Fall is here, and school is back in session, which means the good times are almost here – the start of college basketball season! To get you ready for this upcoming season, The Hoops Manifesto presents to you its preseason top 25 team rankings, based on the input from our esteemed voting panel. Next up #24: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Big thanks to our voting panel: Jeff Fox (@HoopsManifesto) from The Hoops Manifesto, Perry Missner (@PerryMissner) from RotoWire, Ray Bala (@CanBallReport) who writes The Can Ball Report on Raptors HQ, Adam Francis (@RaptorsHQ) from Raptors HQ, and Ian (@SoxAndDawgs) from SOX & Dawgs.
#24 – Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2011/12: 22-12, lost NCAA Tournament Second Round
Key Returning Players:
Eric Atkins – Point Guard – Junior
12.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.3 spg
Jerian Grant – Point Guard/Shooting Guard – Junior
12.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 5.0 apg, 1.3 spg
Scott Martin – Shooting Guard – Senior
9.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Jack Cooley – Power Forward – Senior
12.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Pat Connaughton – Shooting Guard/Small Forward – Sophomore
7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Key Newcomers:
Cameron Biedscheid – Small Forward – #28 ranked prospect, Rivals.com
Zach Auguste – Power Forward – #97 ranked prospect, Rivals.com
Top NBA Prospect:
Jerian Grant – mid first round pick in 2014
Outlook:
The Irish return five players who played at least 20 minutes a game last season, including All-Big East Second Team forward Jack Cooley and Big East All-Rookie Team member Jerian Grant. They add to the returnees two top 100 ranked prospects, lead by Cameron Biedscheid, a smooth do-it-all 6’7″ wing player from St. Louis. With only three NCAA Tournament wins since Notre Dame made the Sweet Sixteen in 2002/03, this might be the year Mike Brey adds a few more wins to that total. The rest of the Big East probably wish the Irish were already part of the ACC this season.
Preseason Top 25
#25 – Texas Wildcats
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