Giving Women's Basketball Some Love

[IrishInOntario]

While Muffet has had a great deal of consistent success at Notre Dame, she's obviously failed to overcome Geno and UCONN. What people often fail to realize, however, is that up until recently, Notre Dame's success has been on the backs of primarily quality recruits, but only recently has Notre Dame started to successfully recruit the nation's best players. To put things into perspective, the graduating class of Michaela Mabrey, Madison Cable, Hannah Huffman were ranked #33, #52 and #52 in their respective classes (2011, and 2012)... You may think those are pretty damn good recruits (relative to ND football for example), but consider the quality of the players that ND has landed in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 classes.

2014
Brianna Turner: 5 star, #2 overall (#2 forward)
Kathryn Westbeld: 5 star, #21 overall (#4 forward)

2015
Arike Ogunbowale: 5 star, #10 overall (#4 point guard)
Ali Patberg: 5 star, #13 overall (#1 guard)
Marina Mabrey: 5 star, #24 overall (#4 guard)

2016
Erin Boley: 5 star, #5 overall (#3 forward)
Jackie Young: 5 star, #11 overall (#3 guard)

The last seven players that Muffet has brought to South Bend (Sophomore class down to incoming freshman class) have all been 5 star players and none of them have been ranked outside of the top 25 players in their respective classes, while 4 of them have been ranked inside the top 15 (and three inside the top 10). The Notre Dame program is going to get over the hump eventually. Muffet has always been able to hang with Geno on the court, but he's a fantastic coach and he always managed to outrecruit Notre Dame at UCONN. ND is pulling even in their younger classes. One more highly rated class in 2017 will give McGraw a team composed solely of McDonald's All Americans, among the very top players in their respective classes. Don't expect the winning to stop in South Bend for quite some time and at age 60, if McGraw's passion for the game and health stay intact, allowing her to coach for another 5-6 years, expect her to retire among the top 5 winningest coaches in NCAA women's basketball history, along with the likes of Pat Summit, Geno Auriemma and Tara VanDerveer and Sylvia Hatchell.

Edit Note

I just wanted to make it clear that Notre Dame has recruited top players in the past, but that while Muffet and her staff had always managed to land a top player in their respective class, there was a significant drop off between said player and the remaining players in the class. For example, both Skylar Diggins and Jewel Lloyd were top 5 players in their classes, however, ND did not land another top 25 player in either of those classes, where as they've landed multiple top 25 players in their 3 most recent classes. Had Ali Patberg not suffered a season-ending injury, Notre Dame would be even better. She's going to be a huge part of ND's future.

ND should be deep and deadly in 2016 with this projected lineup...

PG: Lindsey Allen (SR)
G: Arike Ogunbowale (Soph)
G: Marina Mabrey (Soph)
F: Kathryn Westbeld (JR)
F: Brianna Turner (JR)

Bench
G: Ali Patberg (Soph)
G: Jackie Young (FR)
G: Mychal Johnson (JR)
F: Erin Boley (FR)

 

[Izo]

Muffet is also pursuing the #1 rated high school girl's player in 6'1" Megan Walker from Virginia and 6'3" ,6'4" players in Williams from Texas, Vaughn from Pennsylvania , Patterson from New York . One Achilles heel of McGraw 's team is a lack of height with only 6'3" Brianna Turner and 6'2" Katryn Westbeld as being the only players with any size on the Irish . The Irish girls were out rebounded in several games but still won .

Happy ,but also surprised the Irish women lost ( to UConn) only 1 regular season game . This year's team was not the most talented of McGraw 's teams and they had to gut out some games ,but they play with a little abandon and leave it all out on the
floor.

 

[IrishInOntario]

At 6'2, Boley will help on the glass as well. She's a stretch 4 type with some athleticism and she's about the same size as Westbeld... Taya Reimer not working out at ND really hurt. She was the #4 overall players in her class and at 6'4, she was the center ND needed. Turner is really an athletic 4 who can block shots and defend a lot of centers. ND really needs to land 2 6'4 centers that can run. It seems that we're in agreement there.

 

[11NCs]

Muffet is also pursuing the #1 rated high school girl's player in 6'1" Megan Walker from Virginia and 6'3" ,6'4" players in Williams from Texas, Vaughn from Pennsylvania , Patterson from New York . One Achilles heel of McGraw 's team is a lack of height with only 6'3" Brianna Turner and 6'2" Katryn Westbeld as being the only players with any size on the Irish . The Irish girls were out rebounded in several games but still won .

Happy ,but also surprised the Irish women lost ( to UConn) only 1 regular season game . This year's team was not the most talented of McGraw 's teams and they had to gut out some games ,but they play with a little abandon and leave it all out on the
floor.

Turner did not play vs UConn this year. We'll have a better shot in tournament with Turner playing.

 

[Izo]

Taya Reimer ? Reading somewhere that she completes her Notre Dame Degree this spring and is transferring . 2 years of eligibility left since she only played in 5-6 games this year ? Recovering from an Achilles heel injury ? Wouldn't she still have 2 years of eligibility left since she only played in a few games this season ? McGraw will not discuss if Reimer would come back until after the season , and Reimer is not waiting for McGraw ,so she wants to transfer to a a top program. Is Reimer not in McGraw 's and Notre Dame's future plans and Reimer should move on ?

 

[greengael]

At 6'2, Boley will help on the glass as well. She's a stretch 4 type with some athleticism and she's about the same size as Westbeld... Taya Reimer not working out at ND really hurt. She was the #4 overall players in her class and at 6'4, she was the center ND needed. Turner is really an athletic 4 who can block shots and defend a lot of centers. ND really needs to land 2 6'4 centers that can run. It seems that we're in agreement there.

Living here in CT. and following the Women of UCONN for almost 20 years it looks like Geno is going after some backcourt three stars and one five star currently committed to go with last years four five stars and one very promising transfer center who has two years of playing left after this season.Muffet will need to recruit at the current level for a few years to stand toe to toe with Geno. She does however exhibit no fear/intimidation when facing UConn and has had success in the past to call upon.This years matchup will tell us a lot!. IIO did you apply for the posted recruiting special teams position at the school in Sandy Hill?

 

[IrishHerb]

Taya Reimer ? Reading somewhere that she completes her Notre Dame Degree this spring and is transferring . 2 years of eligibility left since she only played in 5-6 games this year ? Recovering from an Achilles heel injury ? Wouldn't she still have 2 years of eligibility left since she only played in a few games this season ? McGraw will not discuss if Reimer would come back until after the season , and Reimer is not waiting for McGraw ,so she wants to transfer to a a top program. Is Reimer not in McGraw 's and Notre Dame's future plans and Reimer should move on ?

No idea why Reimer didn't seem to fit in at ND. Remember last year she left the team for "personal reasons" but then came back after a couple of games. Then again this year, she left after only 5 or 6 games.

Wonder if she simply didn't get along with the other girls? Or didn't she like Muffet's style of play? We'll probably never know. But having someone "big" both tall and a bit husky would have helped this year. Turner and Westbeld aren't as big and therefore don't rebound quite as well.

 

[IrishHerb]

Ladies started off slow today against Duke. But then pulled away in the 2nd and 3 quarters.

Got 42 of their 83 points from their bench, mostly from their freshmen Mabrey and Ogunbowale.

 

[Izo]

Next year , sophomores Marina Mabrey,Arike Ogunbowale , injured Ali Patberg plus frosh Erin Boley ,Jackie Young and juniors Kathyrn Westbeld and Bianna Turner ,and senior Lindsey Allen will again be a top 10 program . 6'4" K. Nelson can be a big help spelling Turner and Westbeld here and there .

UConn loses all world woman's player B. Stewart , plus Jefferson and others after this year ,but will still be very formidable with all the 4-5 star bench players . Maryland, Baylor in particular, Ohio State , South Carolina, Texas A&M ,Oklahoma , Louisville, Notre Dame ,etc are having very good recruiting . I expect them to narrow the gap with UConn. This year UConn is unbeatable .Next year, a different scenario.

 

[IrishHerb]

Next year , sophomores Marina Mabrey,Arike Ogunbowale , injured Ali Patberg plus frosh Erin Boley ,Jackie Young and juniors Kathyrn Westbeld and Bianna Turner ,and senior Lindsey Allen will again be a top 10 program . 6'4" K. Nelson can be a big help spelling Turner and Westbeld here and there .

UConn loses all world woman's player B. Stewart , plus Jefferson and others after this year ,but will still be very formidable with all the 4-5 star bench players . Maryland, Baylor in particular, Ohio State , South Carolina, Texas A&M ,Oklahoma , Louisville, Notre Dame ,etc are having very good recruiting . I expect them to narrow the gap with UConn. This year UConn is unbeatable .Next year, a different scenario.

UConn looks unbeatable this year, BUT they have lapses every once in a while. Last week, I think, they trailed USF at the half, but then recovered and won big. If they have a lapse like that against a better team, they may find themselves unable to recover in time.

Thats why the games are played. You never know what might happen.

 

[Izo]

Auriemma uses a game like USF as a motivation . Probably instills in his players that if they play a game like this in the NCAAs they will lose . UConn steam rolled through the weakest women's major college (AAC ) conference in the country . AAC is bad . You didn't really think that inspite of USF 's half time lead , that UConn would lose. True ,UConn did only beat USF by 16 and by 20 in their 2 meetings ,but Auriemma uses games like this to get his team to refocus . His team will be more than ready come tournament time.

 

[greengael]

Auriemma uses a game like USF as a motivation . Probably instills in his players that if they play a game like this in the NCAAs they will lose . UConn steam rolled through the weakest women's major college (AAC ) conference in the country . AAC is bad . You didn't really think that inspite of USF 's half time lead , that UConn would lose. True ,UConn did only beat USF by 16 and by 20 in their 2 meetings ,but Auriemma uses games like this to get his team to refocus . His team will be more than ready come tournament time.

You betcha!, Geno's been doing this for a while, and rather successfully I might add![smile]

 

[Tru2Irish]

If ND can get 2 quality front liners , they will be very tough to beat. Need some height badly.

 

[Izo]

As I wrote on this post ,McGraw is really pushing in 2017 in trying to recruit height in Williams from Texas,Vaughn from Pennsylvania ,and Patterson from New York ,all 6'3 and 6'4 players . Plus we may have a good shot at the# 1 player in the nation in 2017 in 6'1" Megan Walker . It looks to be recruiting battle among UConn , Notre Dame , Virginia , Louisville and Maryland for Walker .

But we did sign this year's #4 ranked player ,6'2" Erin Boley who should be a big help with the boards and the #11 ranked player
5'11" Jackie Young

Still don't understand the Taya Reimer situation. Transferring scenario.? McGraw named Reimer a tri- captain in October . Don't know the extent of Reimer's ankle injury , thought she would be back for her final 2 years ,but something changed as the season progressed

None of this is new ,just going over the same points.

 

[rdcsf]

While Muffet has had a great deal of consistent success at Notre Dame, she's obviously failed to overcome Geno and UCONN. What people often fail to realize, however, is that up until recently, Notre Dame's success has been on the backs of primarily quality recruits, but only recently has Notre Dame started to successfully recruit the nation's best players. To put things into perspective, the graduating class of Michaela Mabrey, Madison Cable, Hannah Huffman were ranked #33, #52 and #52 in their respective classes (2011, and 2012)... You may think those are pretty damn good recruits (relative to ND football for example), but consider the quality of the players that ND has landed in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 classes.

2014
Brianna Turner: 5 star, #2 overall (#2 forward)
Kathryn Westbeld: 5 star, #21 overall (#4 forward)

2015
Arike Ogunbowale: 5 star, #10 overall (#4 point guard)
Ali Patberg: 5 star, #13 overall (#1 guard)
Marina Mabrey: 5 star, #24 overall (#4 guard)

2016
Erin Boley: 5 star, #5 overall (#3 forward)
Jackie Young: 5 star, #11 overall (#3 guard)

The last seven players that Muffet has brought to South Bend (Sophomore class down to incoming freshman class) have all been 5 star players and none of them have been ranked outside of the top 25 players in their respective classes, while 4 of them have been ranked inside the top 15 (and three inside the top 10). The Notre Dame program is going to get over the hump eventually. Muffet has always been able to hang with Geno on the court, but he's a fantastic coach and he always managed to outrecruit Notre Dame at UCONN. ND is pulling even in their younger classes. One more highly rated class in 2017 will give McGraw a team composed solely of McDonald's All Americans, among the very top players in their respective classes. Don't expect the winning to stop in South Bend for quite some time and at age 60, if McGraw's passion for the game and health stay intact, allowing her to coach for another 5-6 years, expect her to retire among the top 5 winningest coaches in NCAA women's basketball history, along with the likes of Pat Summit, Geno Auriemma and Tara VanDerveer and Sylvia Hatchell.

Edit Note

I just wanted to make it clear that Notre Dame has recruited top players in the past, but that while Muffet and her staff had always managed to land a top player in their respective class, there was a significant drop off between said player and the remaining players in the class. For example, both Skylar Diggins and Jewel Lloyd were top 5 players in their classes, however, ND did not land another top 25 player in either of those classes, where as they've landed multiple top 25 players in their 3 most recent classes. Had Ali Patberg not suffered a season-ending injury, Notre Dame would be even better. She's going to be a huge part of ND's future.

ND should be deep and deadly in 2016 with this projected lineup...

PG: Lindsey Allen (SR)
G: Arike Ogunbowale (Soph)
G: Marina Mabrey (Soph)
F: Kathryn Westbeld (JR)
F: Brianna Turner (JR)

Bench
G: Ali Patberg (Soph)
G: Jackie Young (FR)
G: Mychal Johnson (JR)
F: Erin Boley (FR)

Very good post, thanks

 

[Twins1967]

Taya Reimer ? Reading somewhere that she completes her Notre Dame Degree this spring and is transferring . 2 years of eligibility left since she only played in 5-6 games this year ? Recovering from an Achilles heel injury ? Wouldn't she still have 2 years of eligibility left since she only played in a few games this season ? McGraw will not discuss if Reimer would come back until after the season , and Reimer is not waiting for McGraw ,so she wants to transfer to a a top program. Is Reimer not in McGraw 's and Notre Dame's future plans and Reimer should move on ?

That ship has sailed! Good for Muffet

 

[buckey]

Soooo good, but just one ncaa title. Hard to believe

 

[IrishHerb]

Soooo good, but just one ncaa title. Hard to believe

If you look at the ladies' ncaa champions over the past 20 or so years, you'll notice that most of them had a dominant "big".

In 2001 the year ND won it, we had Ruth Riley. Our best chance since then was in 2014 with Achonwa, but she was injured before the championship game.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

What I want to know is this...does Muffet use a clipboard?

 

[IrishHerb]

What I want to know is this...does Muffet use a clipboard?

Never seen her with one.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

What????? I thought it was impossible to coach bball without having a clipboard...the ND men's coach gets ripped all the time by the board basketball expert....he tells everyone he can that you need a clipboard to be a good coach! (evidently Wooden and Knight never got that memo.)

 

[IrishInOntario]

If Turner stays for 4 years, ND will have a great chance to win a championship in 2018. Turner and Westbeld will be seniors, Boley should be a solid sophomore and ND will have a slew of quality guards.

 

[wicker]

I'm glad the boycott has been lifted.

 

[South Bender]

Auriemma uses a game like USF as a motivation . Probably instills in his players that if they play a game like this in the NCAAs they will lose . UConn steam rolled through the weakest women's major college (AAC ) conference in the country . AAC is bad . You didn't really think that inspite of USF 's half time lead , that UConn would lose. True ,UConn did only beat USF by 16 and by 20 in their 2 meetings ,but Auriemma uses games like this to get his team to refocus . His team will be more than ready come tournament time.

If Geno can use games like this to his advantage, so can his opponents.

By having your team watch the USF game, it shows that UCONN is human. They can
be beat. USF got up on them, but then fell apart. Get UCONN down and keep your cool,
and you've got a chance to beat them. Silly shots, silly turnovers or letting up on defense
is something you CANNOT do if you want to keep a lead against them.

 

[IrishHerb]

If Geno can use games like this to his advantage, so can his opponents.

By having your team watch the USF game, it shows that UCONN is human. They can
be beat. USF got up on them, but then fell apart. Get UCONN down and keep your cool,
and you've got a chance to beat them. Silly shots, silly turnovers or letting up on defense
is something you CANNOT do if you want to keep a lead against them.

I agree. Watched a bit of the UConn - USF game in the AAC tournament. Upon looked very human at the start of the game. But USF kept letting them off the hook. But then UConn caught fire and ...

If ND could catch them is a similar situation ... get a lead ... and then keep the pressure on. Who knows what could happen.

 

[Izo]

Hoping we get to final 4 again ,but the road will be a little tougher . This year's McGraw team is very gritty ,but no ,not her best talented group.. Frankly ,watching this team playing some very close games, I thought they would lose more than 1 game (UConn). Since UConn will be the # 1 overall team and ND will be the 2nd or 3rd overall and South Carolina and Baylor will be the other # 1 seeds , the road is much tougher . Teams particularly Maryland and Oregon State are capable of making the Final 4. Also Ohio State ,Louisville ,UCLA , Arizona State,Texas,Stanford are good enough to upset and reach the the final 4.

I'm not taking anything for granted this year. But if we do get to play UConn in the championship game with B. Turner this time ,ND, like any other top women's program has to play a perfect game . Our one advantage that we have playing UConn that the other schools don't ; we are the only top program over the past 5 years that has played the most games against the Huskies and are very familiar with their players . McGraw may dial up something and add a few new wrinkles .That is ,if we reach the finals

 

[IrishHerb]

Hoping we get to final 4 again ,but the road will be a little tougher . This year's McGraw team is very gritty ,but no ,not her best talented group.. Frankly ,watching this team playing some very close games, I thought they would lose more than 1 game (UConn). Since UConn will be the # 1 overall team and ND will be the 2nd or 3rd overall and South Carolina and Baylor will be the other # 1 seeds , the road is much tougher . Teams particularly Maryland and Oregon State are capable of making the Final 4. Also Ohio State ,Louisville ,UCLA , Arizona State,Texas,Stanford are good enough to upset and reach the the final 4.

I'm not taking anything for granted this year. But if we do get to play UConn in the championship game with B. Turner this time ,ND, like any other top women's program has to play a perfect game . Our one advantage that we have playing UConn that the other schools don't ; we are the only top program over the past 5 years that has played the most games against the Huskies and are very familiar with their players . McGraw may dial up something and add a few new wrinkles .That is ,if we reach the finals

Completely agree.

ND isn't as smooth and talented as they were in the past few years. Gritty yes, good yes, but can be beaten if things don't fall just right.

Other schools are catching up and are good now too.

But ... always optimistic. Go Ladies. Make it to the championship game. Beat UConn.

 

[South Bender]

Completely agree.

ND isn't as smooth and talented as they were in the past few years. Gritty yes, good yes, but can be beaten if things don't fall just right.

Other schools are catching up and are good now too.

But ... always optimistic. Go Ladies. Make it to the championship game. Beat UConn.

If ND doesn't win a national championship this year, I'm going to direct my disappointment
at one person - Jewel Loyd. Imagine having Loyd and Allen as your guards!!

I understand why she left, but it's still disappointing and left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[Izo]

Absoluety . Lloyd and Allen would have provided more of a challenge to UConn's dominance . Lloyd wanted to be the # 1 overall pick in the WNBA ,so she left early last season . What is the big deal about being the #2 overall pick this year behind Stewart .? The money would not be that different . McGraw even though she somewhat got over Lloyd 's decision , but must still be puzzled .

As for 6' 3" Taya Reimer , she would have also been an important factor .but the posts are right ,the ship has sailed . McGraw had bent over backwards with Reimer . McGraw gave Reimer time off and when she returned she was an important part into getting us into the championship game against UConn . Also Reimer wanted the team to wear ," I can't breathe " T shirts and
McGraw okayed the shirts. On top of this, Reimer was named a tri- captain this season . This has been more than fair .

But I wish Reimer the best ,whatever school she enrolls at .

 

[simontonlake]

Absoluety . Lloyd and Allen would have provided more of a challenge to UConn's dominance . Lloyd wanted to be the # 1 overall pick in the WNBA ,so she left early last season . What is the big deal about being the #2 overall pick this year behind Stewart .? The money would not be that different . McGraw even though she somewhat got over Lloyd 's decision , but must still be puzzled .

As for 6' 3" Taya Reimer , she would have also been an important factor .but the posts are right ,the ship has sailed . McGraw had bent over backwards with Reimer . McGraw gave Reimer time off and when she returned she was an important part into getting us into the championship game against UConn . Also Reimer wanted the team to wear ," I can't breathe " T shirts and
McGraw okayed the shirts. On top of this, Reimer was named a tri- captain this season . This has been more than fair .

But I wish Reimer the best ,whatever school she enrolls at .

Re: "Reimer wanted the team to wear ," I can't breathe " T shirts"...what a tool.

 

[PHJIndy]

The Lady Irish are scuffling a bit early against Stanford, but they're only down four.

 

[PHJIndy]

The Ladies are still down six midway through the second quarter.

 

[IrishHerb]

Not looking good at all. Hope they can make adjustments soon.

 

[IrishHerb]

Not sure whats going on, but the ND ladies aren't having any luck defending Stanford.

And Nelson looks like she's playing better than Turner.

 

[PHJIndy]

Lady Irish are down 11 at the half, and defense is a big problem as Stanford is up 50-39. Stanford is shooting 60%+.
Lots of missed layups and easy shots by the Irish.
Get 'em rollin' Muffet!

 

[wicker]

this game is a litmus test for the influence of TV. ESPN can't be happy with tonight's results

 

[Izo]

Worried about this game . Turner having a tough half . Has trouble guarding a center that can shoot A 10-12 foot shot .

Stanford is passing from side to side . Some how ,some way ,Irish have got to turn up the defense .wonder what adjustments McGraw will make

We were in the final 4 the last 5 years in a row . Can we make it 6?

 

[wicker]

If ND doesn't win a national championship this year, I'm going to direct my disappointment
at one person - Jewel Loyd. Imagine having Loyd and Allen as your guards!!

I understand why she left, but it's still disappointing and left a bad taste in my mouth.

You'll get that chance

 

[PHJIndy]

Still down 10 with a minute left in the 3rd quarter.

 

[PHJIndy]

Down 10 at the end of 3 quarters.