Do the names Jerian Grant, Matt Farrell, Zach Auguste, Pat Connaughton, and Bonzie Colson ring a bell? Well, to any fan of Notre Dame basketball, they absolutely should. Long ago, 2014-2018 were some special times in the Joyce Center for the men’s basketball program led by Mike Brey.

But after a grueling 2019-24, those days seem long gone. Brey is no longer the head coach, stepping down after another losing season in 2022-23. It was a disastrous stretch for the Irish, as Brey seemed to give up on everything, from recruiting to coaching. Leaving the Notre Dame basketball team in a state of despair for years to come.

The Current State Of Notre Dame Basketball

Enter Micah Shrewsberry and a few solid recruiting classes. Now the outlook has shifted back to hopeful excitement in South Bend. As Notre Dame basketball is slowly becoming relevant again within the landscape of college hoops.

A new core led by standout junior Markus Burton, who is a hometown product, is finally trending upwards. Add to Burton guys like Jalen Haralson (freshman) and Braeden Shrewberry (junior), and Notre Dame has a solid core. Grad senior transfer Carson Towt has been a fantastic addition, and sophomore Sir Mohammed rounds out the supporting cast.

2025-26 Notre Dame Basketball Season

As of this writing, Notre Dame is coming off of two huge wins. Both are “Quad 1” wins, one over previously undefeated Missouri, and then TCU on the road. With most of the TCU game being played, without Markus Burton, who exited early with an injury.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame will lose their star PG for “an undisclosed amount of time. With could have a lasting impact, with conference play getting underway soon. But Notre Dame certainly has the pieces in place to still be competitive without Burton.

The Fighting Irish are 6-3 at the moment, and are getting AP Poll votes for the first time in years. With upcoming games against Idaho, Evansville, and Purdue Fort Wayne, Notre Dame should be 10-3 heading into ACC play. Which would put them in a great position, with plenty of momentum to grab key conference wins.