Tag: Mike Brey

Twitter pays tribute to Mike Brey after final game as Notre Dame coach

What would you like to say to the departing Irish coach?

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips presented [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag] with a commemorative photo before Notre Dame’s conference tourney loss to Virginia Tech. Former Irish player [autotag]Jordan Cornette[/autotag], calling the game for ACC Network, did likewise.

It was the time for it to happen because there was a very good chance that this would be the Irish’s only appearance in the tournament, and it was. Although the Hokies were the team moving on, the significance of the Irish’s loss was not lost on college basketball fans.

No one knows where Brey will end up next, but it won’t feel the same regardless. He has become so synonymous with Notre Dame that people both part and not part of the Irish’s fan base took to Twitter after the game to express their appreciation for him. He deserves all the recognition he’s getting right now, not only for what he’s done as a coach but also for who he is as a person.

Here are only some of the tributes that have been tweeted out:

Mike Brey, Cormac Ryan, Marcus Hammond speak after Notre Dame loss

Read some final words summing up the season and a whole era of Irish basketball.

Notre Dame’s 67-64 loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament signaled the end of an era. Yes, it means [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag]’s days as Irish coach are over, but it also means the end for many players on the roster, especially rotational players. Two of them are [autotag]Marcus Hammond[/autotag] and [autotag]Cormac Ryan[/autotag], players who didn’t begin their collegiate careers with the Irish but were the most impactful in Brey’s final game for the program. That allowed them to come out with Brey for the season’s last postgame news conference.

Hammond and Ryan sat next to Brey as he, among other things, called out the officials for a late lengthy review that ultimately resulted in a dead-ball technical for [autotag]Matt Zona[/autotag] that might have affected the game’s outcome. This came as the Irish were about to shoot their own free throws in a close contest. Brey has called out ACC officials before, and he apparently decided to do it one more time on his way out.

Here is what the Irish trio said after the game:

Photos of Notre Dame’s close loss to Virginia Tech in ACC Tournament

Here are Mike Brey’s final images as Irish coach.

The only way Notre Dame was going to avoid tying the program record for losses was by winning the whole thing. At least it went down in an ACC Tournament opener against Virginia Tech that was much closer than anyone anticipated, but a 67-64 loss still meant 21 losses, a mark previously set only by the 1965-66 Irish. At least there aren’t anymore games, meaning that mark will stay where it is for now.

When [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag] took the Irish coaching job in 2000, he couldn’t possibly have imagined his final season with the program ending like this 23 years later. It was a season filled with empty promises and continuing to sink lower than was previously thought possible. We don’t know where Brey might pop up next, but he might want to step away from basketball for a little bit to clear his mind. Time will and should be needed to wash this bitter taste out of his mouth.

Here are the images of Brey’s final game as Irish coach

Notre Dame drops tight one vs. Virginia Tech in ACC Tournament

So close to a bright spot in an awful season, but at least it’s all over.

Notre Dame fans were just waiting to be put out of their misery for this season. However, none of them could have anticipated an ACC Tournament first-round game with Virginia Tech that came down to the very end.

But like so many other times this season, the Irish just could not close the deal. A frustrating 2022-23 campaign came to an end with a 67-64 loss that gave the Hokies a second-round date with NC State.

The Irish (11-21), who finished the season tied for the most losses in program history, turned a 12-point first-half deficit into a five-point lead with 5:35 remaining. They were up four with 2:08 left, but the Hokies (19-13) scored five unanswered points to retake the lead going into the final minute.

With 42.5 seconds left, [autotag]Trey Wertz[/autotag] made two free throws to put the Irish back up, but Sean Pedulla also was awarded two free throws after [autotag]Matt Zona[/autotag] fouled out on a dead ball technical. Pedulla made only one of them, so the game was tied at 64 with the Hokies getting the ball.

Justyn Mutts blew past [autotag]Dane Goodwin[/autotag] and around a screen for a dunk to put the Hokies in front, the game’s 16th lead change. [autotag]Cormac Ryan[/autotag] tried to answer with a layup but was blocked by Rodney Rice. [autotag]Nate Laszewski[/autotag] was forced to foul Pedulla, who had two free throws to try and ice the game for the Hokies. Pedulla only made one, and the Irish had a chance to tie it with a 3 with 9.8 seconds remaining.

[autotag]Marcus Hammond[/autotag] had the first 3 attempt but was blocked by Mutts, who touched the ball as it went out of bounds. That gave the Irish one last gasp to send the game to overtime with 2.4 seconds on the clock. This time, Laszewski got the ball, and he got the shot off. It didn’t fall, and [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag]’s tenure as Irish coach was over.

Grant Basile led the Hokies with 20 points, but Mutts was their best player with a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds. Pedulla scored 13, and Hunter Cattoor, the ACC’s co-leader in 3-point shooting, got nine of his 11 points from beyond the arc.

Hammond lead all scorers with a season-high 23 points, and Ryan scored 18. Zona had nine points on a career-high three 3s before fouling out.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Watch: Former Notre Dame player bids farewell to Mike Brey

“He did it his way. The right way.”

Tonight could very possibly be the last game [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag] coaches at Notre Dame.  Although we hope for the Irish to remain in the ACC Tournament for at least a couple of days, the 3-17 mark in conference speaks for itself and expectations aren’t high.

This has been a rough end to a fantastic career for Brey, however.  The 23-year Notre Dame head coach led the Irish to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 13 years his first season on campus, and in total 13 NCAA Tournament appearances that were highlighted by two trips to the Elite Eight.

A former Notre Dame player on a couple of those early tournament teams, who now works on the ACC Network took time to bid Brey farewell in a produced piece.

Jordan Cornette was a member of Brey’s first true recruiting class and started over 70 games during his career.  Check out

his produced piece titled “Thanks Coach” below:

I’m glad Jordan was able to poke fun at the Grant Hill comment so I didn’t have to.  Here’s to hoping Brey’s stay at Notre Dame lasts at least another night.

[lawrence-related id=68355]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Notre Dame Men’s Basketball NCAA Tournament History

Notre Dame has made a trip to the NCAA Tournament 37 times to date, the ninth-most of any basketball program.

Unfortunately Notre Dame won’t be making [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag]’s final year as head coach one that ends with a trip to the NCAA Tournament.  However, he did bring the Irish to the dance over 1/3 of their times in program history since taking over the job in the summer of 2000.

Despite being known as a football school or women’s basketball school, the Irish have now been to the NCAA Tournament 37 times – the ninth most of any program in all of college basketball history.  They’ve also played in more NCAA Tournament’s without winning the whole thing than any other program.

How has Notre Dame fared during their 37 trips to the big dance?  Just once they’ve made a Final Four but have had a few close calls to winning a regional as well.

Here is how Notre Dame has fared in all 37 of those trips to the Big Dance:

More NCAA Tournament History from the College Wires Network:

Alabama / Aub / Fla / LSU / Tenn. / UGA // Mich. / Mich St. / Ohio St. / Penn St. / Wisc. // Okla. / Texas // ND // USC

 

Mike Brey not done coaching after all

We’ll be pulling for him wherever he ends up going!

Notre Dame head basketball coach Mike Brey might be done with the Fighting Irish once this season ends, but he isn’t retiring from coaching.  That’s not a rumor from an unnamed source, but a direct comment from the horse’s mouth.

This from Jeff Goodman, one of the absolute best college basketball reporters in the business:

Big news out of Notre Dame. Mike Brey tells me that he is not retiring.

“Definitely not done coaching.” – Brey

Great to hear from one of the best guys in the business. – Jeff Goodman

So now the question turns to not just being who ultimately replaces Brey in South Bend, but also what level program Brey lands his next job at?

Mike Brey’s 23 best players at Notre Dame

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

[lawrence-related id=69359]

Mike Brey celebrated his last home win at Notre Dame by partying at the local bar

Brey closes out a legendary career at home in South Bend in iconic fashion.

Wednesday night, Mike Brey walked onto the court at Purcell Pavilion for the final time as the head coach of the Notre Dame men’s basketball team. When he left the court, his team had just upset No. 25 and ACC-leading Pitt. Although the 11-19 record (3-16 ACC) isn’t up to the standard college basketball fans have come to expect from Brey and the Irish, it was certainly a fitting closing for the coach.

Brey spent 23 years at the helm of Notre Dame, leading the Irish to a 482-275 (64%) record. He’s the winningest coach in ND history, and has 13 NCAA tournament appearances and a 2015 ACC tournament title. But there’s one thing he hasn’t done.

Before the game, Brey told media that — for the first time in his two decade career in South Bend — he would be venturing to local watering hole The Linebacker to celebrate or commiserate.

Well, he’s a man of his word, and the celebration went on all night.

Brey met with students and fans, posed for pictures, and yes, even partake in a few adult beverages.

Mike Brey continues to be one of the absolute best. While he’s stepping away from Notre Dame, he’s not quite retiring. So will we see him on another sideline next season? Only time will tell.

Photos of Notre Dame winning Mike Brey’s final home game

Relive a fun night, or live it for the first time.

Notre Dame hoped to give [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag] a farewell present in the form of winning the season’s last home contest. That it did as it denied Pittsburgh a chance to win a share of the ACC regular-season championship. This 88-81 win will be remembered by everyone who was there to honor the winningest coach in Irish history, and that honor was successful on all counts. Here are some images of the game if you missed it:

Notre Dame plays spoiler against Pittsburgh in Mike Brey’s home finale

Now that’s the way to close the home season.

Notre Dame’s home finale against Pittsburgh was a picture of what could and should have been this season. On paper, the Irish had all the talent to make a run similar to last year’s team that won twice in the NCAA Tournament. Instead, the inability to close out games tumbled them to near the bottom of the ACC, leaving them to play the spoiler role in the regular season’s final week. That they did against the Panthers with an 88-81 victory in [autotag]Mike Brey[/autotag]’s final home game.

The Irish (11-19, 3-16) were in control from the beginning on a night when the Panthers (21-9, 14-5) could have clinched a share of the ACC regular-season title. They led by as much as 20 in the second half and stayed in front by double digits until the game almost was at its final minute. The Panthers made it interesting, getting to within five with 38 seconds left, so that big cushion turned out to be very necessary. When there’s a second half with a collective 54 free throws attempted and 43 field goals attempted, you can’t come to any other conclusion.

In their final games at Purcell Pavilion, [autotag]Cormac Ryan[/autotag] and [autotag]Marcus Hammond[/autotag] tied for a game-high 20 points. [autotag]Nate Laszewski[/autotag] and [autotag]Trey Wertz[/autotag] scored 14 apiece in their home finales. [autotag]Dane Goodwin[/autotag] also played his last game in South Bend and scored 12 before fouling out. Even [autotag]Robby Carmody[/autotag] got to play on senior night, bricking two free throws in the last minute and also grabbing one rebound.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89