It's the Post Play, Stupid!

What was the biggest problem with ND basketball over the past few years? Recent upset wins over Alabama and Maryland have shown improved spacing and movement. This can be attributed to more versatile post players than the low post oriented players of the past few years.

Torrin Francis would have been good at another program. However, he was not a good fit for what Brey is trying to do. He was not very mobile, was a poor dribbler, and was a worse passer. He would have been better off playing for a coach that used a more traditional big man. A coach like that would have taught him to secure the ball and go straight up with a shot. However, he was asked to look for open teammates while at ND, which slowed down his shot and tampered his development.

Brey has been more successful with players that are more well rounded. Murphy and Humphrey could score in a variety of ways when facing the basket and were equally adept at finding open teammates. Kurz, Harrongody, Hillesland, and Zeller fit this role, as did guys like Parks and Laettner at Duke. Player development always looks better when you have players that fit what you are trying to do.

With smarter recruiting of players that fit his system, Brey can survive at ND. The Maryland and Alabama games proved that. He has a good team that fits what he is trying to do and a head start on making the NCAA tournament right now. Anything less than that would be a disappointment at this point.