Notre Dame Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2021-22 season

Shooting Guard

Starter: Cormac Ryan

2020-21 stats: 9.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.5 APG, 48.6% eFG, 29.4 MPG

Senior Cormac Ryan was not a particularly efficient scorer last season, but his effect on Notre Dame’s half-court offense is undeniable. He can handle the ball, is an excellent and willing passer, can stretch the floor with his shot and has an incredibly high basketball IQ and understanding of Mike Brey’s system.

Ryan was a competent defender in 2020-21, ranking third on the team in adjusted defensive rating at 102.4—objectively not an incredible number but relatively quite valuable for a Notre Dame team that really struggled defensively.

Bench: Trey Wertz

2020-21 stats: 8.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.3 APG, 51.7% eFG, 26.4 MPG

As previously mentioned, Wertz will fill sort of a combo guard role in the few minutes Prentiss Hubb goes out, but he will see almost all of his minutes at shooting guard, whether starting or as the first man off the bench.

The Santa Clara transfer shot 42.9% from deep last season on nearly four attempts per game—a lethal weapon in a system that values floor spacing and shooting.

Mike Brey has two high-quality options at shooting guard: Ryan started 16 games at 29.4 MPG last season while Wertz started 14 games at 26.4 MPG. Should Ryan get the starting nod, Wertz would be one of the best sixth men in the country. Regardless of who starts more games, both will see plenty of minutes on the wing with Wertz bumping Ryan to small forward when they share the court.

Bench: Robby Carmody

2019-20 stats: 5.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 50.0% eFG, 13.7 MPG

Robby Carmody will hopefully return to his former status as a key role player for Notre Dame this season. Carmody tore his ACL as a sophomore and broke his kneecap last year, limiting him to only 16 total games played over the last three seasons. As a sophomore, the last time was saw him actually play, he averaged 5.4 points in 13.7 minutes per game—an ideal level of production for what his role will be this season.

Bench: Blake Wesley

247Sports rating: No. 117 overall, No. 30 SG, 4-star

Notre Dame’s fourth option at shooting guard will be 4-star recruit Blake Wesley, a hometown prospect. Wesley could get significant minutes on several teams in the ACC, Notre Dame just has a seemingly endless supply of wings which will limit Wesley’s exposure this season.