Brey: "Johnson Changes Them"

Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey met with the media after his team's loss at NC State.

Opening Statement:
I think you got to give NC State credit. Defensively we just couldn’t get anything going early in the game and then you’re digging out of a hole the whole time. But again, I think they have a great vibe about them and we don’t.

So, we’ll go back home and see if we can scratch out a win against Boston College, we could use one. Maybe we’ll get Mooney, and we’ll get Farrell into a little better practice rhythm. I thought in the second-half he actually looked like himself a little bit. Get Mooney back Tuesday because we just can’t afford to lose any more bodies.

But again, I think you have got to give State credit. He (Kevin Keatts) has done a fantastic job in his first year here. He is really one of our bright young coaches in the profession. He really is, and he’s got them playing great.

On the rotation with five big guys:
You know that helped us a little bit. What kills us is that we are getting some open looks early in a game, and we can’t make them the last two games. And for us right now, who we are offensively, we have to make some of those to have a chance. And the last two we haven’t made them, but that group got into a better rhythm.

You look for some silver linings when you’re in the midst what we’re in right now. And I think we saw a glimpse of Matt Farrell before the injury. So, hopefully we can get him two days of practice and he’s coming a little more, because he is obviously such a key for us.

On how he keeps the team up:
You know it’s funny, we really have a heck of a group. We have an older group, I only have one Freshman. You see Bonzie those guys have all been very supportive and they are hanging in there. When you have older guys sometimes they panic less.

You know we are where we are in this thing. I’m very very realistic, I’ve rotated through this seat before. And we just try and get them back and see if we can be better at home. We have been better at home, we have been better offensively at home. We haven’t been able score on the road. Our crowds have been great, our fans have been fabulous. I think they know, man they really need us given the situation with our personnel.

So, we need to get one. One can sometimes change the climate a little. But we are going to have to be a lot better to beat Boston College, because they’re very good and playing well.

On the difference between NC State today and at South Bend:
There’s no question, Johnson changes them, you know. He can get in there and make plays. They are a lot better team than what we saw in South Bend, and I think he’s the key. He can distort the defense and get to the basket and make plays.

I think their front line is playing great right now. They didn’t play, I don’t know if they were playing great when we played them in South Bend.

They’re rolling, and it’s their confidence. They’ve had good wins and they’re feeling good. It’s a vibe that as a coach you try to get your group to that. And right now, he’s got them believing, and right now they believe that they are going to win in any situation. They came back against Pittsburgh down.

So, they are an NCAA tournament team, and they deserve it.