Mike Brey Notebook | Binghamton Win

Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey spoke following the 69-56 win over Binghamton on Tuesday night. 

On the win:
“I liked we had to play against zone for 40 minutes because we’re going to play a team in early January who will sit in a 2-3 zone. We weren’t very good against it in the first half. Between playing against zone and one less ball handler in the floor in (Rex) Pflueger, we were a work in progress the whole night.

‘We were better in the second half and I’m thrilled how our two big guys played, especially Juwan (Durham). He saved us tonight.” 

On hearing the Pflueger news:
“I was very heartbroken. It’s been neat developing relationships with kids. I love doing it and some you get closer to than others. Rex is like a son to me. We have really connected and he has been amazing at leading and selling our culture when I’m not around. 

“Thank God his attitude is good. He’s picked me up the last couple days. He’s an amazing young man and a big-time winner.” 

On the impact of losing Rex Pflueger:
“Rex has been around practice and was engaged on the bench. He gave me some good advice and stuck his head in the coaches huddles.  He has a great feel for the game and was great for his teammates. 

On potential for a fifth year for Pflueger:
“Rex is going to go home for a while and spend some time with his family. He probably won’t come back until early January. He has not crossed the threshold of playing too many games. 10 is OK. 11 would have been too many. 

“We discussed coming back for a fifth year. He said he needs to think about it and I said we both need to think about it. Let’s evaluate how the year goes, what’s going on with the team and how he feels in March. I think we keep all options open.” 

On expecting a let down after a big win on Saturday and losing Pflueger:
“I was very worried about it. Not shocked at all we were laboring at times. For a Dane Goodwin to play a long time as a third guard, it’s a work in progress. DJ Harvey slides over and plays some on the perimeter. Sometimes against zone, it’s tough when you’re not a natural guard. 

“That’s kind of what we’re faced with as we’re trying to figure it out.” 

On playing Durham with John Mooney:
“We haven’t played them together much but we did tonight and we feel we will have to do that. I thought they were very good together.

“We worked on it a little bit in practice. We have to be more committed to it in practice. When we come back from the 26th before we start ACC play, I think that’s something we have to be committed to more. We’ve talked about it.” 

On spark of Durham coming off the bench:
“I’m thrilled for him. A double-double for him is great. We couldn’t make the first shot all night, but he got us some second shots for us and made some plays for us. He blocked a couple shots when we had defensive breakdowns. 

“I’m excited about his development.”

On forward John Mooney:
“John Mooney continues to be a consistent man for us. He’s the same every day.” 

On Nik Djogo:
“I give Nik a lot of credit. He gave us great minutes and we were dying for a bucket when he hit that three in the corner. I told him if it was close, we’re going with the young guys in the preseason. I know he wasn’t happy to hear it, but he showed a great attitude. He ran the blue team and now all of a sudden it has come full circle.” 

On Prentiss Hubb:
“He has struggled playing against zone all year and a lot of young guards do. We just have to get him more reps. I think it paralyzed him a little bit offensively. In the second half, he got his hands on some stuff in the second half and ended up with seven assists. 

“He turned it over a little bit more than he usually does. We need him to be confident. He does have a voice when he feels good about himself. He’ll talk and lead. He’ll call stuff out and run stuff. We need him to do that even more as the year goes.” 

On bench getting smaller and smaller:
“It’s funny how it works out. I had 11 guys I was trying to keep happy six weeks ago. We’re down there in numbers in how we practice and how we play zone throughout a game to save legs. It was hard to take TJ Gibbs out tonight.” 

On Robby Carmody’s surgery:
“Robby looks like December 27th and  have his labrum repaired.”