When Notre Dame knocked off unbeaten Syracuse on January 21, most folks thought that the upset of the number 1 Orange was a fluke by a mediocre Fighting Irish squad. Particularly since the closet appeared to be bare in South Bend with the departure of three starting seniors and losing All Big East candidate Tim Abromaitis (knee injury) prior to the 2011-12 season. However, Mike Brey’s crew have rebuilt themselves and now are contending in the Big East with a 7-3 ledger.
What Brey has done is something that can provide value to any organization and that is to capitalize on momentum. Struggling to stay above .500 after 19 games, the schedule looked daunting with games against Big East powerhouses Syracuse, early season surprise Seton Hall, defending National Champion UConn and top 15 Marquette. Yet the Irish’s big win over the then undefeated Orangemen, changed their entire season. That win set the stage for three consecutive upset wins and now has them positioned very favorably for the post-season.
Great leaders take advantage of wins to engage their organizations so that the team members believe in the vision of the leader. Victories must be celebrated and recognized so that team members can feel a real sense of accomplishment.
The Fighting Irish through Brey’s careful tutelage are feeling good about themselves and have developed into a very cohesive unit. Leaders not only need to look for positive outcomes but they must get the team members to understand how that victory benefits them individually as well as the team. By having the individuals feel a part of the victory, they will work that much harder and individual team members will step up on different occasions. All of which builds on the momentum and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In the Irish’s 76-59 domination of Marquette on Saturday, Frosh Pat Connaughton scored 23 points to take the heat off upper classmen Scott Martin and Jack Cooley.
Coach Mike Brey has done more with less over his career at Notre Dame then almost any coach in the country and that is the true test of a leader. He has done it because he has enabled his players and made them believe they can win against the traditional elite of the Big East. By celebrating victories, Brey encourages his players to focus on the positive and the true foundation of being a team. Celebrating victories makes every member of the team recognize that when the group succeeds, everybody shares in the victory. If the Fighting Irish can maintain their momentum they have an authentic shot at a second place finish in the Big East. Can Brey's charges maintain Big Mo?
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