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Notre Dame Basketball

Mike Brey Notebook: Cardinal Stritch

November 7, 2017
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Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey was pleased with the performance of his team in the final exhibition game of before Saturday’s regular season-opener at DePaul.  

On guard Rex Pfleuger:
“I thought tonight he got some mid-range stuff and some things at the bucket. He got fouled to get started. He didn’t start shooting three-point shots. When he can get some stuff in the paint and get to the bucket and get fouled, I think his three-point shot is better. 

“The guy does a little bit of everything. He’s involved in every play on the defensive end. I thought he made some great passes tonight as well. It’s like a (Steve) Vasturia. It’s hard to have him out of the game. He just makes things happen on both ends of the floor for us. 

On rotation:
“I was trying to get into where we come with Elijah (Burns) and DJ (Harvey). Tonight, I came back with Marty instead of another big to get some reps there. I was impressed with how Johnny played. I thought Johnny is calming down a little bit. He’s a guy on my mind, but a DJ Harvey has a lot to work with there. 

“He can come off and score for us and do some things. It was a little shorter tonight because you’re trying to get ready for how you’re going to substitute on Saturday. 

On forward DJ Harvey:
“In the last week, he has gotten more comfortable and more sure of himself. He’s making drives and making plays. He’s not thinking too much. There are still days where it’s one step forward and two steps back. 

“I have to always remind myself that he’s the only freshman. He really does standout, and then I get a little frustrated, and I have to catch myself. I have to be patient with him, teach him, help him and challenge him. 

“I even think he can be a little bit of a spot-up shooter for us. He has a great stroke, but every shot has to be important to him. His feet are different sometimes when he catches it. As far as the physicality when he gets to the bucket and rising to make a jump shot, there aren’t a lot of guys that can do that and he does that for us.” 

On defense:
“One of the things I like about this is even when we play against ourselves, we’re getting deflections. Rex, TJ, Matty and Bonzie get their hands on stuff. We can get some steals and have some numbers advantage where we score in transition more off of our defense. That takes a little pressure off your three-point shooting.

“If some of our scoring is coming that way and getting to the line because we drive it, then maybe you’re making up for not making a lot of threes consistently night to night.” 

On guard TJ Gibbs:
“With our efficiency points, he is right there behind Bonzie through 20 practices, which is pretty powerful. He’s just going to get better and better. The three-point shot will be a weapon for us. He’s making plays, and we want him to drive it. 

“Defensively, when those two guys (Rex and TJ) they really get their hands on stuff and work so hard. I think he could really emerge. He and Rex could emerge as really good college guard as they get more comfortable.” 

On forward Austin Torres:
“He’s healthy finally. He’s finally practiced a couple of days. We’re going slow with him. I wanted to get him in there a little bit. He’ll be available for DePaul, but he hasn’t had the practice reps Elijah and Johnny have had. 

“I don’t know how much we can rely on him Saturday, not to say we wouldn’t use him. Elijah will stay in that role as the first big sub, but we’re going to need Austin long-term. What he needs to do is put a couple of days of practice in a row. That’s the next step for him physically.” 

On DePaul:
“There are a lot of new faces. They had lost 10 Big East games in a row, and then they beat Georgetown at the end of the year. I think we could see some full-court pressure, but you’re in a little bit of disadvantage because we’re not really able to get a feel for who they are.

“It’s going to be a charged atmosphere. Can we stay efficient and be who we are for 40 minutes? That’s always been a great trait of ours, especially with a group like this, who has done it before.” 

On opening the season on the road in a new gym:
“When I heard they were doing the building, I just thought it was fitting given the DePaul-Notre Dame history, we don’t see each other anymore in the Big East, so I said we should open that building. 

“There is a lot of newnesses here. I’m very interested to see who we are by 6 or 7 o’clock on Saturday night.” 

 
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