JotCast | Notre Dame basketball chat - March 2026

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Hawse from Schenectady

11:17

Tom I need you tell me it’s all gonna be ok..I think we’re finished as a competitive program

Tom Noie

11:17

Clint: I feel bad for J.J., who's a good kid who went home wanting to play for Red Autry. Turns out that you can't go home again. That's the thing about recruiting. Sometimes the guys that are supposed to hit don't. Sometimes the guys that aren't that highly-rated blow up.

Clint from Winnipeg

11:16

J.J. Starling kind of underwhelmed at Syracuse considering his pedigree, didn't he? The whispers about undermining the former head coach is not a good luck.

Tom Noie

11:15

Clint: Yep, one that pays a heck of a lot more than Notre Dame. (ducks).

Clint from Winnipeg

11:15

Any projections on the types of schools the soon-to-be departed transfers will land at?

Tom Noie

11:14

Austin: On March 26, that would certainly fit. For now. And for clarity's sake for some people, that would be Braeden Shrewsberry at the shooting guard.

Austin H

11:14

Do we think next year's starting lineup could be 1. Sanderson 2. Shrewsberry 3. Transfer 4. Koehler 5. Ahneman?

Tom Noie

11:14

Phil: Seriously? Come on, man. If the kid's name was Nick Jones from South Bend Saint Joseph, would you say the same? That Micah Shrewsberry has his kids on the roster is another checkmark against him that will never be erased. I know you're smarter than what you're showing - do you really think if/when Micah Shrewsberry leaves Notre Dame that his son would stay? Seriously? Here's a nugget for you - on the open market today, someone who does what Braeden Shrewsberry does would command $1.2 million a year. Minimum. He's at Notre Dame playing for free. All to draw the ire from "fans" who don't like the head coach. Be better.

Phil - South Bend

11:11

I've watched a lot of St. Joe High School basketball this year, and Shrewsberry is at best an NAIA player. Are NIL dollars going to him? After Micah is let go in a year or two, we are left with him on scholarship. Do higher ups (maybe Pay Garrity) just let Micah do what he wants with scholarship offers or is there a level of oversight?

Tom Noie

11:10

Alex: A lot of this is really about money. Crazy money. Money that you wouldn't think twice about taking if you were a sophomore in college. It doesn't much matter how much love that roster had for the head coach. You know who the first person is supporting those decisions to leave? Micah Shrewsberry. Truth.

Alex - Lansing

11:09

What's truly astonishing about all of this is the market for players in general. Cole Certa was absolutely a bright spot this season and is undoubtedly a huge loss for the team. In the same breath I have no qualms about saying someone WILL overpay for him. Good for him though.

Tom Noie

11:09

Joe: We'll answer that when Burton lands at his new school. The staff was led to believe through this past season, that the plan was for Burton to return and play alongside Jalen Haralson. A crazy money offer changed those plans.

Joe Malloy

11:08

So, with Burton sitting out to preserve the extra year, was this calculated so he could enter the portal with 2 years?

Tom Noie

11:07

Trevor: Until the money people at Notre Dame (do they have anyone for basketball) decide that $30 million or $25 million or whatever the number is OK to eat, yes, Notre Dame will again be in position the next year. Again, I don't know how to stress this enough in the chat. Think I have to revisit every 35 minutes - there's a lot that ails the Notre Dame basketball program. Starting over with a new head coach doesn't fix everything. And it can't just be a one issue fix. Either you fix it all, or you ride it out with it all.

Trevor from IN

11:04

So you mention money as the reason not to fire Shrews. Would that change next year? Pete will still owe what $25M vs $30-40M next year if they fire him, so we will be in the same position next year, no?

Tom Noie

11:04

Xavier: Micah Shrewsberry sends his best. He'll miss you scattered about the empty sections of Purcell Pavilion. If you believe that this is a "referendum on the coach" and only the coach, best you walk away. Take care.

Xavier

11:03

If Certa, Haralson, and Burton all leave it’s a referendum on the coach and a sign the program needs to move on NOW. If ND doesn’t than I will have to. It breaks my heart cuz I truly love this program but I cannot just sit back and blindly support a sinking ship the same way the leadership at ND seems to be inclined to do.

Tom Noie

11:03

J.J.: Outside of moving Scott Hatteberg to first base, right? Of course there are players out there that would fit Notre Dame. The next Matt Farrell or Bonzie Colson. Steve Vasturia. Martinas Geben. The previous staff found them. The current staff needs to find them. Don't worry about getting Indiana guys. Get guys that want to be at Notre Dame for the right reasons.

J.J. from Bristol, CT

11:01

From what I've gathered, it seems Notre Dame is staring down a portal season of notable roster losses while also not having much in the way of cash on hand to find like-for-like replacements for players already on discount deals (the 150k example in your tweet feels pertinent). Assuming the team needs to take a 'Moneyball' approach to player acquisition, is there a profile of player archetype that may not be generally in vouge and as such ND can bring in for lesser money? This feels to me like an area where Shrewsberry's resume point of succeeding with a team built around an unconventional style of player in Jalen Pickett at Penn State will have to come in handy to salvage things. Sorry for the run-on question

Tom Noie

11:01

Tyler: Not singling you out, but let's look at that recruiting narrative that Micah Shrewsberry recruited only relatives for next season. Look at what the roster would have looked like next year had everyone returned. You had Burton playing 35 minutes at point guard. You had Braeden Shrewsberry and Cole Certa monopolizing all the minutes at shooting guard. You had Jalen Haralson on the wing, playing 30 minutes a game. You had Brady Koehler and Garrett Sundra at power forward. You had Tommy Ahneman at center. What do recruits today want? That is, other than money? The answer is playing time, right? What incoming freshman looks at that roster and what it was supposed to look like and thinks there's room for him. They all believe they should play sooner than later. Not next year. Not at Notre Dame. That's why that recruiting class looks the way it looks. When you have a Top 10 recruiting class, a class you thought would be on campus three, four years, you don't follow that with another Top class. You just don't.

Tyler - South Bend

10:56

Tom - Absolutely love that you write what sometimes people don't want to hear. My question is on high school recruiting, what does it say about the program that they currently have 3 recruits signed, 2 of them being sons of the coaching staff? Is the staff not out there recruiting high schoolers anymore and focusing on the portal? Curious to hear your thoughts as Purdue is one who seems to still put the focus on high school, and has the state of Indiana on lockdown for recruiting....

Tom Noie

10:55

...yeah, OK. Quit while you're ahead, my man. You've had your 15 minutes. Time to keep it moving.

Conor from NY

10:54

lol you’re really making excuses for Shrewsberry because Burton wasn’t a true PG in his system? Really? That’s on the coach for not figuring out how to properly build a roster around a 20 PPG scorer and first team all ACC guy

Tom Noie

10:53

James: Honestly, if they're not considering the program that I'm paid to cover, it doesn't much matter. It matters more who Notre Dame can get to fill those roster spots.

James from Boston

10:52

Hi Tom, also any idea where Cole/Jalen/Markus are going? I’ve seen MSU for Jalen and NC state for Markus

Tom Noie

10:52

Conor: I get the frustration with everything Notre Dame basketball, but you do realize that in today's college basketball environment, it might matter little who your coach is as it does what your NIL is. I'll push back on the ACC being 10 times worse. The league was better this season, but given your disposition, nothing that is said or written or discussed will help. Your mind is made up. It's Shrewsberry's fault and that's that. Got it.

Conor from NY

10:50

Yes, MBB doesn’t get the NIL support it needs. That’s true. It’s also true that Shrews is a horrible coach and it’s inexcusable to not be middle of the pack in the ACC every year at worst. Keep in mind the ACC is 10x worse than it was just 5 years ago. Why the excuses for this joke of a program?

Tom Noie

10:50

Alex: Uh....well....uh...I've got nothing.

Alex - Lansing

10:49

Second one from me...I had a moment of bragging rights with my Spartan friends when Haralson committed to ND (despite knowing it was probably a one year rental). Can you provide me with some words of comfort or encouragement that Sparty is not the favorite to land Haralson?

Tom Noie

10:49

James: You do realize that one reason, maybe THE reason, that he cannot keep his recruits is because he cannot PAY his recruits. I understand the frustration and the confusion on where all this goes, but let's remember. If Notre Dame had gone 23-9 and 14-4 in the ACC and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, it would likely be in the same situation. Everyone would want more and want it now. And Notre Dame would be the same position of having too many hands out and not enough dollars to hand out.

James

10:47

Hi Tom, what is the point of keeping Shrewsberry? I know it seems he’s not the main issue with the lack of NIL investment but if he can’t keep his own recruits what’s the point? To rebuild to another team that can’t even make the ACC tourney?

Tom Noie

10:46

Alex: Oh, so NOOOOOWWWWWW you tell us that you saw it all along...thanks!

Alex

10:46

To be honest with you Tom, none of this is surprising. I know that is easy to say now, but as soon as this process was sold to us as being built through recruiting, I knew this was a disaster in the making. ESPECIALLY after that second transfer portal class of Allocco, Nikita, and Chebuhar.... I thought oh no. Even with the successful recruiting classes I thought to myself "ok, but who is to say none of these kids will transfer after one year." It felt like a lose/lose, our top recruits play well and leave for more money...or they leave because they are unhappy. Now both is happening. Couple that with poor coaching/leadership...and that's coming from a guy who liked this hire. Sorry for the long rant...my question would be regarding the portal...are these horrible portal classes truly all on the administration...or is it a combo of admin and the staff poorly navigating/scouting the portal? There are thousands of players that enter the portal...I refuse to believe they can't do a smidge better.

Tom Noie

10:45

Pat: Anything is possible.

Pat H Springfield Ill

10:45

If the exodus you expect occurs is even the record this season possible next season?

Tom Noie

10:44

Bob: Same answer for you as for Matt.

Bob from MA

10:44

So year 4 of this mediocre coach with a roster that is in as bad of a shape as when he took over. Why not start a rebuild with a new coach?

Tom Noie

10:44

Matt: Asked and answered. Scroll through for the answer.

Matt from IN

10:44

so what’s the case for keeping Shrews now? Before it was that if you fire him the whole roster leaves. Well now the whole roster is gutted so why keep him?

Tom Noie

10:44

Dylan: In a heartbeat, if I also had the payroll of a Duke or a North Carolina or a Kentucky. I'd go get Rick Pitino yesterday and be chasing a national championship tomorrow. I'd flex in any way, shape or form to show college athletics that Notre Dame is serious about more than the Four Horsemen.

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