Mike Brey Notebook: April 10

Notre Dame hosted its annual “An Evening With Notre Dame Basketball” awards banquet Monday night celebrating the top moments from the 2017-18 season.

Several players were honored with various awards throughout the night, speeches were made and reminiscing about the season itself occurred.

Seniors Bonzie Colson (19.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game) and Matt Farrell (16.3 points and 5.5 assists per contest) both were selected as winners of the Captains Award for the season. Colson became the fifth player in program history to reach the 1,600-point plateau, while Farrell became the 62nd Irish player to join the 1,000-point club.

Big man Martinas Geben was an easy choice for Most Improved Player after averaging 11.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game during his senior campaign. Junior guard Rex Pflueger became just the third player to win two Defensive Player of the Year awards, joining Steve Vasturia (2015-16) and Pat Connaughton (2013-14).

“Empty the tank” was a mantra for the Irish during the latter half of the season when the injuries were piling up and times were tough. Sophomore T.J. Gibbs ranked No. 10 nationally in total minutes played (1,348), which led to being honored with the Empty The Tank Award.

Senior Austin Torres and Matt Gregory won the Team Irish Award and Knute Rockne Scholar-Athlete Award, respectively.

To wrap the night, the entire senior class of Colson, Farrell, Geben, Torres and Gregory was awarded with the Monogram Club Most Valuable Player. The quintet won a school-record 103 games in a four-year span, including 45 ACC wins, 29 ACC road wins, eight ACC Tournament wins and the first Maui Jim Maui Invitational title.

It’s a group that helped keep Mike Brey going this season through all the adversity.

“They’ve been a favorite of mine, really,” Brey said Monday night. “Maybe it’s because of how they handled this year when things didn’t go well. … They just kept us going. They kept the young guys understanding what we’re trying to do.

“As I said during the year, they kept me up. You come in and those guys are upbeat and you feel better. They leave as a really special group. I think when you heard them all speak, they all have personality and they all have a different style. I miss the personality of this team. It was a fun team to be around.”

This past season will likely be remembered as one filled with what-ifs due to all the injuries.

The biggest was when Colson suffered a fracture in his left foot. He returned late in the regular season before suffering the injury again during the NIT when the Irish faced Penn State. It is expected to be the same timetable as the first time for Colson to return to basketball activities.

On top of Colson’s and Farrell’s injuries that kept the duo out for a combined 20 games, Brey also lost freshman wing D.J. Harvey for the final 17 games and junior forward Elijah Burns for the NIT due to knee injuries.

Brey updated the status of both following the banquet.

“I think D.J. more realistically the first day of practice,” Brey said. “I think maybe in September he’s in full-speed workouts. I think we have to expect him first day of practice in October he’ll be ready to go.

“He’s just not going to be ready for the foreign tour.”

Harvey had knee surgery and it’s been speculated whether he will even play in 2018-19 and could take a redshirt. Brey said the staff isn’t even thinking about that route right now.

“I don’t think we’re at that point,” Brey said. “[Trainer] Skip Meyer has not said that. When we first got the diagnosis, we both said we always have that option. I don’t think we’re thinking that way. I think we feel we’re going to have him pretty healthy in October.

“It’s nice that you do have the flexibility to do that, but I know for him he’s not thinking like that. Young guys sometimes their attention to detail isn’t great, sometimes with their class attendance and their treatments. He’s been unbelievable coming in because his life has flashed before his eyes. I’ve seen a lot of maturity in how he’s handled his rehab.”

Burns has not had surgery on his injured knee, and Brey is hoping that is route they do not have to take.

“We did some PRP [Platelet-Rich Plasma] injections,” Brey said of Burns. “We’re doing that. We’re hoping we don’t need to do any procedures. He’s had two PRP injections.”

Brey was also asked if the Irish expected Burns to return for his fourth season, and there appears to be no doubt in Brey’s mind about where Burns’ head is at.

“Yeah, I do,” Brey said of Burns returning. “I don’t think he’s going to be able to graduate by the end of the summer. We talked and I think for him it’s too bad he was hurt. I really wanted to play him even more so in the NIT games and get him more minutes. …

“When you think about Elijah and John [Mooney], those two guys played a lot and they got in some games this year and did some good things. I told him you should be thinking being in a white jersey our first day of practice in June. I think he’s all in. Again, he’s not going to be able to graduate, so he doesn’t have the flexibility.”

Notre Dame has been working on renovating the old Rolfs Sports Recreation Center for the men’s basketball program to use as a practice facility.

Brey expects it to be ready for the start of practice this fall.

“I’ve had great support here,” Brey said. “There’s no question. Jack Swarbrick has been great to work for and Father John Jenkins. We got very aggressive in the fundraising the last two years and finally finalized the fundraising in the fall.

“They’re working and on football, too. There’s a lot of construction going on back there. I’m excited and I think our first practice in October will be in the facility.”

Farrell and Geben will both participate in the 2018 Portsmouth Invitational Tournament April 11-14 in Portsmouth, Va.

The event features 64 college players looking to impress NBA front offices and scouts heading into the 2018 NBA Draft.

“Matt got invited quickly,” Brey explained. “I really lobbied for him. I also think what happened was some big guys decided not to go. I think he was right there on a quick waiting list. As soon as maybe one big guy got hurt or didn’t decide to go.

“He earned that and I was hoping he would have a chance to do that. … It’s a select group. … Great for them and right where they want to be.”

It may have been an event Colson participated in if he would not have re-injured his foot, but he will be limited to what he can do for NBA teams in preparation for the draft.

“Bonzie is taking his time,” Brey said. “I don’t know if Bonzie is going to be able to work out for any NBA teams. You’re going to have to deal with him on draft night and his body of work.

“Summer League will be important for him then he will be healthy for that.”

Looking ahead to recruiting, Notre Dame has one open scholarship heading into the 2018-19 season and only loses Pflueger following next season. So, the Irish could have two scholarships available for the 2019 class if the open one is not used on a transfer.

In case you missed it, Brey also discussed the staff’s plans moving forward to fill out the roster and what options they are considering. CLICK HERE to read more.

Notre Dame announced a new deal for Brey Tuesday morning, extending him for three more seasons.

Read more about the deal HERE.

The Atlantic Coast Conference announced opponent matchups for next season on Tuesday. Notre Dame’s repeat opponents will be Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Boston College.

CLICK HERE to see the rest of the conference slate.

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