Mike Brey Notebook: Media Day
Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey and his Irish are well into fall practice and will take on Holy Cross (Ind.) on Friday night in an exhibition game. Brey spoke on a variety of topics on Thursday afternoon.
Early practice thoughts:
“We’ve shot it from three better than I thought we would after 11 practices. It’s a small sample size, so we’ll see. I love what we’re doing defensively. We’ve got a team that gets deflections. Bonzie (Colson), Rex (Pflueger), and TJ (Gibbs) are all over the place defensively. We may be able to get some turnovers and easy buckets, which is a little new for us.
“The veteran group that has been starting, they really know how to play. They know our system, and I’ve been really happy with how they’ve played on both ends.”
Managing expectations for Bonzie Colson:
“It’s funny because the first five days of practice, he wasn't feeling it. He wasn’t very good. He may have shot 30 percent from the floor. What was great was he did other things, but he was frustrated because he couldn’t buy a bucket.
“Since then, I asked him to smile a little bit and to enjoy the journey. He’s always been the underdog, and for the first time he’s not the underdog, but he still has to play like the underdog. He’s been in a great rhythm the last week, but I think it’s a process.”
On John Mooney and Elijah Burns:
“I’m excited about both of them. They’ve made huge strides. I’d say right now, Elijah Burns is our sixth man after 10 or 11 practices. Johnny was fabulous yesterday. We’re going to need those guys after this year, and I’m mindful of that too.
“Elijah is easy to play with on both ends of the floor. He understands who he is and he is rebounding on both ends at a huge clip. One of the reasons we recruited him was because we loved how he communicated and how he passed the ball. That’s why he’s emerged as the sixth guy.
“Johnny is physical around the bucket, and he can stretch the floor and make shots. In a game situation yesterday, he made a three to beat the white shirts.”
On TJ Gibbs:
“The best thing he’s done has been getting himself in better shape. He’s down 17 pounds, and he’s an all-around more efficient guy. He has better legs, and you need good legs if you’re going to shoot a three-point shot.
“We’re a little bit different with TJ and Rex because they drive it more. Matt Farrell is a shooter. Once he initiates the offense as a point guard, he has to think like a two-man and a shooter.
“We could have Rex drive and kick to TJ, who can drive and kick to our point guard. Yes, we’re going to have to make some to get respect, but I like how we drive it a little bit with Rex and TJ.”
On Rex Pflueger:
“He will be a voice. There is a confidence about him now. He has great things to say and a great feel for our system. He plays with a great edge and energy. I look at him as a voice and in a leadership role.
“A year from now, I think we’ll have a guy that is going to be extremely confident rotating up. He’ll be the only senior if you look ahead, but he has got a say with this group and he should.”
On Pflueger and Gibbs finishing around the rim:
“Both of them have the ability to do that. They have good strength. TJ has always had great strength, even though he’s leaner, he’s still strong around the bucket. Pflueger has the athletic ability and bounce to get up and finish with dunks.
“They have the ability to fouled, and they’re good free throw shooters. That’s a huge weapon for us.”
On defensive identity:
“Our group wants to defend together. It’s not me selling or demanding it. They know that can be a strength, especially when you talk about those first five guys. They played a lot together, and they talk.
“I’ve really been impressed with Bonzie and Martin (Geben) talking and switching. We know the three guys on the perimeter can move their feet and fly around. A lot of it has come them taking ownership of themselves.
“I think we’ve had more deflections through 10 practices than we’ve ever had. Guys are getting their hands on stuff. We want to continue to emphasize that. We’re not going to get where we want to get without that good ol’ offensive efficiency that’s been our trademark.”
On DJ Harvey:
“We’ve got to get DJ Harvey ready to play. There’s too much there to work with. He’s a sharp kid, which happens a lot in our program. He’s learned how to move without the ball. When you play with all veteran guys, you kind of learn how to play.
“The explosiveness and ability to play at the mid-range area and he can defend. He rebounds for his size. He can be that so-called stretch four. That’s an interesting lineup we’ve played around with the first 10 practices.”
On Nik Djogo:
“I’ve been impressed with Nik. Nik has had a burden starting in the summer as he’s handling the ball. He’s not really a point guard, but he’s becoming a better guard because he has to handle the ball again Farrell, Gibbs, and Pflueger for most of practice and it’s made him a better decision maker.
“He’s been better with taking care of the ball. He’s come great lengths there. He can shoot the basketball, and that’s interesting to me. He can stretch the floor.”
On extra exhibition game:
“We’re excited. After three or four practices a veteran team is looking to play. To sit on the same bench and be able to substitute, put the uniforms on and have a crowd will be great.
“I love the fact Holy Cross can come across the road. Our guys play with them a lot in the summer. Today we will go through a scouting report and a walkthrough. We’ll go through the game day routine.
“Certainly the benefit of hurricane relief – the NCAA has been getting banged around recently. We brought this up in August, and they turned it around quick. They’ve been smoked a little bit lately, so let’s give them credit. They got a waiver for us to benefit a good cause.”
On Rob Balanis:
“One of the great things about him is he is a gifted coach, and he’s ready to be a head coach. I think he’ll have some great opportunities this spring. He’s got unbelievable institutional memory. He’s got a photographic memory, and he’ll remember plays and drills from back in the day.
“What I’ve been excited about is we lost two gifted assistants, and we moved him up to associated head coach, and he’s blossomed. He’s done a fabulous job helping my young staff. He’s done a good job mentoring them and teaching them. He’s become a guy I really lean on.
“It’s been 18 years we’ve been doing it. Everyone has come and gone in my program, Balanis is still here. He’s a key guy.”
On Maui Invitational:
“It’s an amazing challenge. We’ve got to beat Chaminade first. That game scares the heck out of me. They’ll play great against us in the Catholic State Championship of the Island of Hawaii.
“With that field, you can really gain a lot of confidence and gain a lot of resumèeeeee building. It’s a great trip.”
On ethics of program:
“There’s no question right now it’s an embarrassing time for college basketball. The cleanup of the underworld of college basketball hasn’t even begun yet. It’s going to take some time.
“There’s no question I am confident in how we run the program. During this time, you’re reminding the staff of how we do business here.
“I do feel we have a chance to attack it and fix some things in the basketball recruiting world that has always been a little shady.”