JotCast | Notre Dame basketball chat - October 2026 | 10/29/2026

Notre Dame basketball chat - October 2026

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Tom Noie

8:35

Mike: Looks like you're still suffering from PTSD - post traumatic season disorder - from 2025-26. Four league wins? Taking the over. Maybe the waaaaaayyyy over.

cool

1

Mike from Rochester NY

8:34

O/U 4 ACC wins?

Tom Noie

8:33

Ryan: What's a good season for Notre Dame in 2026-27? I picked them in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll to finish 14th in the 18-team league which, huzzah!!, would qualify them for the league tournament, something that didn't happen last season. Can they do that, and also get to 9-9 in the league? That would be good, right?

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

8:31

Tom how do you think the team will do this year i think they will have a good season GO IRISH 🏀🏀☘️☘️

Tom Noie

8:31

Mike: Let's operate under the assumption that everyone is healthy. That said, not sure about Logan Duncomb's availability for Villanova (day to day with a left leg issue) and how Braeden Shrewsberry's balky back handled the eight-hour commercial flight to Italy. If everyone's good, the starting five is Braeden Smith (PG), Braeden Shrewsberry (SG), Ethan Roberts (WG), Brady Koehler (PF) and Logan Duncomb (C). There are three knowns off the bench - Tommy Ahneman as the first backup big, Jonathan Sanderson as the first backup handler and Logan Imes as the first swing guard who could spell Smith, Shrewsberry or Roberts. That's eight. Then it's situational substitution. Some nights, it might be a Bryce Ruglass Dortch night. Others, Yoro Diallo. Or Devin Brown. Group those three into one role, so that would be nine deep. If Duncomb stays healthy, which is a big IF, it will be tough to get to a third big in Gan Solongo.

Mike from Rochester NY

8:25

How deep will the rotation be and who's in it?

Tom Noie

8:25

Kevin: Still such a small sample size, but that this team is older offers optimism. Reading between the Micah Shrewsberry media availability quote lines, you get the sense that immaturity was an issue with last year's team. Not a surprise - when you have so many guys who haven't been through it, it's tough to navigate through it, whatever "it" might be - losing streaks, shooting slumps, inconsistency. Think this group with so many veterans is better equipped to handle the roller coaster ride that is the college basketball season. Also, it was nice to see Notre Dame beat DePaul going away basically without two main guys (Logan Duncomb, Braeden Shrewsberry). The lineup that busted open that game was Logan Imes, Jonathan Sanderson, Devin Brown, Brady Koehler and Tommy Ahneman. Not sure many (any) saw that coming.

Kevin, Lemont

8:21

What has most impressed so far..that we got older?

Tom Noie

8:20

Maurice: Absolutely. Look at the combined stats line from the DePaul game for Smith (who played 29 minutes) and Sanderson (who played 23) - 30 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, five steals. Only four turnovers. They didn't just score. They did a little of everything, but scoring opportunities presented themselves so they capitalized. That's a good sign. For as dynamic as Markus Burton was as a basketball player, he was an undersized shooting guard forced to play point guard. He's never been a point guard. Burton has said that for him to advance his game as a college basketball player, he needed to find himself somewhere other than Notre Dame. Same for the Irish. For Notre Dame to take the proverbial next step, it had to get out of the Markus Burton business. Having two pure point guards should make everyone's job a little easier this season.

Maurice

8:15

Do you think the point guard position will take a step forward this year? I know they lost Burton, but with his limited availability due to injuries the last few years, and him being more of a scoring guard than a passer, I think it’s possible that the Smith/Sanderson combo ends up improving the play at the position.

Tom Noie

8:15

it would have to be Braeden Smith. He's been around the college basketball block. He's the point guard. He's a starter. He's the one who must make it all go in a way it hasn't gone the previous three seasons under Micah Shrewsberry. Listening to Shrewsberry, it's Smith whose voice is the strongest in practice situations. In meetings. In the film room. Everything must start with Smith, but not end with him. Ethan Roberts will have to have a say. Brady Koehler and Braeden Shrewsberry as well, which leads us to this ...

Guest

8:12

Looks like we have more athletes on this years team but do we have an Alpha Dog that can set the tone for a more competitive team

Tom Noie

8:04

So, ... we're going to do this comparison thing with Jonathan Sanderson. He's part Ben Hansbrough. No, he's part Matt Farrell. How about he's Jonathan Sanderson? Few guards in the country were at Hansbrough's level when he was a junior and senior. Let's give Sanderson time there. As for Farrell, Sanderson might be more advanced than when Farrell was a freshman. He's a nice addition to an older team that should absolutely do what previous Irish teams haven't done and that's steal a road win (really, two or three) that no one sees coming. This core group has played a lot of college basketball, which means they shouldn't get rattled and should be more focused in away gyms.

Jack from Rye

8:00

Hi Tom, 2 things. Do you see some Matt Farrell in Jon Sanderson ? And I know it’s early, but do you feel that given we have an older group that we can win some games that we are not favored to win particularly on the road? Thanks

Tom Noie

8:00

Coming clear of the DePaul game, there might be more optimism that the pieces (older pieces) fit better than previous seasons. Jonathan Sanderson plays with an edge that we haven't seen, but no way are we going Big East player of the year/All-American Ben Hansbrough just yet. B-Hans was one of one. Sanderson looks like a veteran one possession, a freshman the next. Regardless, it's nice to see a young guy who's not afraid. Sanderson's going to be a main guy. There will be nights when he delivers and nights when he struggles. It happens with freshmen. All in all, a good first couple of steps for this team. Still, we need to see it complete before we start mapping out what this season could/should be for Notre Dame.

7:57

Todd: Strange to say, but still too early to say, even after the exhibition games against Dayton (L, 75-65) and DePaul (W, 71-63). Logan Duncomb played the first four minutes at Dayton, then didn't play again with a left leg (knee) issue. Braeden Shrewsberry played the first six minutes at DePaul, then left with a balky back. That Notre Dame won on the road against DePaul, which is OK, basically without two starters is something. I liked how Ethan Roberts seemingly couldn't buy a bucket from 3 and was thisclose from being subbed out against DePaul, but made a hustle play, then banged down a pair of 3s to give the Irish the lead for good. Brady Koehler? More DePaul, less Dayton, please. Haven't seen the ball move the way we've been told it moves in practice. Maybe Sunday in Rome.

Todd, Waynesville, NC

7:54

Now that you have seen the team in action twice, what are some preseason questions you had that you now have a little more clearer vision about this team? Is Jonathan Sanderson the next coming if Ben Hansborough? Heard on radio post game show, that as they were finishing up the broadcast, Sanderson was back out on the court running.

Tom Noie

7:33

Notre Dame basketball wakes today in Rome in advance of Sunday's season opener against Villanova, which may or may not be played in front of Pope Leo XIV. Papal audience or not, it's a big day and a big season for the Irish. Is this the year everything looks like it's supposed to look for head coach Micah Shrewsberry and a rebuilt roster? Regardless, we'll be here to talk you off the annual Irish basketball ledge. To participate in today's chat, be sure to include your NAME and HOMETOWN with any question or comment or concern. With that, you know the rest. For the first time for the 2026-27 season ... let's light this chat candle...

*** Thursday, October 29 ***

Tom Noie

4:44

What does a successful season for Notre Dame look like?

Look like a competent basketball team, whatever that looks like (40% | 8 votes)

Make the ACC Tournament (35% | 7 votes)

Finish in the top half of the league (20% | 4 votes)

Chase a double bye in league standings (0% | 0 votes)

NCAA Tournament or bust (5% | 1 vote)

Total Votes: 20

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