Dec. 7, 2013

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Notre Dame Men’s Basketball Postgame Quotes
Notre Dame 80, Delaware 75
December 7, 2013
Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center – Notre Dame, Ind.

Notre Dame Head Coach Mike Brey

Opening Statement…
“[Delaware is] really good and explosive offensively. It’s a good win for us because we had game pressure on us. We had to do some things to win the game. You’re kind of cruising along with a couple possession lead [in the first half] and they banged down five threes in a row. Some of them were bombs, and all of a sudden it changes. They’re hard to defend, and I love their team. I know they get another weapon back next game, so they’re going to be hard to guard. It’s a good night for us because we had to make some plays and had pressure on us. We had to make some free throws and big shots as well as get a key defensive stop when it was a one-possession game. We also had to get the ball in against the press, so it’s a good win for us.”

On outcome of game hanging in the balance in the final minutes…
“I kept telling our guys in timeouts that these are going to be game situations. You’re not going to win by 12. We stayed pretty poised. We changed matchups a couple times and tried some different things. Probably what helped us down the stretch was that we didn’t give up a big three point shot. The lone three that they got, we could absorb it then. You can at least absorb giving up more two point shots.”

On the play of Jerian Grant in the final minutes…
“He’s taken a lot of big ones and made a lot of big ones. Those two shots [in the final minutes] were huge for us, no question about it. I thought Pat Connaughton was a flat-out man again. He played 40 minutes, recorded a double-double and just made big plays. He got every big rebound and made big free throws. The only guy that could really guard Threatt was him. [Garrick] Sherman gave us some scoring again, and we’re going to need that. I think we got Tom Knight trending back up. I’m excited about getting him in there early on Monday night. We need his activity. He bounced and flew around. I told him in the locker room we’re going to need him. We actually subbed to the old line-up and played zone a couple possessions just to buy time. We took Demetrius [Jackson] out and put Tom in, and that was like putting the band back together with the two fifth-year senior big guys and the three veteran perimeter guys. We played zone a little bit. That team’s going to have to play to win games for us, so the thing I get out of today is Tom Knight trending back up.”

Notre Dame Player Quotes

Pat Connaughton – Junior – Guard/Forward

On quick turnaround between games…
“We just have to take care of our bodies. Really come to practice and focus mentally because we have two more good teams coming up in the next three or four days. We really need to get these two wins.”

On consistent rebounding…
“I think just the practice has helped. Developing this new role and practicing all fall with it, it’s something that I’ve been expecting and something I’ve been able to do.”

On team rebounding…
“It’s a big part of our team. It’s something that we need to do and always work on. I really wanted to focus on it today, and I try to focus on it every game.”

On playing 40 minutes…
“I’m twenty years old. I could run all day. If it goes into overtime, I’ll play forty-five. I want to win in regulation, but I could do it.”

On Jerian Grant
“Remember the Louisville game last year? We have the utmost confidence in Jerian, and my job was easy because he hit those shots in the game situations. We practice rebounding and going to the basket strong. You can’t really practice a game situation. He really stepped up.”

On his double-double…
“It was nice. At the end of the day, you’re just playing to win. In the flow of the game, you can’t really keep track of your stats in your head. Whatever it takes, and you have to be greedy on the rebounds.”

Jerian Grant – Senior – Guard

On the resiliency of Delaware…
“We went up 14-2 early. They were not going to go away. They hit five threes in a row. We knew we were going to be in a fight the rest of the game, so we concentrated more.”

On his big performance…
“I knew I was going to have to be aggressive from the start. Pat, Eric [Atkins] and I are the leaders on this team. We know we have to get things going to start the game. [Garrick] Sherman played really well today, too, coming off the game at Iowa. We knew we were going to have to give him the ball early and have him contribute.”

On his isolation plays at the end of games…
“I know that I am going to have the ball at the end of the game and make a play. My coach and the team have confidence in me. They are running stuff through me at the end of the game. I just want to come through for my teammates.”

On his confidence at the end of the game…
“I know the ball is coming to me. I don’t hesitate. I just play my game.”

Garrick Sherman – GS – Center

On his role for the offense…
“Whenever there is an opportunity with our guards driving, especially with our small lineup as they are driving a lot more, big guys have to help and get in rebounding position, so it is a little bit easier to find lanes.”

On deciding to shoot or pass it back out after an offensive rebound…
“It’s just one of those things that I guess I just feel. You kind of see whether it is congested or not. A lot of times, it’s a good opportunity for a kick-out three because everybody is in the lane. They are all trying to rebound, so it’s just one of those things you have to survey.”

On getting adjusted to his role on the team…
“I kind of found role and am getting more minutes, more consistent minutes. I am excited to fill that role for our team. “

On what is the difference for him over the last few games…
“I think I am just gelling well with my teammates. With a smaller lineup of four guards, there is a lot more space for me to work. I feel more comfortable out there with them. It has been good.”

Delaware Head Coach Monte Ross

Opening Statement…
“I think, first off, congratulations to Notre Dame. I thought they played a good style of basketball, one that’s pleasant to watch, as I think we do as well. What Mike [Brey] has been able to do here, we’re very proud to be able to come in here and play a game against these guys. It’s the first meeting of both schools. I think it’s been well documented, all the things that Mike has done at the University of Delaware. The opportunity to come and play was good for our guys. In terms of the game, the biggest thing that stands out is that we had too many loose possessions, whether it was our shot selection, whether it was our turnovers, whether it was missing guys that were open, or over-dribbling. I thought that we had too many loose possessions. But the other thing I thought is the kid [Jerian] Grant hit two unbelievable shots that we had defended, when we were down one. He came down and pulled up for a shot that went in. And when were down three, he did the same thing probably right around the same spot, so kudos to him. I tell our guys all the time, if we play good defense and somebody’s offense is better than our defense, then so be it. We just don’t want to have mental breakdowns, and give an open shot or something like that. But the two shots that he hit are indicative of the type of All-ACC player that I’m sure he was picked preseason, and I’m sure will come to fruition as the season goes on.”

Visiting Player Quotes

Jarvis Threatt – Junior – Guard

On keeping the game close…
“It’s a definite tough one, especially knowing that late in the game, the mistakes were on us, it was on our part. That’s a point that I have to own up to. Turnovers are killing us, way too many by me. It’s good to know that it’s stuff that we can fix. If we continue to get better, we’ll be able to be a great team.”

On the pace of play…
“We want to start off better, stop giving up too much early, letting a team get a run too early. I take responsibility for that–it was my job to control the game. It’s definitely something we can work on and build from.”

Kyle Anderson – Junior – Guard

On his team’s play…
“We made plays when we needed to. Jarvis did a good job coming off screens, taking the ball. Defensively, we just didn’t get the stops we needed to; it’s something we have to work on. We’ll get better with that.”

On playing close to home…
“Yeah, it would have been better to get a win, but it’s nice to occasionally have the family and all the fans from back home get to watch me again.”