Mike Brey Notebook | Georgia Tech Loss
Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey spoke following the 63-61 loss at Georgia Tech on Tuesday night.
On the loss:
“Their defense is really good. It was hard to play against. We gave ourselves a chance, but you have to score a little more to escape down here. I thought they made some big shots and some big posts moves at key times.
“We battled and we’ve been who we’ve been. We’re right there and can’t quite get over the hump. This is a tough league to get over the hump in.”
On if he was surprised Georgia Tech’s injured guys played:
“As long as I’ve been in this business, I always expect the best players to play. I know the other night against Louisville, they were a completely different basketball team. We’re kind of a different basketball team with some guys missing. Those guys that played for them are really gifted and played great tonight.”
On the technical:
“I thought I turned around and voiced my frustration back toward my staff. The quorum is the quorum. I thought it was a clean strip, but I couldn’t see it. He has a better angle. I apologized to the team and I didn’t help us with that. I have to be better there. I know the rule and that’s one me.”
On almost getting key steals:
“It’s kind of been about who we are. Not being able to get a 50-50 ball in the last four minutes - it’s happened in games in this league. Probably some of that is youth. We’ve got some 18-year-olds running around out there. Fatigue at the end of a game. We have to keep helping them and keeping them positive.”
On three-point shooting:
“It’s been the story for us. We haven’t shot it well enough. We handle the ball well even though we had 13 turnovers tonight. We pass and catch well. The clean looks we’re getting, we’re not making enough of them. I think we’re a better shooting team than we’re showing, but until you do it, you are who you are.
“We just haven’t shot it well enough to win in this league.”
On scoring:
“Our defense is good enough. 63 is pretty good. In this league, if you score in the 60s, you’re not going to win many games. We’ve been in the 60s every game but one. We’re searching for scoring as we grow this group.”
On the next two games (UVA and Duke):
“We’re 1-5 in the league. We’ve played some really good teams. The two we’re playing are the two best. We’ve got to flush it and move on. We have to compete and see if we can get to game situations and get over the hump.
“That’s a lot to say against the next two teams. Our crowd will be great. Our fans love our young players as they are getting to know them. We know we have a heck of a challenge on Saturday and Monday. That’s why these kids came to Notre Dame or Georgia Tech to play in this league.
“We got nothing to lose. There are not many expectations on our team since we lost (Rex) Pflueger and some other guys. Let’s just let it rip and play.”
On growth:
“The one thing that’s been lost in us not winning is John Mooney is playing as well as anyone in the league. When you’re 1-5, you’re not going to get a whole lot of attention. He’s been unbelievable setting the tone for us. I thought (Nate) Laszewski was good tonight. I thought (Dane) Goodwin was attacking tonight.
“We’re in a youth movement and there are growing pains. We’ve had a bunch of them and then some nights we’ve had some fun.”