Mike Brey Notebook | Maryland Loss

Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey spoke following the loss to No. 3 Maryland on Wednesday night. 

On the loss:
"They're really good. I knew it coming in - how they defend. That was varsity versus the JV tonight. The varsity toyed with us tonight. Hopefully, we can rebound a little bit because we have a league game on Saturday. 

"I'm really impressed with them. The sky is the limit for them. They're men. They're physical and guard you. They get second shots and know who they are. Just a really good team." 

On Maryland's run to end the first half:
"That kind of broke us a little bit. I think it was their defense. They got some transition stuff on us. Then you get the put back right at halftime and that's such a momentum play. They're just so long and hard to deal with when you swing the ball. The jump shots we made weren't even great looks. We had not played against anybody against that in a while, even in the ACC." 

On Maryland's defense:
"They kind of smothered us. I don't think it was us missing shots. We didn't get many clean looks. How many shots did they block tonight? They're long and switch stuff. They take up space. 

"Reminded me a little bit of Virginia Tech from last year. They're all big and all the same size. They're really gifted defensively. They smothered us. It almost demoralizes you playing against that because it's hard to get a clean look." 

On Maryland PG Anthony Cowan Jr.:
"He is such a winner. He's an assassin. He's a senior guard who has won and made every big play for them in close games. If you would have told me he had nine tonight, I would have thought we would be in better shape, but everyone else kicked our butt. 

"He is a great old guard who knows who he is. Certainly, runs that group. A lot of respect for him."