I went to watch Notre Dame in Easton as they pounded a game, but overmatched Lafayette team. One of the key takeaways was just after the first-half ended and I watched these players in street clothes walk by: Maddy Westbeld, Liatu King, Liza Karlen, KK Bransford and Kylee Watson. That's a possible starting lineup-up for a Top 20 team in itself. Bransford and (probably) Watson are out all year, but
King (head injury), Westbeld (recovering from foot surgery) and Karlen (lower leg in walking boot) will come back to the Irish.
However, it probably won't be for the USC game and maybe not TCU, Utah or Texas. It's not as if the Irish have chopped liver with Hidalgo, Miles, Citron, Koval and Prosper, but there is no depth. As such the Irish could have three losses going into the ACC schedule. But when those three come back and are meshed, watch out.
I think that last point you made is the big one. Teams are very much still rounding into form with the goal being having seen and "been through" (game action-wise, not injuries as ND is dealing with) enough to be rolling by Jan/Feb. That was almost verbatim what Jeff Walz said at media day about his super-young squad, and it certainly also applies to any teams hoping to get players off the IL before then.
Thorough round-up, Marissa: thanks.
I went to watch Notre Dame in Easton as they pounded a game, but overmatched Lafayette team. One of the key takeaways was just after the first-half ended and I watched these players in street clothes walk by: Maddy Westbeld, Liatu King, Liza Karlen, KK Bransford and Kylee Watson. That's a possible starting lineup-up for a Top 20 team in itself. Bransford and (probably) Watson are out all year, but
King (head injury), Westbeld (recovering from foot surgery) and Karlen (lower leg in walking boot) will come back to the Irish.
However, it probably won't be for the USC game and maybe not TCU, Utah or Texas. It's not as if the Irish have chopped liver with Hidalgo, Miles, Citron, Koval and Prosper, but there is no depth. As such the Irish could have three losses going into the ACC schedule. But when those three come back and are meshed, watch out.
I think that last point you made is the big one. Teams are very much still rounding into form with the goal being having seen and "been through" (game action-wise, not injuries as ND is dealing with) enough to be rolling by Jan/Feb. That was almost verbatim what Jeff Walz said at media day about his super-young squad, and it certainly also applies to any teams hoping to get players off the IL before then.
Yup. As such, I'm going to enjoy (as much as an ND alum and fan can) the USC game as much as possible, checking out how they match up at this point.