Projected Rotation For Notre Dame Basketball in 2015-16

By Reed Hunnicutt

Projected Rotation For Notre Dame Basketball in 2015-16

Bonzie Colson Notre Dame
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The losses of Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton are obvious hits to the talent and leadership of Notre Dame’s basketball team. Coach Mike Brey has brought in the necessary pieces to complement the talented returners from last year’s Elite Eight run. Here is the projected rotation for the Fighting Irish.

G Demetrius Jackson (Junior)

Demetrius Jackson
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G Demetrius Jackson (Junior)

Demetrius Jackson
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After two years playing in a two-point guard system, Jackson will finally be given the chance to run the show. Aside from being a freak athlete, Jackson has natural court vision and a reliable jumper. At 6-foot-1, he even finished second on the team in offensive rebounds. I expect Jackson to be an All-ACC player, but All-American is not out of question.

G Steve Vasturia (Junior)

Steve Vasturia
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G Steve Vasturia (Junior)

Steve Vasturia
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Every team needs a player like Vasturia. Even though he’s known for his outside shooting (41 percent from three), Vasturia’s best skills don’t show up on the stat sheet. He scraps for loose balls, defends the best wing and never asks for any recognition. Vasturia is a stable piece in Notre Dame’s lineup.

G V.J. Beachem (Junior)

VJ Beachem
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G V.J. Beachem (Junior)

V.J. Beachem
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Beachem was a candidate for ACC Sixth Man of the Year last season. The junior has one of the most fluid jump shots in the conference. However, his strength has been a cause for concern since it limits him from maximizing his athleticism, forcing him to stay out on the perimeter and get beaten too easily in the post.

F Bonzie Colson (Sophomore)

Bonzie Colson
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F Bonzie Colson (Sophomore)

Bonzie Colson
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It took a while for Colson to get into the rotation, but once he did, he was a spark every game. He plays with a rare level of energy and uses his 7-foot wingspan to make up for his lack of size. Colson should be the best post defender on the Fighting Irish this year.

F Zach Auguste (Senior)

Zach Auguste
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F Zach Auguste (Senior)

Zach Auguste
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Auguste took a big step last season, emerging as the go-to post player for Notre Dame. He possesses NBA level athleticism for a power forward, as shown by his portfolio of highlight dunks. Despite being an elite lob finisher, Auguste still needs to find a consistent post move and improve his post defense. Right now, Auguste is already in the conversation for the best power forward in the ACC.

Bench: G Rex Pflueger (Freshman)

Rex Pflueger
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Bench: G Rex Pflueger (Freshman)

Rex Pflueger
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Pflueger is like the NBA 2K player who you give the ball to every time because he can shoot, break a defender’s ankles or dunk on somebody. The freshman plays with a lot of flash, but he also has a good understanding of the game. Since the starting backcourt is set, Pflueger will be most effective as a combo guard off the bench.

Bench: F Matt Ryan (Freshman)

Matt Ryan Notre Dame
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Bench: F Matt Ryan (Freshman)

Matt Ryan Notre Dame
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There was a time when Ryan was being recruited by Duke and Kentucky. After a hip surgery, some bigger schools backed off, but Notre Dame stayed in pursuit and landed the sharpshooter from New York. Ryan will probably be used in a role similar to Beachem last year, playing three positions and scoring in bunches off the bench.

Bench: F Austin Torres (Junior)

Austin Torres
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Bench: F Austin Torres (Junior)

Austin Torres
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Mike Brey usually doesn’t go too deep into his bench, so Torres may not get a ton of playing time. However, it may take the freshman some time to get acclimated to the pace of college basketball, giving Torres a chance to show off his energy and athleticism.

Bench: F/C Martin Geben (Sophomore)

Martin Geben
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Bench: F/C Martin Geben (Sophomore)

Martin Geben
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Before Colson got regular time, Geben was the primary big man off the bench. Colson worked to earn his minutes, leaving Geben on the bench. After a year of getting comfortable in the system, Geben should be more confident in using his size to contribute to the Fighting Irish.

Reed Hunnicutt is an ACC Basketball Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on twitter @rd_hunnicutt04, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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