Notre Dame Fighting Irish Will Luke (Haran)Goody On The Court In 2010

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

If you are anything like me, you already began preparing for next year's Notre Dame Men's Basketball season.  Adequate preparation is a must for all Notre Dame fans with several new faces.

Last year's debacle is behind us and I for one cannot wait until next year's season tips off.  How will the Fighting Irish fare after a season in which a top-ten ranking could not even produce an invitation to the NCAA tournament?

Calling last year's 21-15 team a disappointment would be a huge understatement.  The Irish returned basically everyone from a talented squad that reached the NCAA tournament the previous year. They were unable to capitalize on the new found excitement of South Bend, Ind. hoops.

The challenge now is for the 2009-2010 team to gain respectability yet again. 

Luckily for the Irish, they will have help in the form of All-Big East forward Luke Harangody. He led the Big East in scoring (23.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.8 rbg) last season.

Harangody will return for his senior season after withdrawing his name from the NBA draft. He'll have a legitimate shot at becoming the school's all-time points leader, as well as earning some other gaudy accolades.

Harangody's return gives the Irish the scoring and rebounding threat every Big East team needs, as well as a seasoned veteran who has been through the wars of the rugged Big East.  Harangody can put a team on his back and carry them to the finish line. We have seen him do it so many times before.

Harangody will team up with guard Tory Jackson to form a capable one-two punch for the Irish.  Jackson, already a three-year starter, led the team in assists per game last year (4.9) and was fourth in points per game at 10.6. 

Jackson can be a match-up nightmare for opponents when he can slice through the lane and drive to the hoop to either draw a foul or dish out a pass to an open teammate.  He also improved his shooting touch last year.

Joining Jackson and Harangody are veteran forwards Tyrone Nash and Carleton Scott and experienced two-guard Jonathan Peoples.

All three saw significant time last year on the court for the Irish, and Peoples has been a regular contributor for the Irish for several seasons now.

None of the three figure to be major scoring threats, but the Irish luck out even further in that regard.

Irish fans will welcome new faces Ben Hansbrough (a transfer from Mississippi State) and Scott Martin (a transfer from Purdue) to the fold next year.

The first thing anyone will notice about Hansbrough is his last name (he is the brother of North Carolina legend Tyler Hansbrough), but his game is also worth watching. 

Hansbrough, a junior guard, averaged almost nine points a game in his career at Mississippi State and will fill the vacant hole left by departed Irish guard Kyle McAlarney.  Being new to the league should help Hansbrough get early open looks and make a quick impact in the Irish rotation.

Martin was the fourth-leading scorer on the Boilermakers during his freshman season, in which the Boilers advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament.  Martin is a 6'8" guard who will present problems for anyone trying to guard him.  His size and scoring will be key for a team missing Ryan Ayers, the graduated senior who was third in points per game last year for the Irish.

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