Mike Brey Notebook | NC State
Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey spoke following the 73-65 win over NC State on Wednesday.
On the win:
”Hard one, right? I said at halftime to the staff, both teams played so well offensively Saturday, NC State against Virginia, us against Louisville, that it was a bit of an adventure. We hung in there.
"I thought our defense was really good guarding really hard guys. That's where our defense has really improved - to be able to guard that kind of personnel off the dribble continually.
"Nate Laszewski came out of the timeout and says, I got it. Neat to see those three seniors who have been through it all together were and have been men for us through this stretch.”
On Nate Laszewski:
"It was Prentiss (Hubb) a lot of times finding him. When we downshift and he has been guarded by a big - that's why I think they went to five guards, so they had someone on him. When he is the only big and a big is having to chase him and move around, that's when he gets stuff.
"I think he's been really good about picking his spots on the drives and getting in there and finishing drives. He's got a great presence about him. You remember him as a young guy and he was nervous at times. He's got a good presence about him and it's neat to see."
On Laszewski hunting his shot:
"That's a big step forward. He's made big shots for us, but he hasn't said let me just kind of do this for a while. To his teammates credit, especially Blake (Wesley) and Prentiss, I thought Prentiss was fabulous. That's why I didn't think I could take him out of the game. He was getting the ball to people, talking and spearheading stuff.
"Those three old guys who have been through it together, they're delivering for us."
On downshifting:
"We've done that in stretches and we have played that way for a while. We have just gotten away from the other big and it happens to. be Paul (Atkinson Jr.) Sometimes it's been Nate and we were 4-around-Paul. The one thing Nate gives you is that stretch guy and they lose him outside the arc.
"He is fabulous defensively. Helping, talking, switching. It's a clinic how unselfish he is - rotating, taking a charge and talking. That's the other reason why he's probably been in there, especially when you're playing against all these guards. It's hard for Paul sometimes because he gets switched off on these guys. Nate can kind of switch and stay in front and rotate.
"He's a defensive anchor."
On Blake Wesley making plays without scoring, including finding Goodwin for a big three:
"We talked about that at one of the timeouts. He was getting in there and getting fouled. He was having to take tough shots and we said, if you get in there, don't be afraid and be ready to kick because they were really starting to bite. That was a really a big-time play.
"He didn't shoot it well, but he's guarding, good against pressure and when it comes down to it, he believes he's a winner. We trust to have the ball in his hands. We learned that in the Kentucky game. Hubb and those guys will go over and get their feet set."
On presence from students:
"I'm having a great time. They have been awesome. There is no question that got us over the hump. When our building is alive, it helps us defensively, especially in that second half when they got their classmates behind them. I'm having a great time. We got them hooked. We'll see them Saturday and I heard there is a game Monday, too. I need them after that too."
On Cormac Ryan and defense:
"His defense was fabulous. Rebounding, taking charges and putting his chest on people and wanting to win. He didn't make any shots, but we couldn't take him out of the game. Those are the plays he always makes. He's pure. He wants to win and whatever we need to do. Again, his defense was great.
"I thought Dane's individual defense - we've come a long way on that end of the floor to be able to guard that personnel over 60 possessions. That's where we've made great strides.
"We really have made progress there. Certainly, Anthony Solomon was a big part of that when we hired him this summer. We know we can rely on it."
On if he's reminded the team they haven't beaten North Carolina, Lousiville, NC State prior to this year and if he'll do it for Virginia:
"I didn't really say anything to the team against NC State. I said to Nate and Dane today at shoot-around, don't we kind of owe these guys? They've had our number and certainly, the guys on Saturday really have had our number.
"I don't even know if I need to bring it up with our veterans because I think they know. I'll stay away from that and let's just prepare and get some rest tomorrow. They're conscious of that, especially the seniors."