JotCast | Notre Dame basketball chat - January Part II 2026 | 1/29/2026

Notre Dame basketball chat - January Part II 2026

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Ken W

11:11

Tom, is it just me or does the coach seem to pull guys while they are in the middle of a "hot streak" , only for them to return cold as ICE ! Perfect example being Shrews scoring 15 in the first 10 minutes against Virg, gets pulled and then returns and takes him over 30 minutes to hit his next bucket?? I feel like this has happened often!?

Tom Noie

11:11

IF: The reason is simple - the program's best handler is over there at the end of the bench nursing his cracked left ankle back to health. With Markus Burton out, anyone who might be able to adequately handle the basketball will get the chance, regardless of position. I like that the bigs have handled. Just take care of it and don't throw it away and all is good.

Illinois Fool

11:10

Hey Tom, thanks for the chance to vent and to become more educated as to ND Hoops. First query of the day, why do we see Towt and Sundra bringing the ball up court? Is it because they handle the ball so well (joking sorta) or because opposing big men can't defend for the entire length of the court? Or is there another reason I haven't considered?

Tom Noie

11:09

One night changed the entire course of the next nine seasons. It happens. Remember when DePaul used to be relevant? Georgetown? Syracuse? Boston College? Notre Dame has scrambled to regain its relevance, but that scramble has occurred while the entire landscape of college athletics has changed to the point where relevance for basketball programs like Notre Dame are possibly impossible.

11:07

Bill: Good call. I go back to one night when everything about Notre Dame basketball changed forever. When the karma disappeared,. When the good times stopped rolling. That would be November 30, 2017. Notre Dame had just won the Maui Invitational. It was ranked No. 5 in the country. It had gone to the NCAA Tournament the previous three seasons with two Elite Eight appearances. Then, November 30, 2017. Notre Dame gets hammered by Michigan State, 81-63, at Breslin Center...and Bonzie Colson reveals that his foot is bothering him. He breaks the foot twice over the next two months. Notre Dame goes from a likely NCAA Tournament team to the NIT. Next year, Rex Pflueger blows out his knee and an unprepared freshman class has to grow up fast. Next year, Notre Dame was on track to building it back up with an NIT bid, then COVID shuts down the world. The next year is a waste. Notre Dame then goes 15-5 in the ACC in 2021-22 and gets sent to the First Four, which extinguishes the coaching fire of Mike Brey.

Bill, Chicago

11:03

I know you weren’t on the beat at the time, but how similar are the last 7-8 years to ND’s 1990s stretch where they were lost in the wilderness. I know having a conference affiliation now is a differentiator compared to back then, but both eras really seemed rudderless

Tom Noie

11:00

You and me both, my man!

Illinois Fool

11:00

At halftime of the BC I had just about given up on the season and to a lesser extent on Coach Shrews and then BOOM. Great next 40 minutes over 2 games. While it's frustrating to lose a 19 point lead against UVA there was fight in the team. Keep that effort up and I'll be happy.

Tom Noie

10:59

Jim: Whereas too many "fans" see beating Boston College by four points and falling short against Virginia as another sign of a head coach and a program going nowhere, I see something else. There's a good team in there somewhere. We saw good stuff when we shouldn't have seen good stuff. Against Boston College. Against Virginia. The trick is now to build off that and pull that good team out of this current team. It's doable. Will it be done? That's the question. This whole, flush everything and fire everyone....you do that's Notre Dame, right?

Jim from Virginia

10:57

Hi Tom. "Not quite sure what to make of it all" sums it up for me. This team is all over the map: In the Stanford and California games ND played with confidence and purpose, only to go into a tailspin for the next four games. Did we see the “real” Notre Dame team in the second half against BC and the UVA game? Or will losing a heartbreaker send them into another tailspin? What’s your analysis of where this team is headed? I do like the current starting lineup and I hope Shrewsberry sticks with it. Certa and Koehler give ND two more 3-pt shooters to help spread the floor and Koehler’s size and skill set make him unique on this team. I think you nailed Koehler’s potential. Game experience with some physical development is all this young man needs.

Tom Noie

10:55

Mike: Breathe. Now. Breathe. Don't hold your breath, especially when you wish for "top guys." Top guys out of the portal aren't coming to Notre Dame. They just aren't. Micah Shrewsberry's marching orders have been to build it the old-fashion way. It's going to take time. It's going to take patience. It's not going to take wanting to hit the reset button after three seasons. That's just dumb.

Mike

10:53

Tom, is there any world where this offseason Micah hits the portal hard for some top guys or is he letting it ride with his high school recruits, which to his credit, has been good.

Tom Noie

10:53

Mike: Great question, but one for the summer chat. Let's get through 25-26 and see what twists and turns await. With the portal being the portal, it's way too early to say who - and what - Notre Dame basketball will be in 26-27. We'll get there soon enough, Promise!

Mike from Libertyville, IL

10:52

Despite however this season ends, what type of expectations for ND fans have heading into 2026-27? Really want to see ND in the dance again.

Tom Noie

10:51

Mike: No, but one might be needed. Micah Shrewsberry might benefit from an old sage/head former head coach who could be more of a compass in certain game situations. This staff just feels too young in a league where you better be old - on the floor and on the sideline.

Mike from Libertyville, IL

10:50

Tom, do you anticipate any staff changes NOT related to the head coach...

Tom Noie

10:50

That's an awfully high bar, and probably one we'll never see again for Notre Dame basketball. Hope you embraced 2015 and 2016. Might be the best this program will ever be.

Guest

10:49

Can Burton, Haralson, Certa, and Koehler be our era's Grant, Jackson, Vasturia, and Connaughton?

Tom Noie

10:48

Jim: Short answer? No. College Football runs everything. That won't change moving forward.

Jim in Charlottesville VA

10:46

Hello Tom and All! Shout out to Mike in Fresno! I am an Alum who fell hard for ND 🏈 in 1969 while in High School. My Class—‘74—is the only one on Campus for both UCLA wins. Since then have waxed and wained about 🏈, and only fervently waxed about 🏀. In that vein, I ask Tom, over time can the University succeed in iopenly funding only 🏈—and not the many other Olympic Sports—for Pay for Play competition?

Tom Noie

10:46

Victor: It's not good when your strongest leadership comes from one of the guys who's been around the program the least. Maybe that changes next season. There's too many guys worried about where their games are to be concerned with the guy next to them. Even Markus Burton has had to learn how to lead. It's about more than just scoring the most points. Gotta learn to trust yourself and your guys.

Victor from Salem

10:44

With Burton gone, Towt seems to be the de facto leader of this team because he’s 30 years old (kidding). That said, when does someone else step up. They showed some “grit” against Virginia, but there have been other nights that quality is about as nonexistent as morals on a soap opera.

Tom Noie

10:44

Ryan: Love the optimism my man! Hope it rubs off on the Irish. They could use it!

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

10:43

Tom what do you think about the Team i think they have looked Okay they had a chance to win on Tuesday but couldn’t i think they win on Saturday and go on a Run GO IRISH ☘️☘️☘️🏀🏀🏀

Tom Noie

10:43

Joe: Every college basketball coach in the country works the officials like Micah Shrewsberry.

Joe Holtzinger

10:43

Tom, I am hopeful after those last two games they are finally figuring it out. Even with Marcus not playing this team has enough talent to win games. The jury is still out on Micah as the head coach. One suggestion please leave the officials alone and put your energy into your players. I do not see many coaches talking to the officials and walking onto the floor as he does. It is not helping your team, so please quit doing it. If that behavior would be working our record would be much better. Please keep your insightful articles coming I enjoy them very much.

Tom Noie

10:41

Either another relative apparently fooling around on the computer or a certain former Notre Dame basketball sports information director checking in ... IYKYK....

Guest

10:40

Great job Tom on your objective reporting on ND BB keep up the great work!

Tom Noie

10:39

Mike: The shot-clock possession in question, I believe, happened when the ball hit the underside of the rim for Virginia. It may have looked on TV, or even in person, that it was an airball. It did hit the rim before the shot clock expired.

MIKE FOREMAN

10:38

Can you explain to me why they did not call a shot clock turnover in the first overtime. I watched it on T.V, and still don't know why it was not called. As far as the team goes, sure would like a better record but am very happy with the play of the freshmen and sophomore's. Sometimes I think the main thing holding them back is the coach. Just my opinion for what it is worth.

Tom Noie

10:38

Tom: Simple answer? Not a chance. Notre Dame can do it in football, where you have to spend three seasons with the program before going por. Notre Dame can do it in women's basketball, where there is no leaving school early. It's not going to go anywhere near it in men's basketball, where the route is one and done. Do more with less has long been the program mantra. That's not going to change. Not for this head coach, not for any head coach.

Tom D., Lansing MI

10:36

In this new, and awful, era of college sports it seems a large financial commitment is necessary to compete at the higher levels. Teams like Texas Tech and Indiana bought their way to football relevance this past year. Is Notre Dame going to spend enough to buy a good basketball team soon or should we continue to expect lackluster teams playing in a half empty 9,000 seat arena for the foreseeable future? Thanks for your reply, Tom.

Tom Noie

10:36

Linny: Brady Koehler and Cole Certa have been starters now. That will continue. If Tommy Ahneman hasn't played yet, he's likely not going to play.

Linny from Cali

10:35

Hello, 1 comment and 1 question: After the Virginia game: Koeler and Certa need to start and play A LOT the rest of the season. These guys have talent and that intangible "it" factor, grit and griminess coach Shrews wants. Question: Any updates on Tommy Ahneman? At this point he should probably just redshirt. Thanks

Tom Noie

10:35

Mark: Glass half full or glass half empty? You see a stagnant offense in the second half and, of course, panic. I see a Virginia team that came into the contest leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in field goal percentage defense and 3-point field goal percentage defense deciding that it was time to play. It wasn't going to come as easily for Notre Dame in the second half as it did the first. Still, it got to overtime. Then a second overtime. It's not as simple as, oh, same old Shrewsberry and same, old Irish. But that's the narrative around this program, no matter how misguided it might be.

Mark from Rochester, NY

10:33

This could just be me but it seemed like the second half of uva shrews got very tight again and started overcoaching. Offense went stagnant and there was panic. Outside of Virginia adjusting on defense what did you see?

Tom Noie

10:32

Linny: If Notre Dame doesn't fail closing out North Carolina and Cal, does it figure a way out against Virginia? Three games with similar outcomes, but all three are different in terms of spaghetti against the wall. Matt Allocco needs to know better against North Carolina, the officials need to have some common sense at Cal. You then take your chances against Virginia that somebody's going to make a degree-of-difficulty shot over someone with a 7-3 winspan. No pasta there, though I'd go with rigatoni.

Linny from Cali

10:29

Hi Tom, I appreciate your optimism after last night's game vs. VA ... but, I mean, this is the 3rd time in 2 seasons we've had a three point lead with less that 10 seconds left. Clearly you think it's just growing pains/young team trying to figure out how to finish games. But how much of it is on the head coach just throwing spaghetti at the wall with different end of game strategies?

Tom Noie

10:27

JET: You mean the fan base that has delivered exactly one sellout in the last three seasons? That fan base? Fair-weather at best. And don't start with the nonsense of ... better product on the floor. How about better product in the stands. Announced crowd of 4,000 for the No. 17 team in the country? All we hear from fans are excuses. It's exhausting.

JET from EVANSVILLE

10:25

what about the dwindling fan base?

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