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Notre Dame Basketball: How V.J. Beachem’s return effects the Irish

By Carmine Carcieri

Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward V.J. Beachem (3) drives against Wisconsin Badgers forward Khalil Iverson (21) during the second half in a semifinal game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward V.J. Beachem (3) drives against Wisconsin Badgers forward Khalil Iverson (21) during the second half in a semifinal game in the East regional of the NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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V.J. Beachem is returning to Notre Dame basketball for his senior season. 

With the calendar turning to the month of May, we are officially 25 days away from knowing who will be returning to school and who will be opting to stay in the 2016 NBA Draft pool.

Related Story: UNC too much for Notre Dame to handle

Notre Dame forward V.J. Beachem was not invited to the NBA Draft Combine and decided to make his decision early in the process. Beachem has elected to return for his senior season as the Irish look to earn their third straight berth in the NCAA Tournament.

According to numerous mock drafts, including Draft Express, Beachem was not expected to find a landing spot in the NBA Draft. Not receiving a Combine invite is a strong indication that the sharp shooter was off scouts’ radar despite a much-improved junior season.

The 6’8″ wing averaged a career high in points (12 per game), rebounds (3.9 per game), steals and assists while shooting 48 percent from the field and 44 percent from downtown (both career highs). Beachem had a breakout performance in the Big Dance as he averaged 17.5 points per outing, and grabbed a combined 13 rebounds in the Irish’s first two games against Michigan and Stephen F. Austin.

With Demetrius Jackson and Zach Auguste set to move on from South Bend, the Irish will greatly appreciate the return of Beachem. The senior will bring valuable experience, leadership and shooting ability to a team that returns Steve Vasturia, Bonzie Colson, Matt Farrell, Matt Ryan and Rex Pflueger.

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But other than Beachem, Vasturia and Colson, the team has very little experience. In fact, Beachem, Vasturia and Austin Torres (who hasn’t had a clear cut role on the squad) are the only seniors on the entire roster.

Beachem’s presence in the locker room cannot be overlooked, but his ability to knock down shots from the perimeter will be critical if the Irish expect to compete in the ACC.

He truly has NBA range, and is capable of spacing the floor, which in turn opens up the lane for the guards to attack. That was especially evident in last year’s Big Dance when Jackson in particular was able to penetrate and dish to Beachem, or find a free lane to the hoop if the defense was too concerned about Beachem’s touch from downtown.

And if the Fort Wayne, IN native slides down to the power forward position, the Irish become even more deadly. Opposing teams will have to decide whether to match that lineup or leave a big man on an island against the quicker Beachem.

Notre Dame doesn’t exactly have much size next year – their tallest player, Martinas Geben (6’10”), played just three minutes per game last year – so this small ball lineup will be a regular occurrence.

Sure, four-star shooting guard Temple Gibbs, Farrell and Pflueger aren’t even close to as athletic or as talented as Jackson, but their task would be even more difficult without Beachem on the floor.

Next: Wisconsin Badgers season review

The Irish will be no match for Duke, North Carolina, Virginia and others at the top of the ACC, but without Beachem, Mike Brey’s unit could have slid into complete obscurity.