Mike Brey Notebook: Miami
Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey spoke about the loss to Miami and gave an injury update on several key players on Monday night.
On the loss:
“We gave ourselves a chance, but sometimes you have to take your hat off to the other team. I thought Walker’s shots were backbreakers and they were tough shots. We couldn’t keep the big fella off the backboard, and that really hurt us.
“We wanted to try and go 2-0 on a Saturday/Monday. We couldn’t get it. I thought Miami played brilliantly.”
On DJ Harvey:
“I don’t think Harvey will be back this season. We’re going to do another MRI on Tuesday. I don’t know if we have some cartilage going on in there. He would have gotten a lot of minutes in this vacuum of injuries, and we might have seen some John Mooney-type of development.
“We were going 5-on-5, and he made a lateral cut. He pulled up again. The bone bruise is on the inside, he had the pain on the outside. I don’t think he was truthful with us the week we brought him back because he wanted to play so bad.
“I don’t want him to do that again, but I like that trait because he wanted to play so bad. He’s not going to play this year.”
On Rex Pflueger:
“I think Rex will be ready on Saturday. He needs to calm down because it’s swollen. We’ll be back to eight guys on Saturday.
“It’s a bruise he took on that fall. He can’t run. He doesn’t have range of movement in his legs. I expect him to start on Saturday.”
On post-season:
“We’re still playing basketball, baby. We have to play it out. I have no predictions. I have no crystal ball. You somehow get to eight league wins before you go to Brooklyn and Bonzie is healthy, then you have to do something there.
“We could also be an NIT team. That may not be bad for this team either if we get everyone back. We’re very realistic about where we are at.”
On playing big on Monday:
“We really played our perimeter the whole game. Nik (Djogo) played 37 minutes, which is probably a little much for him. He played his backside off and busted his butt.
“The only time we played John (Mooney) as a three-man was for two or three minutes. We kept the bigs fresh, and that’s been good for us. I thought (Austin) Torres and (Elijah) Burns gave us good energy and good minutes.
“You just can’t do much to keep your guards fresh. That’s why we tried to play a little zone, and they made a three. We went zone on the last possession, we get them to miss, and I thought John had it in his hands.”
On talking to Matt Farrell:
“He’s struggling tonight. He was hurting. He was great in the huddles driving his group. I’ll get with him tomorrow. He’ll be better tomorrow.
“He’s been mature about it.”
On the return of Bonzie Colson:
“Bonzie will be back at practice for at least half a practice on Thursday. It will probably be energizing for everybody, especially the seniors. I don’t think he’s going to be ready to play after two days of semi-practice.
“I think Pittsburgh is realistic depending on how he reacts. That’s a positive, and we need to have him back. I don’t know what tournament we’re going to, but I want him to play before the season ends.”
On conditioning of Colson:
“He’s done a good job on the bike and treadmill, but it’s just not the same. I’m interested to see him go 5-on-5 on Thursday and see where he’s at. Is he a little sheepish to rebound in traffic? Knowing him, he won’t be. That’s what scares me about bringing him back too soon because he only knows one way to play.”
On Nik Djogo:
“Nik saved our backside in Boston on Saturday. I thought he played great. I thought he was pretty good tonight. He’s 3-for-11, and that’s a tough one. He had a couple of turnovers, but he’s active and driving. He’s trying to make plays. Somebody has to make a play, so I don’t fault him for forcing a drive now and then.
“I want to keep him confident. I don’t want him to be disappointed tonight.”
On Elijah Burns and Austin Torres:
“I thought Burns and Torres together gave us good stuff when they were in there. They moved a little better defensively than our other two bigs, so you’re trying to figure out who is better here and there.
“I’m pleased with how they’re playing.”