Mike Brey Notebook | UIC Win
Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey was pleased with his squad following the 84-67 win over the University of Illinois-Chicago.
On the win:
“I’m pleasantly surprised and pleased. We were not very good in our scrimmage against Cincinnati, and we weren’t very good last Thursday in our exhibition. I was very concerned with an older team in UIC and city guards. Our defense was a key to get us started, and I love how we drove the ball, which I think is something we’re going to have to do.
“It’s something to build on. I thought we might be in game situations and in a hard game given who UIC was and public displays to date.
On starting freshman Robby Carmody:
“He’s a downhill make plays unafraid guy. Maybe the play that set the tone was the charge to start. He can defend, and we played around with different lineups. Even today I had second thoughts and thought we should start Elijah Burns. Robby took advantage of his opportunity.”
On kicking the team out of practice on Monday:
“We needed to hit the reset button a little bit. This has been an amazing group. Tonight may have been our 45th session together. Even though we have new guys, what you can do in summer school, foreign tour and starting October 1st. We’ve been together a lot.”
On shooting woes:
“We have not shot it well from two. It’s not like we have a low post guy we throw it into. Juwan (Durham) has shot 60% from the floor in 25 practices because he’s around the bucket all the time. Burns and John (Mooney) aren’t drop step guys, although I think John can do that more. I have to help him make some moves and be confident down there.
“Our stuff has to be driving it and getting to the foul line. I think we can shoot the three-point shot pretty good and we have some guys that can do that. I like how we’re driving it.”
On free throw shooting:
“I thought we would be good, but that’s crazy off the charts. I told my boss it’s all because of the new practice facility. We have three extra baskets, and we can shoot more free throws. We’ve always been good from there. I think we can get there more because we’re emphasizing driving the ball.
“With the new rules, you get near a guy, all of a sudden it’s a foul, and you’re in the bonus. It has to be a weapon for us.”
On 10-man rotation:
“My attitude was to play 10 guys in the first half, and they’ll tell us who plays in the second half.”
On the health of Rex Pflueger:
“He’s very healthy. I think he’s forced some plays and trying to do a little too much. He doesn’t have to force stuff for us because we have guys that can make plays. He’s learned to trust them. He still does unbelievable stuff on defense and rebounding.
“He’s been a great leader and captain. A lot of these young guys are comfortable because of the time Rex has spent with them unselfishly.”
On the health of DJ Harvey:
“I think there is some conditioning still but given the procedure and where he’s at, I’m pleased. He’s been really good in practice. He was our best player in Indianapolis. He kept us alive against Cincinnati’s defense. He can get to the basket and rebound.”
On Juwan Durham’s six blocks:
“What a different body type for us. Throw him in there, and he’s big and long. We played some zone and put him in the middle. He’s got three full years, and he’s going to need all three, but there’s a lot to work with there.”