I have moved. Well, I wish I could say I have actually moved and gotten into a plush home somewhere in the warm weather. 

But the reality is that the home for this blog has moved - and I think it'll be a major upgrade. 

Here's the link:

jeffgoodman.yardbarker.com/blog/jeffgood...

It should be a rebuilding year.

However, after losing a group that had posted more wins than any class in school history, Notre Dame is upbeat and optimistic.

Despite watching star Luke Harangody, floor and locker room leader Tory Jackson and role guy Jonathan Peoples – who racked up 93 victories in their four years in South Bend.

``We’re supposed to be saying it’s a bridge year,” Brey said. ``But we have five seniors and five guys who have been in the program for three or four years.”

And five guys that proved they could win without Harangody.

Now the question is whether the Irish can win without both Harangody and Jackson.

Look for Brey to put his five “men” as he calls them out on the court and bring freshman point guard Eric Atkins off the bench.

The way the Irish play and share the ball, Brey doesn’t necessarily feel as though he needs a true floor leader on the court at all times.

Ben Hansbrough, Tim Ambromaitis, Tyrone Nash, Scott Martin and Carleton Scott will be the cornerstone of this team.

Brey was raving about Martin, the Purdue transfer who hasn’t played a game in his two years in South Bend due to sitting out and then suffering a torn ACL prior to last season.

``He looks great,” Brey said. ``And we need him. He’s still playing with the brace, but that’s more precautionary. He’s a guy that fits how we play –he’s a free-flowing, react to the defense kind of guy. He can play inside and outside and he’s a better defender than he gets credit for.”

Abromaitis is coming off a breakout year in which he averaged 16.1 points and shot 43 percent from beyond the arc. Hansbrough was solid, putting up a dozen points and was second on the team with 153 assists. The 6-foot-8 Nash will start in the middle and Brooks gives the Irish an athletic defender.

But the question still comes in the toughness department.

``We lost two tough dudes in ‘Gody and Jackson,” Brey admits. ``That’s a concern.”

But Brey still feels that his seniors have enough experience to make a run at the Big Dance.

``Can we get into the top eight in the Big East and be at the table to be in the discussion?” Brey said. ``I think we’ve got enough.” 

We’re running through the top assistants in each league and now it’s time to look at the top assistants in MAC – as voted upon by at least 75 percent of the coaches in the league:

MAC TOP ASSISTANTS

1) Rob Senderoff, Kent State – Rejoined the staff in 2008 after spending the 2006-07 campaign at Indiana. Senderoff was also with the Golden Flashes from 2002-06 – when the program won three MAC East Division crowns. The New York native was also at Fordham (1995-97), Yale (1999-2001) and Towson (2001-02).

``Rob is honestly the best in the country for our program. He’s a great coach and recruiter and provides great experience and has been a part of several good seasons at various schools and it’s not an accident. He gives honest feedback and isn’t afraid to make tough recommendations and/or decisions. He calls nearly all of our offensive sets and quite simply, he’s going to be a terrific head coach.” - Kent State head coach Geno Ford

2) Jermaine Henderson, Miami (Ohio)

3) Andrew Moore, Eastern Michigan

T4) LaMonta Stone, Bowling Green

T4) Jim Kwitchoff, Buffalo

T4) Ryan Pedon, Toledo