Nov. 23, 2004
Notre Dame vs. IPFW
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Notre Dame Head Coach Mike Brey
Opening remarks…
“For us, it’s something to build on. We were very alert defensively for nearly 40 minutes, and we helped each other defensively. We were very unselfish defensively. Our rotation was good, and I liked how we reacted on the backboard. Offensively, we stayed in character. We’re starting to learn how to get into a rhythm playing with two big guys. This is something to build on.”
On what he did to prepare his team for a 40-minute battle after the Harvard game…
“We were all suicidal all week after that. We were all on top of the building getting ready to jump. I didn’t sleep, I haven’t eaten and I’m messing with you guys. W e accepted responsibility for not digging in defensively. (Tonight) we stayed in rhythm offensively and there was attention to detail there. We handled it like an older group who wasn’t happy with the way we played, but we’re still finding ourselves and still trying to figure out our personality. It was nice to see Dennis (Latimore) be so active on the backboard, and that was important.”
On getting nine defensive stops to open the game…
“I don’t know if we’ve ever had that happen before. We were pretty active and we were contesting. Jordan (Cornette) helped us in the post. When your big guys are active and up on the boards, it’s fun to watch.”
On his team’s rotation…
“You have to figure out what’s going well on a given night. Are Dennis (Latimore) and Torin (Francis) going good together, or is it Torin and Rick (Cornett)? We have a lot of confidence in Rob Kurz, and he’s earned that. You have to figure out what a game needs, and maybe you do that in the first half.”
Notre Dame Player Quotes
Senior Forward Dennis Latimore
On playing basketball…
“We wanted to come out here and play hard. You never want to take a game for granted. You never know how many opportunities you have out here to play basketball. I am just thankful that I am blessed to be out here.”
On the play of the team…
“For me personally sitting out a year took a transition. I feel like every game, every practice I am getting better. Team wise I feel like we just stepped up. The effort was great. The defense was stepped up.”
Sophomore Guard Colin Falls
On Dennis Latimore…
“It’s just going to be time with him. He hasn’t been on the court. It’s his fourth game, his second real game in 18 months. The longer he is on the court the more he is going to show how good of a player he is.”
Junior Forward Rick Cornett
On Notre Dame’s depth…
“There’s a lot of good teams with depth. As long as we don’t just have a six or seven man rotation I think that we will be fine because we will have fresh bodies constantly in the game.”
On his play tonight…
“I always want to get the ball and go up strong, so either I get the bucket or draw the foul. Tonight, I just tried to get to the rim and make things happen.”
On his improvement and increased playing time…
“I really didn’t have the opportunity as a freshman. Now that I am older, I think the game more. I try to go in their strong and have the mentality that I am going to score every time that I get the ball.”
IPFW Head Coach Doug Noll
On their overall performance tonight…
“Obviously, we’re very disappointed as a staff and as a basketball team with the performance tonight. They’re bigger, they’re stronger, they’re more physical, but we can match them in the toughness department. We did not do that tonight. When you play a team like this there are two ways to look at it, an opportunity or an obstacle. And I think we tended to look at it as an obstacle tonight, not an opportunity.”
On the toughness of IPFW’s players…
“I was very disappointed with the effort, especially in the toughness department tonight. We were just flat out intimidated. I’ll take responsibility for that. Forget the scoreboard and everything. We’re better than we showed tonight.”
On a slow start…
“After you come out and don’t score for the first ten minutes, there’s nothing left to do but and play the game. We were very pleased at the half. Our goal was to be within ten because they have been averaging about 48 points in the first half and about 28 points in the second half in their three games. We really felt that if we could get out of the first half within ten, we would be pleased and then make our run in the second half.”
On Notre Dame’s play…
“Give them credit. They really struggled their first three games and we knew they would have a breakout game. I did like our stretch in the first half I think in the last 11 minutes we gave up 11 points. I think that was the bright spot of the game.”
On team players…
“I was pleased with our guards. Our guards did a great job on Quinn and Thomas. We went hard with the body through screens. Our goal was to hold them to 30. We gave them 25. That was great. But we weren’t anticipating their big players being as active and physical in the paint. That’s what really beat us. Tonight was just a frustrating night, all the way through.”
IPFW Player Quotes
Sophomore Guard Byron Malone
On being the underdogs…
“We have to come to every game with confidence, knowing that the other team puts their shoes and socks on the same way.”
On the team’s performance tonight…
“As a team, from the get-go, we played very tentatively. Coach kept getting on us about playing our game, but [Bauer] was guarding 6’10” [Cornette]. Any time you have 6’3″ on 6’10”, that can hurt.”
On Notre Dame’s defense…
“The Irish defense is good. Once you get by the guards, Chris [Thomas] and Chris [Quinn], you have a tree right there, and you have to dish it off or try to shoot. To penetrate and kick is the key.”
On the game atmosphere…
“I love the atmosphere where it’s crowded, where you have guys talking to you and there’s a lot of hype. It’s an adrenaline rush.”