I remember watching Kobe "KB" Bahay's debut season with a mix of excitement and concern. As someone who's followed college basketball for over fifteen years, I've seen plenty of highly-touted recruits struggle under the weight of expectations, but Bahay's situation felt particularly challenging. The young guard would be the first to admit that his rookie year wasn't the best, playing under the microscope while navigating uncertain waters during Ateneo's down year. That pressure cooker environment where he was expected to match massive hype from day one would test any freshman's mental fortitude. Now, as we look toward the upcoming season, the question hanging over Notre Dame's program is whether this team can transform those difficult experiences into championship-caliber performance.
Looking at last season's statistics, the Fighting Irish finished with a respectable but not spectacular 22-13 record, falling short in the NCAA tournament's second round. What struck me most while watching their games was how the team seemed to lack that killer instinct in crucial moments. I recall specifically their matchup against Duke where they led by 8 points with just over six minutes remaining but ultimately collapsed under defensive pressure. Those are the situations where championship teams find ways to win, and Notre Dame simply wasn't there yet. The offensive flow often stagnated in half-court sets, with the team averaging just 12.2 assists per game—ranking them in the bottom half of the ACC. Defensively, they allowed opponents to shoot 44.3% from the field, which simply won't cut it against elite competition.
The development of Bahay specifically could be the difference-maker this season. Having watched his progression through high school highlights and now through his freshman year, I've noticed subtle improvements in his decision-making during summer exhibition games. His assist-to-turnover ratio, which sat at a concerning 1.4:1 last season, has shown marked improvement in preseason scrimmages. What I find particularly encouraging is his work on defensive positioning—he's noticeably quicker on closeouts and seems to have improved his lateral movement. These might seem like small things, but they're exactly the kind of incremental improvements that separate good teams from great ones.
From my perspective, Notre Dame's championship aspirations don't rest solely on Bahay's shoulders, though. The return of senior forward Matt Zona provides much-needed veteran leadership in the frontcourt. Zona's basketball IQ has always impressed me—he's not the most athletic player on the court, but he consistently makes smart decisions with the ball and understands defensive rotations at an elite level. Then there's J.R. Konieczny, whose three-point shooting percentage climbed to 38.7% last season. If he can maintain that efficiency while increasing his volume, it would dramatically open up driving lanes for Bahay and create the spacing this offense desperately needs.
What really gives me hope for this team's championship potential is their non-conference schedule. The matchups against Kentucky in December and UCLA in January will provide early tests that should reveal this team's true character. I've always believed that tough non-conference games reveal more about a team's championship mettle than conference play does—there's something about facing unfamiliar opponents that forces teams to execute their fundamental systems rather than relying on conference familiarity. If Notre Dame can emerge from that stretch with a 3-1 record or better, I'd consider them legitimate contenders.
The coaching staff, particularly Mike Brey, deserves credit for how they've managed Bahay's development. I spoke with several program insiders this summer who noted that Brey has taken a more hands-on approach with Bahay's skill development, focusing particularly on his mid-range game and pick-and-roll decision making. This personalized coaching approach reminds me of how Brey developed former Notre Dame star Jerian Grant into an All-American, and if Bahay can make similar strides, the ceiling for this team rises considerably.
Of course, championship teams need more than just talent—they need what I like to call "synchronized resilience." That's the ability to withstand opponents' runs while maintaining offensive and defensive principles. Last season, Notre Dame too often devolved into isolation basketball when facing adversity. The numbers bear this out—in games decided by 5 points or fewer, their offensive efficiency dropped by nearly 12 points per 100 possessions. That statistical drop-off reflects what my eyes saw during those clutch moments: forced shots, defensive miscommunications, and what appeared to be fatigue affecting decision-making.
My prediction? This Notre Dame team has the pieces to make a deep tournament run, potentially reaching the Elite Eight if health and development align. They'll need Bahay to average somewhere in the neighborhood of 14 points and 6 assists while cutting his turnovers down to under 2.5 per game. They'll need Zona to provide consistent interior defense and rebounding, likely around 8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest. And they'll need Konieczny to become that reliable secondary scorer, perhaps averaging 12-15 points while maintaining his shooting efficiency. If two of those three things happen, combined with the expected development of role players like Ven-Allen Lubin, then yes, this team can absolutely return to championship form.
The journey from promising to champion is never linear—it's filled with setbacks and breakthroughs in equal measure. What encourages me most about this Notre Dame squad is that they've already experienced the setbacks. Bahay knows what it's like to struggle under bright lights, his teammates understand the pain of tournament disappointment, and the coaching staff has identified specific areas for improvement. Those battle-tested qualities, combined with genuine talent, create the foundation upon which championships are built. I'm more optimistic about this team than I've been in several seasons, and I suspect we'll see that optimism validated come March.
