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Notre Dame Basketball

Mike Brey Notebook: NC State

February 3, 2018
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Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey spoke following the 76-58 loss at NC State. 

On the loss:
“They are really playing well, and we’re struggling like heck.  You have to give NC State credit defensively. We couldn’t get anything going early in the game and then you’re digging out of a hole the whole time. 

“They have a great vibe about them, and we don’t. We’ll go back home and see if we can scratch out a win against Boston College. We could use one. We can get (Matt) Farrell into a rhythm, and in the second half, he looked better. We have to get (John) Mooney back on Tuesday. We can’t lose any more bodies.” 

On tight rotation in the second half:
“It helped us a little bit. What kills us is we’re getting some open looks early in the game, and we can’t make them the last two games. Right now, we have to make some of those to have a chance. 

“That group got into a better rhythm. You look for some silver linings when you’re in the midst of what we’re in. Farrell looked like the Matt Farrell before the injury in the second half. Hopefully, we can get him two days of practice, and he’s coming a little more.” 

On support from injured players:
“We have a heckuva group. I only have one freshman. You see Bonzie (Colson, those guys have been supportive and hanging in there. When you have older guys, they panic less. 

“I’m very realistic. I’ve rotated through this seat before, and you try to get them back. We have to play better at home. We’ve been better offensively at home. We haven’t been able to score on the road. Our crowd has been great. They know we really need them.” 

On Farrell:
“He has a practice and a half. I think we’re trending the right way with him. I thought he was moving good and he didn’t show any signs – he had lift. We have to get him in a little bit better shape. 

“We need him to play well to win any game the rest of the way.” 

On NC State PG Markell Johnson:
“He changes them. He can make plays. They were a lot different than what we saw in South Bend. He can make plays and get to the basket. I think their front line is playing great right now."

On Notre Dame’s ACC road schedule:
“I don’t think travel partners is going to happen. We obviously go to 20 league games soon, but I don’t see that format happening. We’ve got to come back one more time to another tough place to play.” 

On ACC Tournament:
“I talked to them the other day. We’ve got the double-bye a couple of times. I told them we aren’t doing that this year. If we can sneak our way into the middle of the pack and that middle of the pack is jammed up a bit. You go to Brooklyn and see if you can have some Brooklyn magic.

“Bonzie could be back for us for the tournament. That’s where we are at with it. I gave them that state of the union the other day.”

On postseason:
“We’re at Duke on our way to our sixth straight loss, and the Duke students are chanting ‘NIT.’ My mindset is ‘Thanks for the compliment.’ I’ll take that right now. Where do I sign? That’s not a negative at all right now."

On John Mooney's ankle sprain:
“You come back for one last segment of 5-on-5 to get Farrell more rhythm, and my man comes down on someone. I guess it’s our turn. We’ve been lucky the last couple years. 

“The law of averages comes back around. We’re getting bit a little bit here. Maybe we can get a little healthier for the back half of February and see where we’re at.” 

 
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