Bryce Dortch arrives at Notre Dame with a clear job description: bring some size, some toughness and a little bit of everything to a front line that has needed more of all three.
The junior forward, listed at 6-foot-9 and 210 pounds, is expected to work behind the starters as a backup power forward, but the role sounds bigger than the label. Notre Dame wants flexibility, and Dortch’s profile fits that ask. He can guard multiple frontcourt spots, clean the glass, run the floor and finish plays when the chance is there.
That versatility is exactly what fourth-year head coach Micah Shrewsberry pointed to when explaining why the Irish targeted him.
"We took Bryce because of his versatility. The thought is he could provide some of that sturdiness of guarding fours or fives.
He's versatile. He's made huge jumps while he's been here."
Dortch comes to South Bend after two seasons at Rutgers and a junior-year stat line that suggests a steady, low-maintenance piece. In 31 games with three starts last season, he averaged 2.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 14.5 minutes per game. He shot 61.0 percent from the field and 53.6 percent from the foul line.
His efficiency inside the arc stood out even more in Big Ten play. In 18 conference games, Dortch hit 66.7 percent of his shots from the field. One number that jumps off the page for Notre Dame fans looking for spacing: he has not attempted a 3-pointer in his first two college seasons.
That makes the picture pretty straightforward. Dortch is not being asked to stretch the floor or carry offense.
He’s there to help stabilize the middle, do the dirty work and give Notre Dame another body who can hold up physically. For a team that has lacked enough versatility on the front line over the last three seasons, that matters.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Defense Faces A Threat It Hasn't Seen Yet
Notre Dames defense is heading into a different kind of test this weekend, one built less on flash than on patience and physicality. BYU brings a sturdy offensive line, a quarterback in Bear Bachmeier who can keep plays alive, and an attack that has been especially efficient at piling up yards per play and creating chunk gains. For the Irish front, that means the usual margin for error is slim, because winning first down and controlling the line of scrimmage will matter just as much as any highlight-reel stop.
The matchup also stretches beyond the trenches, with Notre Dames safeties likely to have a major say in how much damage BYU can do through the middle of the field and against tight end Walker Lyons. Preventing the Cougars from turning routine snaps into explosive ones is the real challenge here, and it is the kind of test that can expose even a defense that has looked comfortable most of the season. The Irish may be prepared for power football, but BYUs ability to stress all three levels gives this one a different edge. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Defense Is Earning National Respect At The Perfect Time
Notre Dames defense has spent the first six games of the season building a reputation that now carries national weight, and the Associated Press took notice at midseason. Cornerback Leonard Moore landed on the AP Midseason All-America first team, while edge rusher Boubacar Traore earned second-team honors, a tidy reflection of how much the Irish have leaned on that side of the ball while climbing the rankings.
Moore has been steady on the back end with four pass breakups and eight solo tackles, while Traore has brought the disruption up front that changes games, leading the team with 3.5 sacks and flashing in big moments with a strip sack and an interception in the same contest. For Notre Dame, the recognition is more than just individual praise, it is proof the defense is playing at a level that can travel deep into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Finally Faces The Road Test That Could Define Its Start
Notre Dame is headed into the kind of road test that can say a lot about a team before the calendar even turns. The Irish are unbeaten, and the matchup waiting with undefeated, top-10 BYU carries the sort of early-season weight that can shape how this start is remembered. For a group trying to establish itself, it is the sort of game that demands more than a clean record on paper.
DJ McKinney and the rest of the defense have sounded steady about the build-up, leaning on preparation and the routine that has carried them this far. There is confidence in the room, but also a clear understanding that this is a different level of challenge, and one that will tell Notre Dame plenty about where it stands. The Irish do not need to turn the page yet, but they do need to show they can handle the pressure that comes with it. [Read more 🡒]