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Monday Notebook: Mike Brey

Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey talked both on the ACC teleconference Monday morning and with local media on Monday afternoon about a variety of topics.

Here are three takeaways from his most noteworthy comments.

Brey said his team will get back to working on offense after struggles the last two games.
Brey said his team will get back to working on offense after struggles the last two games.

Offensive Struggles

First, let’s not get too carried away. Notre Dame still ranks No. 2 nationally in offensive efficiency according to KenPom.com, averaging 1.21 points per possession when adjusted for strength of schedule.

Nevertheless, the last two games have been the least productive outings of the year for Brey’s squad. The Irish averaged just 1.03 points per possession in their 69-58 win over Wake Forest Feb. 24, and a season-low 0.88 in the 77-56 loss to Florida State Feb. 27.

On Monday, Brey suggested the offense is something they can flip back on with some practice, and that these difficulties can sometimes happen in February.

He’s right — based on recent precedents. Just last season, Notre Dame averaged only 0.85 points per possession in a 65-60 home loss to Syracuse Feb. 24, only to roll off eight straight wins following that defeat, including winning the ACC championship and advancing to the Elite Eight.

“We just haven’t been very efficient offensively,” Brey said Monday. “You can talk about our defense or our ball-screen defense — and it’s been an area where we wanted to improve, and I think we made some progress.

“But so much is based on our offensive efficiency and we just haven’t been as good, starting in Atlanta. I think it’s something that we can come back and really address over the next two days, where most of our practices in February we’re focused on defense, because your offense was rolling. I think we’ve got to get back to some offensive stuff; passing the ball, getting guys in better positions. Just back to stressing some breakdown drills that we do when we’re building our offense.”

Double Bye At Stake

Pittsburgh defeating Duke on Sunday opened the door for Notre Dame to control its own destiny this week and earn a double bye in the ACC Tournament.

The top four teams in the conference get a double-bye for the postseason event. As of Monday, Duke and Notre Dame were tied for fifth in the standings with each having two games remaining.

Louisville, though, is tied for third, and it has self-imposed a ban on its postseason following an alleged scandal involving prostitutes and recruits. That means if Notre Dame defeats both Miami and North Carolina State this week, even if Duke also wins both of its games, the Irish will get a double bye.

Lose a game, however, and things get dicey. In addition to providing Duke an opening, Pittsburgh is only a game behind the Irish and the Blue Devils, and it also has only two games remaining on the schedule. The Panthers have already beaten both Notre Dame and Duke this season, so should the three programs end up tied the Panthers would own the tiebreaker.

“It’s great that we control our destiny,” Brey said. “After what happened Saturday [against FSU] — of course, I’m watching yesterday, and Pitt certainly did us a favor.

“Almost like Saturday is forgiven; you’re back to where you were. I love that we’ve done enough to put ourselves in a position to earn the double bye. It will be a great atmosphere. It’s the last night our students will be here, because Saturday they’ll be gone for spring break. So I’m trying to rally those guys. I need a Louisville/Carolina effort from them, as well as our team on Wednesday.”

Best Conference In The Country?

Regardless of ACC Tournament byes, Notre Dame is considered a lock for the NCAA Tournament, in addition to several other conference foes.

Some pundits rank the Big 12 ahead of the ACC on the national stage, but it’s arguable the ACC should take the crown. The conference holds five of the top 15 spots in the KenPom.com rankings, and 13 of the ACC’s 15 teams are ranked in the top 100 nationally.

Comparatively, the Big 12 takes three of the top 15, and nine of the league’s 10 programs are in the top 100.

There’s a reason road wins are so tough to come by in the ACC.

“At media day, I talked about I thought the league really had the depth and feel of that old Big East that we left not too long ago,” Brey said. “When it was getting half the teams in regularly, and sometimes nine.

“The one year, we got 11 and pissed everybody off all over the country. If Louisville was eligible, we’re staring at a solid eight and probably nine. I think we’re going to end up with eight when it’s all said and done. And that shows you’re the best league, when you get half your league in the tournament.”

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