JotCast | Notre Dame basketball - January 2026 chat

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Joe G

12:20

How does NIL money compare to overseas money?

Tom Noie

12:20

Robert: Not at all. Tommy Ahneman was hurt when we saw practice in the offseason. He had subsequent knee surgery and is just now to a point where he can resume some light drills. I have no idea what the future holds for Tommy Ahneman and the coaching staff likely has no idea what the future holds for Tommy Ahneman.

Robert from Mishawaka

12:19

I've been pleasantly surprised with what Carson Towt has brought to the team this year. Have you had the opportunity to gage whether Tommy Ahneman will be able to somewhat fill his spot next year?

Tom Noie

12:19

Bobby: It's going to be interesting how Pat Garrity will move all the puzzle pieces around the board and make it fit under the given amount of money that the program can/will spend. Keeping everyone is paramount, but keeping them happy? Unlikely. As for Markus Burton, I don't know if he has another solid option in terms of playing next year that doesn't include Notre Dame.

Bobby from Virginia

12:17

What is your level of confidence that the program will commit the resources necessary to bring back the current first year players who have shown promise (Haralson and Koehler)? Do you have any sense as to whether Burton would risk another injury while playing another year in college?

Tom Noie

12:17

Matt: I don't know. He's an enigma. He looks like he's got it figured out against Evansville and goes for a career high 21 points, and then he has games where he looks like he's never dribbled a basketball in his life. Find a way to simplify his role and it might help him. Micah Shrewsberry has constantly praised Mohammed for his passing ability and floor vision, but when are we going to see it? Maybe that's too harsh, but Mohammed was too good of a recruit (Top 50 kid) for everything to be such a struggle.

East Coast Matt

12:15

What type of player do you think Sir ultimately becomes? Great to hear he’s committed to the development track he’s on. He seems to have a lot of tools and versatility, but haven’t seen that all aligned with a well-executed role just yet.

Tom Noie

12:15

Mike: Had Notre Dame gone to the NCAA Tournament last season, maybe won a game or two, then any post-season other than the NCAAT would be a step back. A step down. But this isn't a Notre Dame football snubs its nose at the freaking PopTarts Bowl (please) after playing in the national championship. This program needs to play in postseason to understand what postseason is about. Totally different animal than football's situation. It's hard to understand what the fan base would get excited about, so we'll just leave that there.

San Diego Mike

12:13

Would this team be excited / interested in playing in an NIT type tournament post-season? Should we as a fanbase be excited about that possibility / opportunity?

Tom Noie

12:12

Jeff: I'd have ranked Notre Dame in the same general area - 8-9-10 - in the Atlantic Coast Conference. It has a history, even though some care not to remember it. It has won. That said, it's not that far off from the league basement. Remember when Boston College was good? Me too.

Jeff from Schererville, IN

12:10

Thanks for the chats, Tom. I'm wondering if you could share some thoughts on the recent On3 poll of ACC coaches which ranked ND as the 10th best job in an 18-team league. Almost every chat here mentions the real (or perceived) lack of big-time support from the ND administration, the very real lack of support from ND students, the terrible in-game atmosphere and the current state of the program which is in year 3 of a 5-year rebuilding process, but are some coaches seeing some things about the program that those of us who watch and go to games are missing? I would've guessed we'd be in the bottom third of the rankings rather than leading off the second half of them. Thanks!

Tom Noie

12:10

Mark: What's the old Meatloaf song, Two out of Three Ain't bad? How about two out of five? There's no reason why Garrett Sundra and Sir Mohammed shouldn't be further along from an offensive standpoint than where they are now. There are times when it looks like they have no idea how to fit their games into what's on the floor. The other three were brought to Notre Dame for different reasons. Njie and Imes were program guys who could spread the Gospel of Shrews. Towt was a hustle guy who would rebound his backside off. On a team of more scorers - or of guys who might be able to score more - their deficiencies are better hidden.

Mark from Rochester, NY

12:08

A second part to the recruiting question: if shrews is supposed to be an offensive guy, shouldn’t his recruits be tailored to that style? Sundra, Mohammed, Njie, Towt (I know transfer), Imes all can’t score consistently so it makes it 4 on 5 or 3 on 5 on offense

Tom Noie

12:07

Ryan: Solid to date. Tough to let the Cal game slip, but a chance to make up for it with four of the next six at home. Let's see what they've got.

Ryan Frankfort Illinois

12:06

Tom what do you think about this year’s team so far this season i think they have looked good and they should have won Against Cal GO IRISH ☘️☘️🏀🏀

Tom Noie

12:06

Pete: Not even close. Pat Garrity isn't going out on the road recruiting. He's not breaking down film. His job is to figure out if/how a prospect fits at Notre Dame. Like, if we recruit Player A and Player B, Player B will fit better at Notre Dame. And here's why, and here's his salary slot. Pat Garrity was never brought in with the idea that, AHHHH, NOW Notre Dame is going to give the bluebloods a run for their recruiting money.

Pete from Berrien Springs

12:04

On the recruiting subject, isn't that what Pat Garrity is supposed to do? Along with managing the portal/NIL stuff? If we are not going to get better talent, what is he there for?

Tom Noie

12:04

Frank: Two voices of reason in a row! Maybe there is hope for Notre Dame basketball. I appreciate the kind words and the perspective. I was asked last week about how Notre Dame compares to its peers from an NIL/administration commitment. I flipped the question and asked, well, who are Notre Dame's peers in your eyes? The answer? Duke and Villanova. Notre Dame is closer to Boston College, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest. Can it ever be Duke or UCONN or even Michigan? Move along, nothing to see here.

Frank from "THE BEND"

12:01

Just catching up with all the questions and answers that have been asked and answered. This guest and that guest must be delusional and think that the men's program is going to go down into the basement, bring out a BIG BAG of cash, and bring in 7 transfers (who can't make the grade at ND). I've relegated myself into being patience for Coach Shrewsbury to build his team. I'm that guy sitting in the back row listening to you preaching to the choir. Keep up the good work!

Tom Noie

12:01

Clint: Thanks for being the voice of reason today! Much appreciated!

Clint from Winnipeg

12:00

Overall I am happy with the progress of the program this season. Yes, there have been letdown moments, but for the most part ND has been competitive, more so than in recent seasons. Is this a realistic perspective or do I need to remove my rose-colored glasses?

Tom Noie

12:00

Alex: Don't see it. If he is, it's more about the bag and less about the basketball.

Alex

12:00

Would you say I’m just being a pessimist if I’m already assuming next year at this time Jalen Haralson will be playing for another school?

Tom Noie

11:59

Woof: Progress would be 9-9, but let's not shoot for average. Why not 10-8? Or 11-7? To get there, Notre Dame is going to have to do something that it hasn't done in the last three years now and that's be good at home. At some point, doesn't the Notre Dame fan base have to be looked at under the microscope. Like, why the apathy at home? Enough of the nonsense of, well, we'll support this team when this team gets good. That's BS. Notre Dame beat an undefeated Missouri team and a solid TCU team and returned home where the tickets sold that night against Idaho were ... 3,000. Yes, the head coach has to be better. The team has to be better. But the home fan support also has to be better. Home games have become clown shows. It feels like a Bethel or Holy Cross or IUSB atmosphere.

Woof Cookies

11:56

Based on a 1-1 record in the ACC, what would be considered successful at the end of the year? .500?

Tom Noie

11:56

Tired: Absolutely, and Shrewsberry might be the first to admit it, though not publicly. He may know that yeah, I've got to be better at this and that and those things. We don't see practice so we don't see how everything is constructed. Maybe he gives them too much to remember, handle, etc. Maybe Micah Shrewsberry is still learning, in Year Five, how to be a head coach at the Power Five level.

Tired

11:54

At what point is it no longer a coincidence that Shrews’ ND teams are terrible at end of game situations. Is there some fundamentally wrong with how he structures practice, etc?

Tom Noie

11:53

Chris: If we were to put a number on it, that would be decision No. 2,456 in a college basketball season that's at number, what, 18?

Chris K

11:52

Does Pat Garrity have a big say on if Shrews remains the coach long term or is this still a Pete B decision. ??

Tom Noie

11:52

James: Notre Dame was 5.5 seconds away from opening 2-0 in league play with both wins on the road for the first time in school history. It's won seven of its first eight home games. It beat a TCU team that had a Kansas team beat at Allen Fieldhouse. It should have beaten Ohio State. Where is the sideways in that? I get that the Cal loss and the aftermath are awful, but man, you can't flush everything up to that point just because the optics are awful. Seasons are just that - seasons. Ups and downs, good and bad. Ride it out. All of it.

James

11:50

how hot is shrews seat if this season keeps going sideways.

Tom Noie

11:50

Mark: Agree. Let players play. It's who he is, and who he always will be. It may not work out the way everyone wants/hopes, but Shrewsberry is going to be true to himself.

Mark from Rochester, NY

11:49

Tom, thanks as always for hosting the chats! Besides the missed free throws at Cal, why does Shrewsberry insist on overcoaching to foul when the team also stinks at free throws? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

Tom Noie

11:49

Sean: Back to work to figure out a way to beat Clemson and Miami (Fla.) at home. Lean hard into the stuff this team did well enough to start 2-0, and be better at end-game situations. It's going to come up again and again in league play. It doesn't matter what you did last time, it matters what you do next time.

sean

11:48

Tom long time no talk.After the clown show at Cal,where do you see this team going?End of game coaching just never gets any better.

Tom Noie

11:47

Rob: Don't hold your breath...

Rob Schoshin

11:47

Hey! I was wondering when do you think that Burton would be back? I feel like this team is missing him offensively in a crucial point of the season we are heading into.

Tom Noie

11:47

Bobby: Glass is fuller than it looks. We touched on a timetable earlier in the chat. To expect anything sooner than four (really five) years is a stretch. This was always going to take time. It may not be moving as quickly/smoothly as you'd like, but we have seen something this season that we didn't the first two - progress.

Bobby from Virginia

11:45

Tom: Let alone a program going in the right direction, there doesn’t seem to be an adult in the room. I don’t see an offensive philosophy other than iso ball with Burton or Haralson (who is far too sloppy with the ball and a poor shooter). Commitment to defense and fundamentals is inconsistent. Development of key second year players (Sundra and Mohammed) seems close to nil. Shrewsberry’s antics make him seem like a bad fit for this job. Questions: Do you have a guess as to how long Shrewsberry has to figure it out? If this all persists after NEXT year, is it time to cut bait? [I hope so, because I don’t see how it gets better from here.]

Tom Noie

11:45

Jim: Yes...trust the players to figure it out, whether that means hunting mismatches or finding the hot hand. Too many plays called leads to much robotic movements.

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