NCAA Basketball: 3 coaches and programs that have struggled in recent years

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Mike Brey is in his 21st season in South Bend. He’s only had two seasons where they weren’t over .500. He’s had success in both the Big East and the ACC. I actually feel stupid writing something negative about him and his program because of how he’s done it at the same place for over two decades.

Nevertheless, the last four seasons for Notre Dame have seemed lackluster. I’d be remised if I said I wasn’t quite surprised that they got to twenty wins last season. I don’t believe they were anywhere close to the bubble, but twenty wins are twenty wins. That same precedent stands for the 21-win campaign in 2017-2018 where Bonzie Colson was injured for the majority of the season, and they were literally the last team outside looking in for the NCAA Tournament.

Who’s to say Notre Dame couldn’t have made a run last year before the shutdown, but the facts are the Fighting Irish were a longshot last year and need a miracle this year to make the field. By that tally, it would be four consecutive seasons that Brey’s team has missed out on the NCAA Tournament. Maybe I’m just surprised to see his team play mediocre basketball.

The Fighting Irish may be 9-10 this year, but in five years from now when people forget about Duke and Kentucky’s struggles this year, his resume will include road wins at Cameron Indoors and Rupp Arena in the same season. I’m sure the number of people who have accomplished that is very low.