How the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Men's Basketball Team Can Improve Their Defense This Season
I remember watching Notre Dame's preseason game against the Philippine national team last month, and something about Coach Micah Shrewsberry's post-game comments really stuck with me. When he talked about the value of that "ganitong klaseng experience" - this kind of experience - it struck me that this early international exposure might hold the key to fixing what ails the Irish defense this season. Having followed college basketball for over fifteen years, I've seen how teams that embrace unconventional preparation often make the biggest defensive leaps, and Notre Dame's trip to Asia could be that exact catalyst they need.
The numbers from last season were frankly concerning - the Irish ranked 78th in defensive efficiency according to KenPom, allowing opponents to shoot 45.2% from the field. What stood out to me during that game in Manila was how the Philippine team's motion offense constantly forced Notre Dame to communicate and switch on defense, something they struggled with consistently last year. The chaotic, unpredictable style of international basketball exposed their defensive communication gaps in ways that typical preseason scrimmages simply wouldn't. I've always believed that the best defensive teams aren't just athletically gifted - they're mentally flexible, able to adjust to different offensive systems mid-possession. That Philippine game provided exactly the kind of stressful environment that forges that adaptability.
One area where I think Notre Dame can make immediate improvements is in their ball-screen defense. Last season, they allowed 0.92 points per possession when defending pick-and-roll situations, which placed them in the bottom third of Power Five conferences. What I noticed during their international trip was how differently international teams utilize screens - they're more creative with angle and timing, which forced Notre Dame's big men to make quicker decisions. Freshman point guard Markus Burton showed promising instincts in fighting over screens, but the bigs need to improve their defensive positioning. When the hedge is too aggressive, it creates driving lanes; when it's too soft, it gives shooters clean looks. Finding that balance requires the kind of repetition against varied screening styles that their Philippine trip provided.
Another aspect that caught my eye was their transition defense - or lack thereof. The Irish gave up 14.3 fast break points per game last season, and in their exhibition against the Philippine team, they struggled initially with the quicker tempo. International basketball tends to feature more early offense and quicker shot attempts, which means defensive transitions need to be sharper. What I liked seeing was how the coaching staff used timeouts to emphasize getting back immediately after missed shots. This is where experience against unconventional opponents pays dividends - it trains habits that translate directly to conference play.
I'm particularly interested in how Notre Dame will deploy their defensive schemes this season. Under Shrewsberry, we've seen more hybrid looks that blend man-to-man principles with zone concepts. Against the Philippine team, they experimented with a 1-3-1 zone that showed promise but needs refinement. The wings need to be more active in passing lanes, and the bigs must improve their rim protection. Sophomore forward Ven-Allen Lubin has the athleticism to become an elite defender, but he needs to work on his positioning - he committed 4.2 fouls per 40 minutes last season, which limited his court time. What impressed me during their international trip was how the coaching staff used these experimental games to test different defensive combinations without the pressure of conference standings.
The defensive glass represents another area for improvement. Notre Dame allowed 10.2 offensive rebounds per game last season, which ranked 9th in the ACC. What I observed during their preseason preparations was a renewed emphasis on block-outs and pursuing 50/50 balls. International teams often crash the boards with multiple players, which provides perfect practice for the physical battles they'll face against teams like Duke and North Carolina. Graduate student forward Carey Booth needs to be more consistent with his defensive rebounding - at 6'10", he should be averaging more than 4.8 defensive rebounds per game.
What really excites me about this Notre Dame team is their potential to become a disruptive defensive unit. They have the length and athleticism to be effective in passing lanes - they averaged 6.1 steals per game last season, but I believe they can push that number to 8.0 with more aggressive positioning. The international style of play, with its longer cross-court passes and different timing, actually helps develop anticipation skills that translate directly to creating turnovers. I noticed several instances during the Philippine game where Notre Dame's guards successfully jumped passing lanes that they might not have anticipated in conventional college offenses.
As the season progresses, I'll be watching how this team implements the lessons from their early international experience. Defense in college basketball has evolved dramatically over the past decade, and teams that can adapt to multiple styles tend to outperform expectations. Notre Dame's willingness to seek out "ganitong klaseng experience" - this kind of challenging, unconventional preparation - demonstrates a coaching staff that understands modern defensive development goes beyond traditional drills and scrimmages. The true test will come when they face the relentless offensive systems of the ACC, but I'm optimistic that the foundation they're building through diverse experiences will yield significant defensive improvements. If they can translate those lessons into consistent execution, we might be looking at one of the conference's most improved defensive teams come March.