Notre Dame Basketball: 2021-22 season preview for the Fighting Irish
Key Reserves
Combo Guard – JR Trey Wertz
Should be the first one to hear his name off the bench. The former Santa Clara player was granted the ability to play in December by the NCAA last season. Another streaky shooter who had some big performances for the Irish. No bigger one than his game-winning shot against Wake Forest at the buzzer in the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina in March. Wertz will be counted on to provide huge minutes off the bench and help run the offense at point guard too.
Trey Wertz final stat line from the 2020-2021 season was 8.3 ppg, 2.3 apg, and shot 42.9% from behind the 3 point line.
Combo Guard – JR Robby Carmody
The Pittsburgh area native has had terrible luck throughout his Irish career so far as he has only suited up for 16 games overall. Back in 2018, he had shoulder surgery in December that ended his season. In 2019, at Maryland, he tore his ACL in his knee which ended that season, and last year he missed the season due to a broken kneecap. The good news is that everything being reported now is that Carmody is on track to be fully cleared in October for the Irish.
Robby Carmody was a big-time get for Mike Brey and the staff just a few short years ago. Carmody in 2018 was the first true freshman to start for Notre Dame since the 2002 season back in the day when then big man Torin Francis suited up for the Irish.
Guards – Freshman Blake Wesley/Freshman JR Konieczny
Both of these freshmen are local recruits as they played in South Bend during their high school careers. Blake Wesley is a lengthy combo guard who averaged 27 points, and 6 rebounds during his senior year in 2020-2021. Wesley helps bring some much-needed athleticism on the offensive and defensive sides of the court. Just watching film, Wesley really enjoys getting after it on the defensive side of the court which Coach Brey and the rest of the staff are going to love to see regularly in the future.
JR Konieczny will fit right in with the rest of the shooters on the Notre Dame roster. The St Joseph High School product finished 5th in the state for Mr. Basketball in Indiana. Konieczny really can shot it from three, and also is good at taking it inside and finding the open man as well. Both of these incoming freshmen will need to get stronger, but not all freshmen come in being super strong so that will come over time with being in the weight room.
Forwards – Freshman Matt Zona/Freshman Elijah Taylor
Notre Dame is going to need one, or both of these two forwards to help log some minutes throughout the season on the front line. Matt Zona is a 6-9 big man from New York who saw playing time sparingly last year on the court. Looking at recent footage, it looks like the big man has added some more muscle and is leaner. Zona is a guy in high school who could do damage around the basket, but also step out and hit the long jump shot as well.
Elijah Taylor did not suit up last year for the Irish as he had ankle surgery and missed the entire season. The Philadelphia product should provide some much-needed help on the defensive side of the floor. With Durham no longer at the backline being a rim protector, Taylor should get his shot at trying to help protect the basket. Staying healthy and working his way back to getting on the court and helping the team in any way possible is step one for Taylor.
Guard – Freshman Tony Sander Jr.
Like fellow teammate Matt Zona, Tony Sanders Jr did not see a ton of playing time but when he did find his way onto the court he did have some positive moments for the Irish. Sanders is a 6-7 guard which allows him to use his size with finishing around the rim and also helping out on the glass as well. With the number of guards ahead of Sanders on the team right now it would not surprise me if Coach Brey talks to Sanders about potentially redshirting this season to help preserve a year of eligibility to use down the road.