighting Irish would finish with a second-straight disappointing season and miss out on the NCAA Tournament. But Mike Brey switched it up without the Leprechaun F@#$^&, playing a slowed-down style that helped Notre Dame revive their season.
That the Irish were able to adjust without Harangody is an encouraging sign for this upcoming season. Perhaps a bigger loss is that of starting point guard Tory Jackson who was not a stat stuffer, but epitomized what is inferred when talking about a floor general. The only true point guard on the roster is freshman Eric Atkins although Ben Hansbrough is capable of running the point as well. How this duo handles the full-time responsibility of taking over at the point may be the difference between the Irish dancing or having their bubble burst.
Tim Abromaitis came out of nowhere to be a dynamic wing scorer averaging 16.1 ppg while shooting nearly 43 percent from downtown. The addition of Scott Martin should give the Irish another Abromaitis-like player in terms of his versatility on the offensive end. Martin is a 6-8 wing player who has not played in two years after sitting out a season because his transfer from Purdue and then an ACL injury prior to last season.
Up front, it will be a collective effort to replace Harangody. Tyrone Nash started all 35 games last season and should be joined by Carleton Scott unless Brey chooses to go with a smaller lineup by starting Abromaitis and Martin at the forward positions. Nash and Scott are not the most skilled inside players but bring their high motors and work ethic to the floor. Harangody’s look-alike, and therefore my new least favorite player in the Big East, Jack Cooley will provide some muscle inside as freshmen Mike Broghammer and Thomas Knight will also compete for playing time.
Player to Watch: Tim Abromaitis, SF
Abromaitis is a nightmare of a matchup for opposing coaches. He can stroke it from the outside, put the ball on the deck and also use his height to post up smaller defenders. For a player who had 20 career points heading into last season, his development is quite incredible. Can he take another step in productivity? If so, the Irish will have a dangerous trio on the wing with Abromaitis, Martin and Hansbrough.
Key Non-Conference Games:
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