Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/744639
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 7, 2016 55 MEN'S BASKETBALL last two years have kicked us into a new realm of stuff. It drives the confi- dence of that locker room." The talent drain of Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton after the 2014-15 season, then losing Demetrius Jackson and Zach Auguste off last year's team, has some doubting Notre Dame's ability to contend for an ACC title. Brey did not bring in five-star re- cruits to fill the voids. Notre Dame will try to soldier on with a veteran team in an era of one-and-done talent in college basketball. "We don't quite replace it like some other guys, but you're still old, you're still experienced," Brey said. "Can that save you on some nights you're out-athleted and out-physicaled?" ✦ 2016-17 NOTRE DAME MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent (TV) Time (ET) Nov. 1 Mercy! 7 p.m. Nov. 7 Catholic! 7 p.m. Nov. 12 Bryant 12 p.m. Nov. 16 Seattle 7 p.m. Nov. 18 Loyola (Md.) 7 p.m. Nov. 21 vs. Colorado# (ESPN2) 7 p.m. Nov. 22 vs. Texas or Northwestern# (ESPN2/U) 3:30 or 6 p.m. Nov. 26 Chicago State TBA Nov. 29 Iowa& (ESPN2) 9 p.m. Dec. 4 North Carolina A&T 5 p.m. Dec. 6 IPFW (ESPNU) 9 p.m. Dec. 10 vs. Villanova% (CBS) 12 p.m. Dec. 17 vs. Purdue^ (ESPN2) 2 p.m. Dec. 19 Colgate 7 p.m. Dec. 28 St. Peter's 7 p.m. Dec. 31 at Pittsburgh* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Jan. 4 Louisville* (ACCN) 9 p.m. Jan. 7 Clemson* (ACCN) 3 p.m. Jan. 12 at Miami* (ESPN/2) 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at Virginia Tech* (ACCN) 2 p.m. Jan. 18 at Florida State* (RSN) 7 p.m. Jan. 21 Syracuse* (ESPN/2) 12 p.m. Jan. 24 Virginia* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Georgia Tech* (ESPNU) 12 p.m. Jan. 30 Duke* (ESPN) 7 p.m. Feb. 4 at North Carolina* (ESPN/2) TBA Feb. 7 Wake Forest* (ESPNEWS) 7 p.m. Feb. 11 Florida State* (ESPN/2) 2 p.m. Feb. 14 at Boston College* (ESPNU) 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at NC State* (ESPN/2) 12 p.m. Feb. 26 Georgia Tech* (ESPNU) 6:30 p.m. Mar. 1 Boston College* (ACCN) 8 p.m. Mar. 4 at Louisville* (CBS) 2 p.m. Mar. 7-11 ACC Tournament$ TBA ! Exhibition; # Legends Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y.; & ACC-Big Ten Challenge; % Never Forget Tribute Classic in Newark, N.J.; ^ Crossroads Classic in In - dianapolis; * ACC game; $ at Brooklyn, N.Y.; ACCN — ACC Network; RSN — Regional Sports Network Duo Will Hold Down Point Guard Position Replacing the production of Demetrius Jackson at point guard was a major question mark for the Irish entering the season, but head coach Mike Brey feels confident in the two players he has at the spot. Junior Matt Farrell and freshman T.J. Gibbs will play the point for Notre Dame this year, a pair that gives the Irish what they need. Farrell, a native of Bridgewater, N.J., who originally committed to Boston College, was not expected to be a breakout star in the NCAA Tournament. In a 17-game stretch right before the Big Dance last year, he totaled 60 minutes of action and never made an appearance in eight of the contests. Then, in a move designed to take some of the pressure off Jackson, Brey inserted the 6-1, 178-pound Farrell as the starting point guard in all four NCAA Tournament games. Farrell responded well, averaging 26.8 minutes in his first four career starts. "It's funny because when they told me I was starting, it was nothing big," Farrell said. "People came over, tapped me on the shoulder and said, 'Alright let's go, it's your time.' It speaks volumes about the culture of our program. It's just staying patient and then trusting the system. "The way we play really helped me in that situation — not overthinking things. Coach Brey really lets us go out there and play freely. That run last year was important for me just confidence wise, being in a rhythm with these guys, especially guys that were returning. It's helped me a lot so far." Now back as one of the main leaders for the Irish, Farrell was handed the keys to the offense. "We gave him the ball," Brey said of Farrell. "I told him, 'You're the guy. I don't want any indecision. You're the guy to run the team.'" Gibbs, the younger brother of former major-college hoops players Ashton (Pittsburgh) and Sterling (Texas), is more of a point guard than his brothers, Brey noted. The coach said T.J. is ready to play ACC basketball as a freshman. That comes from the Scotch Plains, N.J., native's upbringing. "When they would go to the gym with their old man and play one-on-one, you had to imagine that T.J. had to fight for his life," Brey said of Gibbs. "Then he probably had to fight for food at night at the dinner table. There's a great toughness about him." Gibbs is expected to see time as the backup point guard behind Farrell, or the two could share some court time. — Matt Jones Junior Matt Farrell, who played a pivotal role in last year's NCAA Tournament run, will step in as the starter at point guard this season. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND