Mike Brey speaks after Notre Dame’s loss to Virginia Tech
SOUTH BEND – Mike Brey’s mind after Notre Dame’s 93-87 loss to Virginia Tech featured a variety of things. It was his usual upbeat act that the media has come to expect from him win or lose, but you could tell he was thinking about a lot of things. There was Nate Laszewski’s career-high 33 points going for naught because of 33 from Grant Basile. And there was the fact that for the next game, he will lead the Irish to Duke, where he cut his coaching teeth as an assistant to Mike Krzyzewski, for the last time.
With another loss in the books and his past facing him again in a few days, how can one possibly think he has only one focus right now? He’s coming at a crossroads in his life, so he’s doing his best to deal with that. You’ll find all of this and more in some of what he said after the latest in what has been many defeats in his final season:
Opening statement
“Can they score or what? That’s the thing. … You could see why I tried to get Basile. Did a great job on that recruiting, huh? I did a great job on that front, but he’s obviously really good. They’re so old, and they have a tempo, and I was (saying), ‘Quite frankly, I hope they miss a few’. We got 87 on the board, but you gave up 93. They’re really gifted, and they got off to a very tough start, but I think they’re in gear now.”
On Laszewski's career day
“I feel bad. I will tell him to not dwell on the loss and keep playing his backside off because he’s now playing for some salary and some money and stuff and being scouted and all that stuff, so God bless him. Go do it. No one’s more disappointed in not winning than him, but come on, man. Business is business now. Keep playing your backside off, and if we get a win with it, great. If not, keep building your resume and make some money next year.”
On the mood in the locker room
“Our mood has been pretty consistent because we’ve taken a lot of punches, and all I said to them was, ‘Practice at 3 tomorrow. We get to go to Durham. You four captains, last time we were in Durham, you won. Of course, there was nobody in the building. It’ll be a little different atmosphere, but if you can play well and steal a win Tuesday, it will heal a lot of wounds.’ So that’s what I told them, and we’ll come back to work tomorrow.”
On guarding Basile
“He can shoot it, and, you know, (Justyn) Mutts is such a facilitator. He’s a point forward. He’s just really hard to deal with. And Nate, I thought in the first half did a really great job on him. But then, he gets to the foul line, and he’s high-lowing it, and we were switching some stuff because we didn’t want him to make a 3, and then, he posts you. And you play a little zone, but Mutts makes them go with his passing. How many assists did they have? Nineteen? They can really pass it, but, Grant’s a heck of a talent, man. I mean, he’s a great talent.”
His thoughts between now and the upcoming game at Duke
“A lot of memories of going back there. I’m gonna touch base and get with Mike K. a little bit there on game day when I catch him. You know, I haven’t really been able to talk to him since I made the announcement I was stepping down, but I’d love to pick his brain on advice. There’ll be a lot of memories in that building. I’m glad our guys get to compete in there, and it’s a great opportunity, and it’s a great experience. We’ve had some success in the past, but we’re gonna have to score. I hope we can put 80-something up on the board ’cause they can score.
Mike and I will probably talk. We’re gonna probably be pickleball teammates in a 60-and-over league, Mike K. and I, and we’ll probably play at the Final Four this April. Lot of memories there, man, and really, that decision that Mike hired me as a high school coach 28 years ago opened up everything for me. Actually, I compare that move when I communicated with [autotag]Tommy Rees[/autotag]. It’s a very similar move. Tommy made a move, and he and I passed it town, and I congratulated him. He congratulated me. We’re both leaving. I said, ‘Tommy, let me tell you something.’ I said, ‘Tommy, your move reminds me a little bit…’. I was 28 when I went to Durham. He’s 30 going to Tuscaloosa. I said, ‘The move that I made to Durham set me up for the rest of my career.’ Just a side note ’cause I saw him in town.”
On the Irish's 2016 win at Duke
“To win one in there when the placing was rocking was unbelievable. … That’s one of the great things you remember in your career here. That was awesome. … Anytime we were able to beat ’em, especially when Mike was there, it gave our program great credibility. So I’ll see some familiar faces for the last time.”
