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2008 Notre Dame Basketball Picks & Predictions

Written by Luke Knight

Ninth year head coach Mike Brey has made two straight NCAA tournaments going 24-8 overall and finishing 4th in the Big East in 2007 and going 25-8 overall, finishing 14-4 in the Big East, and finishing tied for 2nd in the conference in 2008. Both years Notre Dame was expected to finish in the bottom half of the league. Well Notre Dame isn’t going to sneak up on their Big East conference foes this season, but instead will be dealing with talk of national top 5 finishes. The Irish only replace forward Rob Kurz who averaged 12.5 points and 7.1 boards last season. Keep reading our NCAA basketball predictions to see whether we think the Fighting Irish will continue to establish themselves as a Big East frontrunner and make a 3rd straight NCAA Tournament. Head over to BetUS where the Fighting Irish are 3-to-1 odds to win the Big East Conference.

Replacing Kurz will be no easy task, because to go with his numbers he also guarded the post, rebounded, and was the team’s best screener. All that just means Luke Harangody, the reigning Big East Player of the Year will be expected to carry a heavier load. Harangody caught the conference by surprise last season when he averaged 20.4 points and 10.6 rebounds overall and increased those numbers in Big East play to 23.3 points and 11.3 rebounds. Harangody will have to handle double teams quickly and for longer periods of time, which will allow him to kick the ball out to his supporting cast. Seniors Zach Hillesland and Luke Zeller will be expected to give Harangody help in the frontcourt. Zeller is a former Mr. Basketball from Indiana, but has not quite lived up to his billing despite his improved interior defense and his ability to hit the 3-pointer, which makes him difficult to defend.

Senior Kyle McAlarney and junior Tory Jackson will lead the backcourt this season. Both are smaller guards but they are both clutch. McAlarney averaged 15.1 points per game while hitting 44.1% of his 3-pointers and is generally considered to be the sharpshooter of the two. Jackson is a playmaker averaging 5.8 assists and 5.1 rebounds while playing tough defense. Ryan Ayers, a senior guard/forward, can also drop bombs from 3-point range as he made 45.1% last season. He also has the length to be a defensive stopper and a rebounding presence. Junior Jonathan Peoples averaged only 11.5 minutes and 3.3 points last season, but he shot 84.4% from the free throw line.

Final Analysis

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are used to playing without expectation, at least from the rest of the Big East Conference, and they have done quite well posting a 49-16 combined record the past two seasons, including 25-9 in the Big East. Now the Irish will have to prove they can play up to the expectations of the country, which means they need to continue to play well in the Big East, but also they need to get deeper in the NCAA Tournament. Harangody is one of the top big men in the nation, and he has the supporting cast to make this team very dangerous all season, including in March. With our NCAA basketball picks we have them competing for the top spot in the Big East, which means they should have no trouble getting an NCAA bid. The Fighting Irish will be a dangerous team when March rolls around and we could see them making an Elite Eight appearance this season. BetUS has Notre Dame at 40-to-1 odds to win the NCAA title so keep an eye on the Fighting Irish when doing your basketball betting this season.

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