Achilles had his heel. Samson had Delilah. And the Irish hoop team has the three-point shot.
In what has become a recurring theme during Mike Brey's stint as Notre Dame's coach, the Domers continue to have inexplicable difficulty at defending three-point shots as games wind down. This blatant deficiency has not only cost the Irish two losses already this season but it has been greatly responsible for numerous setbacks over the past few years. Losses that were highly critical. Defeats, in fact, that were directly responsible for a three-year absence from the NCAA Tournament that the Domers didn't snap until last March.
It's truly amazing how history keeps repeating itself. How after getting continually burned by the same scenario, the Irish still allow it to happen. They say that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result. If that's true, then consider the Irish, and particularly Brey, out of their heads.
Over the years, ND has done nothing concrete to address this glaring weakness. They haven't changed a damn thing, either schematically or strategically. They just continue to allow foes to bomb away from the outside with little resistance. All this when games are on the line and the course of a season is to be determined.
What good does it do if you bust your ass for 37 minutes or so, build up a winnable margin and then let it all dissipate because you can't defend the trey when it matters most? It's immaterial if you play well for an extended period of time, only to falter at the end. More often than not, it's the finish that carries the day, not the start or whatever happens in between. It's time Brey wised up and learned that lesson.
Flat out, ND's two losses thus far this season were blown opportunities. The games versus Baylor and Georgia Tech were there for the taking but the Domers weren't in a grabbing mood. Instead, they sat back and allowed the Bears and the Yellow Jackets to nail trifectas that changed the complexion of things and turned certain Irish wins into bitter defeats. Setbacks that could have disastrous consequences.
Because Baylor or Tech aren't rated highly, neither is projected to make the 64-team Big Dance by most preseason projections, these losses are damning. And with a non-conference schedule that's basically lame, the Irish can't really do anything to redeem themselves until the Big East starts. But since ND is probably a bubble team to begin with, these recent failures could prove difficult to overcome. As things currently stand, it will take a monster conference record for the Irish to return to the NCAA Tourney.
And all because they flamed out versus Baylor and Tech. All because they're woeful at stopping the three-pointer!
In many other respects, Brey seems a smart cookie but when it comes to getting his team to defend the three, he comes across as a blockhead. After all, we're not talking rocket science here. Guarding the perimeter isn't exactly comparable to splitting the atom.
Yet, it's an area that continues to give the Irish a multitude of grief. For some strange reason, they just don't seem to get it. Conceptually, it appears beyond them which is remarkable because ND is reputed to have a roster full of sharp and resourceful athletes. But not when it comes to taking away the critical three from an opponent.
In truth, it takes nothing more than a straight forward approach to diffusing the trifecta. To blunt it should be no mystery.
Obviously, you need to extend your defense and get up on your assigned man. Take a fundamentally sound defensive stance and keep your hands up and poised, ready to aggressively contest a shot at anytime. If a switch out is required, be prepared to quickly pop out from behind a screen so that you can lock down the player coming off the pick. And by all means, study the scouting reports so that it's apparent to everyone who are the opposition's top three-point specialists. Knowing that info will help you determine which of their shooters require additional attention when the trey is of colossal importance.
Look, that's pretty basic stuff but it seems to have escaped the Irish. Maybe they all missed practice the day Brey was going to explain it. Or worse yet, maybe they were present but it still went over their heads. Or perhaps their coach has done a piss poor job of getting them to understand how vital it is to play shutdown defense from beyond the arc when games are there to be won or lost.
Whatever the case, Notre Dame has been victimized repeatedly by three-point daggers during Brey's watch. The problem should have been resolved long before now. The fact that it's been a habitual occurrence is totally unacceptable, not to mention inexcusable.
So, can there be any doubt that the Irish should make it a top priority to no longer be undone by the three-point basket? It's time the trey went away. ND must remove it from an opponent's arsenal. Do so and maybe this squad can dig itself out of the hole they've created and have a satisfying season. If not, then danger lurks ahead as do more disheartening defeats.
Ahab had his Moby Dick. Billy "The Kid" had Pat Garrett. And if the Irish aren't careful, the three-point shot will surely be the cause of their demise.