Mike Brey Notebook: Previewing Michigan State

This Thursday’s matchup between Notre Dame and Michigan State, part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, was already an anticipated matchup between a popular Final Four pick (Michigan State) and a potential dark horse Final Four team with the preseason ACC Player of the Year (Notre Dame).

But Notre Dame’s (6-0) run to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational title and jump to No. 5 in the Associated Press poll upped the ante as both programs enter the matchup in the top-five with Michigan State (5-1) coming in at No. 3 after thrashing North Carolina 63-45 to win the PK80’s Victory bracket.

The Spartans held the Tar Heels to 25.0-percent shooting (15 of 61) from the field and 5.6-percent shooting (1 of 18) from behind the three-point arc.

Irish head coach Mike Brey sees some similarities between Michigan State and Wichita State, but the Spartans may be on another level.

“In a way, it’s a little similar to the Wichita State preparation,” Brey said Tuesday afternoon. “But I think they are Wichita State on steroids. They are barreling down hill on you in their offense and they are all over the backboard. Then they guard the heck out of you in the half court.

“That’s what we faced out there in Maui last Wednesday. Now you’re dealing with a home atmosphere. I think the biggest fear especially early in the game is transition defense. They really get down the floor quick. We haven’t really been tested in our transition defense. We have a lot of work to do in that the next two days.”

Defending Michigan State in transition is a big key for Brey as he prepares his team.

“They run more on makes than they do misses,” he said. “Big guys really sprint the floor and they got fresh big guys in there all the time. Then rebounding the ball. Can we keep it to one-and-done? We were able to do that against some athletic ability with LSU and Wichita State, so I’m encouraged.

“But it’ll be a heck of a challenge with all the size they have. Offensively, we had a hard time figuring out what to do against a great defensive team in Wichita State in the first half. How do we get into a better flow offensively because that can certainly help your defense if we’re flowing a little bit better on the offensive end.”

The two programs will be meeting for the 97th time overall, but for only the second time since 1979. Notre Dame won the most recent meeting 79-78 in South Bend in December 2014. Both Brey and Spartans head coach Tom Izzo begin their head coaching careers during the 1995-96 season with Brey at Delaware and Izzo at Michigan State.

“He’s a great guy and he’s a good friend,” Brey said of Izzo. “We go way back. We got our head coaching job the same year. He was moved up at Michigan State the year I got the Delaware job. The ultimate respect for him.

“They have an identity. They’re true to it every year. That’s why they’ve been amazingly consistent. I’ve gotten to know him … he’s just one of the good guys in the profession. It’s interesting we haven’t played them much. A lot of respect.

“We had success against them three or four years ago. That was great credibility for our program to beat Michigan State program.”

With a strong performance in Maui last week, Notre Dame has won big games away from South Bend this year already. Winning in East Lansing, Mich., will provide a different challenge for the Irish.

“I think there’s a confidence playing away from our building starting with the DePaul win,” Brey stated. “That was a good thing to do and have to get through tough stuff on the road right away. The Wichita State fans … it was a loud building.

“This atmosphere will be as good as any one we’ve played in from what I understand. I’ve never been in it. The only time I’ve been in this arena was to Tory Jackson win a state championship. I haven’t been in the arena any other time … I certainly have heard about it and seen it on TV. They get it going. It’s a great test of our road demeanor.”

Notre Dame gained valuable experience in Maui with the comeback win over then-No.6 Wichita State, finding a way to beat a talented team and program despite its back being against the wall early.

“I think it’s great to be challenged,” Brey explained. “There’s no question about it. A veteran group they want to play big games. It doesn’t get much bigger than this against a great opponent.

“… When I saw how our schedule was set up and then I saw what the NCAA Tournament committee talked about road wins being more heavily weighed this could really be perfect for timing for us if we can keep winning games away from our building.”

Senior big man Martinas Geben came through in the clutch knocking down two late free throws to give the Irish a 67-66 lead with less than three seconds remaining. Brey sees that moment as a springboard for Geben’s confidence heading into a game which he will needed against Michigan State’s size and rebounding prowess.

“The guy deserves a good year,” Brey said of Geben. “He’s a great young man. He’s been a team guy. He’s been in with both feet. He deserves to have really good stuff. He should really be one confident guy heading up there.

“The way he and Bonzie Colson were playing physically in the second half last Wednesday was really encouraging … I think right now he’s in a great frame of mind. We’re going to need that body up there.”

Brey was asked this afternoon if anything surprised him in Maui that he wasn’t expecting. The Irish head coach wasn’t caught off guard by anything, but mentioned he was pleased with how his bench performed in Maui.

Freshman wing D.J. Harvey averaged 6.3 points while sophomore big man John Mooney provided 4.7 points and 3.7 rebounds to help lead the Irish bench.

“We’re playing three big guys [Mooney, Elijah Burns and Austin Torres] off the bench at different times, different stuff together,” Brey said. “I’m very pleased with what D.J. Harvey has given us when we’ve subbed him in there. Those four guys off the bench I thought gave us really good stuff.

“It wasn’t for as many minutes in the second half of Wichita State. We rode the main guys, but to get to that I just really like how that group is playing. We’re going to need them Thursday and beyond.”

Junior guard Rex Pflueger was the unsung hero of the final minutes of the Maui championship for Notre Dame.

Pflueger forced the jumped ball to give the Irish a chance to take the lead. He followed that up with a pass to a cutting Geben which lead to the free throws. The Californian then forced Shockers guard Landy Shamet to lose control of the ball and not allow Wichita State a chance to win the game.

“The guy is unbelievable,” Brey said. “One of the great winners ever. The tie-up. I love him taking the ball out of bounds. He’s a quarterback and he’s better than Sam Darnold from little league if you ask him …

“I’ve never seen a guy taking the ball out of bounds kind of in a defensive stance in that last one. He watches the first two options slowly and delivers. And, of course, who gets his hands on the ball from Shamet, so they don’t get an attempt? Him again. He knows who he is.

“I thought in the second half he did a good job of getting some of his mid-range stuff and instead of hunting his three. He’s one of those guys like Steve [Vasturia], I used to say, it’s hard to have him out of the game. When he’s out of the game I get a little fidgety. Man just wants to win and man did he make every little play the last 20 seconds.”

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