Dec. 02--SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- During spring and summer workouts, in the weight room and even when Notre Dame barely had enough players available to field a decent pickup game, the Irish were working on defense.
After missing the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2009, coach Mike Brey knew the way the Irish played on the defensive end wasn't going to cut it again this season in the ACC.
Defense hasn't been Brey's calling card during his tenure at Notre Dame, but the Irish coach knew the inability to make stops had to stop.
"It's something we really started emphasizing even in the spring after the season when we only had six guys working out together," Brey said.
So began the hard work. The agility drills, the slide drills, even weightlifting sessions that would target muscles designed to help the Irish slide on defense.
"With all the defensive stuff we did this summer it was like, 'We better be this good.' " sophomore guard Demetrius Jackson said. "We worked really hard on defense all offseason. It's really paying off for us."
The Irish will need a strong defensive effort on Wednesday night when Notre Dame hosts an efficient Michigan State team at Purcell Pavilion.
The Irish rank an average 108th in Kenpom.com's defensive efficiency ratings after ranking 204th last season, but a closer look at the numbers shows the Irish have improved from a season ago. The Irish are holding opponents to 37.5 percent shooting after allowing 45 percent last season and rank 43rd in the country in steals per game (8.7).
One reason for this has been the play of Jackson, who is the Irish's leader on the defensive end. Each defensive trip begins with Jackson pressuring the ball, which sets the tone for the rest of the possession. Opponents haven't been able to run their offenses as smoothly while the Irish are turning them over at a credible rate. The Irish are striving to get as many "kills" as possible during a game. A kill equals shutouts on three consecutive defensive possessions.
"We do a good job of getting back on defense and in transition," junior forward Zach Auguste said. "I think we force teams to take tough shots. We make teams work. I don't think we give up easy shots that often. With our emphasis with kills we stay focused with that."
Curbing the enthusiasm on the defense's encouraging start was the relative slate of cupcakes lining Notre Dame's schedule so far and the Irish's defensive performance in its lone loss to a quality team in Providence.
The Irish had no answer for the Friars' LaDontae Henton, who posted 38 points on 14-of-19 shooting in a 75-74 Irish loss. It looked too similar to previous lackluster defensive performances, but this year's group isn't content to just try and outscore opponents, as has been the case at points in the past.
"It's just a matter of locking in on guys who have the capability of going off," senior forward Pat Connaughton said. "I think it was good to get that learning experience under our belts that early in the season and we're going to be able to make adjustments facing the guys we're going to face on Wednesday night."
The Irish insist this team will be different on defense. There's no better chance to prove that than against the Spartans, who rank 26th in offensive efficiency.
"We're better," Brey said. "But we've still got a ways to go."
