Notre Dame Basketball: 2021-22 season preview for the Fighting Irish
Potential Starting Lineup (Year listed is Eligibility)
Point Guard – JR Prentiss Hubb
This is going to be the third year in a row Prentiss Hubb will be in the starting lineup for the Irish. The left-handed guard is very crafty, and as we saw last year he can go on huge offensive streaks. At the same time sometimes he plays a little bit out of control which has led to some unnecessary turnovers for the Irish. Notre Dame will be relying on Hubb this year to be more efficient and reduce the turnovers this upcoming season.
Hubb averaged 14.6 ppg, 5.8 assists, and also shot 34% from three as well last season.
Shooting Guard – SO Cormac Ryan
Entering in his second year suiting up for Notre Dame. The former Stanford Cardinal played well last year for the Irish while battling some injuries here and there throughout the season. Only started in 16 of the games last year, but should be in the starting lineup every game now.
Ryan’s strength is on offensive end of the floor, especially his ability to shoot it from downtown. Cormac Ryan shot 34.4% from 3 last season and could go up as well this upcoming year having more knowledge of the system and sets of the Mike Brey offense now.
Ryan’s numbers last year were 9.9 ppg, 4.4 rebs, and 2.5 assists.
Small Forward – JR Dane Goodwin
The Upper Arlington Ohio native has had an underrated career so far in South Bend for Notre Dame. Goodwin is a guy who does a lot of things well, and not just one or two things on the court. He can shoot, defend, and also is not afraid to go up and try and battle on the glass with guys who are much bigger than him.
If you look at Goodwin’s career stats you can see why he was in the running for a while for being the ACC sixth man of the year in the conference two years ago. Dane Goodwin has already made it known that he would like to come back next year to suit up for the Irish and take advantage of the extra year of eligibility given by the NCAA last year.
Goodwin averaged 11.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg, and 35.2% from three during the 2020-21 season.
Power Forward – JR Nate Laszewski
The 6’10 and 230 – pound big man sets the tone for the Irish. The saying you go, we go is a key expression to describe Laszewski and Notre Dame because when the talented big man is on his game the Irish usually find themselves right there in the thick of things to win the game overall.
You could really tell that Laszewski hit the weight room last year in the offseason and added some muscle to his frame to help be more aggressive in the post and on the defensive end too. Laszewski has a lot to his game to like as he can knock it down from three, take you off the dribble and drive to the rim, and also can score with his back to the basket as well.
Nate Laszewski’s numbers during last season were 13.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg, and also shooting 43.4% from three.
Center – Graduate Transfer SR Paul Atkinson
The graduate transfer from Yale will help fill a void down low with Juwan Durham no longer anchoring down in the post for the Irish. Atkinson was a huge problem in the Ivy League for his opponents. The talented big man won the 2019-2020 Ivy Player of the Year and was a force to go up against.
Paul Atkinson has very good footwork for a big man. Surrounded by so many shooters on Notre Dame he should have plenty of room to work down low with his back to the basket, and the endless opportunities to kick it out if the double teams start to come at him.