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Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2001: 20-10)

The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I teams, be sure to order the 2001-02 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.

Program overview

Nobody was all that surprised when Troy Murphy announced he wouldn't be returning for his senior year at Notre Dame. He had flirted with an early exit after the 1999-00 season, and his performance during Mike Brey's debut had kept his draft stock in the late-lottery range. It was time to move on.

Still, Brey didn't consider life without Murphy until the big forward made his announcement. Then, he acted. He summoned the Irish players to his house for an informal meeting and issued the challenge.

It was time for seniors David Graves, Ryan Humphrey and Harold Swanagan to assume the leadership role they had deferred to Murphy for the last three seasons. If Notre Dame was to make a run at a third-straight 20-win season, something it hadn't accomplished since the Irish had gone five straight seasons with that many from 1983-89, then the seniors in the program would have to take charge.

"It was always Troy's program, and rightly so," Brey said. "When Troy announced, we met, and I said I was excited for Ryan, Harold and David. They were going to get more of the stage, but now they have to back it up."

They certainly must. Without Murphy, the Irish have no proven commodity, only a group of strong complementary parts who distinguished themselves at times last year but offered no evidence that any would be able to carry a team, the way Murphy had.

That's why Brey was careful to put the onus on his three seniors, who along with junior wing Matt Carroll, will be asked to do the heavy lifting this season. If there were just one individual asked to assume the spotlight, Brey might feel a little shaky. Because he has four veterans, he can head into the season confident the Irish have the ability to contend in the Big East's West Division.

Unfortunately, the Irish have no go-to scorer and will likely be handing the reins of the team to a freshman point guard. That's not an indictment, merely fact.

It's possible that Graves or Carroll could each blossom into 18-points-a-night men on the perimeter, and Humphrey could do the same inside. And if Brey is right about the skills and potential of freshman point Chris Thomas from Pike High School in Indianapolis, Ind., the Irish might just be all right at the point.

Backcourt

The team will be big all over. With the exception of Thomas, who goes 6-1, 165, every scholarship player on the roster is at least 6-4. The Irish also have, in Graves, Carroll and probably Thomas, some excellent three-point shooters.

The key will be how well Thomas adapts to 30 minutes a night with the ball. He certainly has the potential. The first-ever Indiana Mr. Basketball to enroll at Notre Dame, Thomas averaged 23.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.7 steals last year while playing predominantly the two-guard spot.

Thomas played in the McDonald's All-America game and scored 11 points in 20 minutes of action. Thomas is quick in transition and capable of driving to the basket. Unlike Martin Inglesby, who started the last four years and brought steady play and reliable shooting, Thomas is more of a new-school point.

The backup situation should be in the hands of 6-4 sophomore Chris Markwood from South Portland (Maine) High School. He underwent knee surgery last September to repair some damage at the top of his tibia that included some nerve trouble and was given a 50-50 chance of playing ball again. Brey reports that he looked good in scrimmages toward the end of last year and was fine this summer, so he should be able to give the Irish some minutes.

The 6-6 Carroll (12.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.8 apg) shot .409 from three-point range last year and has the ability to be a deadly scorer. But he must get a little more selfish at times and avoid deferring to his teammates. Perhaps with Murphy gone, Carroll will do that.

The Irish are hoping to get some help behind Carroll from 6-4 sophomore Torrian Jones (1.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg), who saw only 6.9 minutes a game last year and rarely had an opportunity to show what he could do.

Frontcourt

Graves (13.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg) goes 6-6 and has been in Murphy's shadow since arriving at Notre Dame. That's not such a bad thing, because it has allowed him to develop gradually to the point where he can be counted on for consistent, big-time production. Though Graves will never approach Murphy's numbers, he does have a good outside shot and can make some things happen off the dribble.

Graves will team with the 6-7 Swanagan (4.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and the 6-8 Humphrey (14.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, .505 FG) in the starting frontcourt. Humphrey had a nice debut for the Irish, after sitting out the 1999-00 season after his transfer from Oklahoma. A powerful inside player who can step out, Humphrey must become more consistent this year, now that Murphy is gone.

Swanagan is a great screener, a hustling defender and a solid physical presence who has dropped some weight and should be able to play 30-35 minutes a night, something his flagging stamina prevented him from doing last year.

The two players with the best shots of seeing double-figure minutes up front are 6-9 freshman Jordan Cornette from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati and 6-9 junior Jere Macura (1.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg).

Cornette was initially recruited by former Notre Dame coach Matt Doherty and decided to honor his commitment to the school after meeting the affable Brey. He averaged 14.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.0 blocks last year. He had his knee scoped during the summer and should be ready to practice.

Macura can step out on the wing and shoot some, although he made just one of 14 three-point shots last year. He averaged 7.7 minutes last year but could see that total fade, if he doesn't defend better and hit the boards some.

Brey also would like to see 6-11 sophomore Tom Timmermans (0.9 ppg, 0.7 rpg), who saw only 36 minutes of playing time last year, exert himself somewhat inside. Though not possessing much offensive polish, Timmermans is a bruising 248-pounder with the ability to bang with the Big East's beefier players. Don't expect a lot from him, but he has the potential to help out some on the boards.

Bottom line

Murphy may be gone, but the Fighting Irish are not destitute. The return of four experienced hands gives Notre Dame the potential to play some smart, team-oriented basketball.

Meanwhile, the arrivals of Thomas and Cornette and expected health of Markwood could bring some needed depth and quickness to the team. Humphrey, Graves and Carroll may not be able to put up 20 every night, but they will force defenses to guard the whole floor. If Humphrey works the baseline early, there will be three-pointers available on the wings, and Notre Dame could score a bunch of points.

Of course, all of this depends on whether Thomas is able to distribute, as well as create for himself. The freshman needs to realize that there are some offensive options around him and that feeding them is the first priority. If that happens, the Irish will be all right.

The first year post Murphy should be fine in South Bend. There is experience. There are some scoring options, and even though Murphy has moved on, Notre Dame will be able to rebound.

Notre Dame will look a little different and should be more willing (and able) to run some. That third-straight 20-win season might be tough to negotiate, but Notre Dame could make a real run at an NCAA Tournament berth.