Mike Brey Notebook | Ohio State Loss

Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey spoke following the 90-85 loss to No. 22 Ohio State on Tuesday evening. 

On the loss: 
"I'm really proud of our team. I thought we just went for it. It was a great college game. Here it is the third game of the season - two good teams throwing punches at each other. I just thought we couldn't get our hands on a couple of defensive rebounds that really would have made a difference. 

"Credit Ohio State. They made a few more physically tough plays around the rim that hurt us." 

On Juwan Durham fouling out with over eight minutes to go:
"It was a weird night for Juwan. Do you save him? He actually got into a little bit of a rhythm and then he got his fourth I think. He made a nice pass to Dane, but that hurt us. We need him in there. 

"Playing some zone helps us. I didn't think we could play it as much tonight. We were a little tired,  but our freshmen, we're throwing them against Ohio State. They're trying. They're working their butts off. I thought Matt Zona was a bright light. He didn't play much the other night and he's flying around and getting us rebounds. 

"We could use one more body and maybe we'll get one more body in Trey (Wertz). Stay tuned." 

On growth from Michigan State game:
"I think there's some growth. Our guys are crushed. It was better than up at Michigan State. I just love that we were going for it. I loved who we were offensively. We found a nice rhythm and we're moving the ball. We just have to clean it up on that backboard a little bit and help our guys out on that end of the floor. 

"I'm really disappointed we lost, but I really liked what I saw and who we can be." 

On defense over the final 10 minutes:
"I thought we didn't have a whole lot of oomph in the lane. You heard me talk about this in our program. Skilled guys. Can we deliver enough oomph against Power Five bodies to get enough defensive rebounds, yet they have to guard us on the other end. 

"For a lot of the game, we had the upper hand in that department. I thought a couple defensive rebounds we couldn't get that just kind of hurt us. Almost like we were trying too hard. We were almost working too hard to get it and squeeze it. I can't fault our guys for that. I just kind of love who we are." 

On G Cormac Ryan scoring 15 points in the first half and only taking one shot in the second half:
"I think we got to look at that and help him. I'm still trying to figure out how to coach him and use him. He did get loose. They were probably a little more aware of him, but I also think there was a fatigue factor with him. 

"We hit the wall about that eight-minute mark physically. Tony (Sanders) and Matt are trying like heck to give us some stuff. We could use one more guy to rotate through, especially on the perimeter. We'll see what happens with Trey's situation." 

On PG Prentiss Hubb:
"Prentiss Hubb is a flat out winner. He, at times, has been dragging this group along with him and he did tonight. I love his leadership. I love his toughness.

"He says to me walking off the floor, 'That's my fault tonight.'

"Are you kidding me? Stop. We're not even in the game without him. My biggest thing is getting him some rest over the next 48 hours. I'm going to turn him loose again in Lexington, Kentucky. 

"He's just an all-around guard. There's a toughness about him. He's a leader. I love coaching him."

On Hubb’s shot selection:
"I thought each game - better against Detroit shot selection and running our team and better tonight. It was brilliant. 

"I thought his shot selection was great. He executed that 2-for-1 at the end of the half. It was all him - all timing. 

"I met with our guards today. Cormac, him, Dane, and Trey. I talked about getting a great shot every time. I thought we took some bad shots at Michigan State and it came back on us in transition. We didn't do that tonight and that's why we had a chance to win the game against a good team. We got really good shots. 

"Their defense picked up at times and they're a good defensive team. I thought Prentiss' quarterbacking was spot on and gave us a chance to win." 

On waiver for G Trey Wertz:
"I think it's being discussed. I think there's a lot of discussion at the NCAA level on having availability of guys on your roster. I know that discussion is going on. I think you probably saw something about December 16th and them really thoroughly talking about that. I think that's accurate from the information I have and that it will be a thorough discussion about all the young men in a situation like Trey is. 

"Remember, when we took Trey, we took him under the condition that he was going to sit out. I've always been a proponent of sitting out. I sat out every great transfer we've had. I like the five-year sit out guys, but that's changing in January, where that's not going to be the case anymore. 

"I think there is a school of thought that maybe all these guys need to eligible now so we can get through a season and not cancel games. 

"I applaud the NCAA for at least discussing this next Wednesday. This doesn't move that fast usually. I have the utmost respect that it's at the discussion level on a serious note next Wednesday."