The Irish are 9-0 for the first in the Mike Brey era. Here is what we learned from the win that got them there.
Bonzie Colson Has Developed Into a Complete Player
When we first were introduced to Colson two seasons ago his game was basically get rebounds, play defense, and get the tough basket. His game has come a long when since. In Tuesday’s win over Fort Wayne, Colson showcased a little bit of everything. He started off the game with two three pointers, one of the step back variety, but he also got the tough rebounds and inside buckets.
After the game Mike Brey said something to the effect that while Colson still is that “junkyard dog” he’s always been, he’s developed his game so that he can do a variety of things on the offensive end. Not only did he have 17 points and 14 rebounds, but he also dished out five assists on Tuesday night.
Colson is averaging a double-double on the season with 17.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. His double-double against Fort Wayne helped him notched his sixth straight double-double. He, along with the rest of the Irish, will have a tough test on Saturday with No.1 Villanova.
T.J. Gibbs Is Going to be a Special Player
Gibbs was Notre Dame’s highest ranked recruit since Demetrius Jackson. So far he’s seen limited playing, much due to the fact that Matt Farrell has been spectacular to start the season. In his short time Gibbs has showed flashes of what he can do. He’s very good off the dribble. Against Fort Wayne Gibbs had a few strong drives to the basket, which right now is the strength of his game. His shot probably needs a little more work, but again he’s only a freshman and that is something that can easily be worked on. With a little work and development, Gibbs can be a go-to type of player in the future.
Some How, Some Way, Steve Vasturia Still Goes Under The Radar
For a guy who has been a three-year starter and a two-time captain, you think Vasturia get a little more fanfare. Last night he had one of the quietest 21-point games I’ve ever seen. I remember looking at the boxscore after the game and saw Vasturia’s stat line and thought to myself, “When did he get 21 points?”
He’s so good at moving without the ball that a lot of what he does on offense goes unnoticed. It feels like he misses a ton of shots, but there he is shooting 52% from the field and 46% from three-point land. He’s a very unselfish player too.
Vasturia’s play is just a microcosm of Notre Dame basketball I suppose. It feels like a lot of the success Mike Brey and the Irish have had has gone under the radar, but that’s probably the way they prefer it.
