I remember watching Notre Dame basketball during the Mike Brey era with genuine admiration—those teams had a certain magic about them. The 2015 Elite Eight run felt like the program's natural state, not some fleeting moment of glory. Now, looking at the current roster and Micah Shrewsberry's rebuilding project, I can't help but wonder if we're witnessing the early stages of another championship-caliber team. The recent exhibition victory against a tough international squad caught my attention, particularly one player's post-game comments that revealed something important about this team's mindset.
The player said something that struck me as unusually insightful for this early in the season: "Pero, it's a good win for us kasi it's not just a positive thing to win, nakakuha din kami ng ganitong klaseng experience as early as now." For those unfamiliar with Tagalog, he essentially emphasized that the victory mattered not just for the win column but for the valuable experience gained. This perspective tells me this team understands the process—they're not just chasing immediate results but building toward something greater. I've always believed championship teams develop this awareness early, recognizing that November lessons pay dividends in March. Last season's disappointing 13-20 record seems to have fostered a hunger we haven't seen in South Bend for several years.
Looking at the roster construction, Shrewsberry has quietly assembled an interesting mix of returning players and strategic transfers. The backcourt featuring freshman phenom Markus Burton alongside Virginia transfer Carson McCorkle gives me hope for improved perimeter shooting—an area where we desperately struggled last season, shooting just 32.1% from three-point range. That percentage ranked near the bottom of the ACC, and frankly, it was painful to watch at times. In today's college basketball, you simply cannot compete for championships without consistent outside shooting. The addition of 6'8" forward Kebba Njie from Penn State addresses another critical weakness: interior defense and rebounding. Notre Dame got outrebounded by an average of 4.2 boards per game against ranked opponents last year—you won't win meaningful games with those numbers.
What excites me most, though, is the defensive identity Shrewsberry seems to be instilling. His teams at Penn State consistently ranked among the best in the Big Ten defensively, and early returns suggest he's implementing similar principles here. Through their first three exhibition games, the Irish held opponents to just 38.2% shooting from the field. Now I know exhibition stats can be misleading, but that defensive intensity represents a dramatic improvement from last season's porous defense that allowed ACC opponents to shoot nearly 46%. Championship teams defend—it's that simple. The great Notre Dame teams of the past understood this fundamental truth.
The ACC landscape presents both challenges and opportunities this season. While traditional powers like Duke and North Carolina reload as always, I see potential openings in the middle of the conference. Miami's unexpected Final Four run last season demonstrated that programs outside the usual bluebloods can make noise nationally. Notre Dame's schedule sets up reasonably well, with only 4 games against preseason top-15 teams in the first two months. This gives Shrewsberry valuable time to develop chemistry and implement his system before the grueling ACC schedule begins in January. The non-conference matchup against Marquette in December will be particularly telling—that game should give us our clearest indication of whether this team can compete at the highest level.
Recruiting has shown promising signs too, with Shrewsberry securing commitments from two top-100 prospects in the 2024 class. This matters tremendously because sustained success requires talent pipeline continuity. The Brey era eventually faltered partly because recruiting dipped in his final years—the 2022 class ranked just 11th in the ACC according to most services. You simply cannot overcome that talent deficit consistently in today's game. Shrewsberry appears to recognize this, prioritizing both immediate contributors through the transfer portal and long-term development through high school recruiting.
Financial commitment from the administration appears strong, with recent facility upgrades including a $3.2 million practice facility renovation completed last summer. These investments signal institutional belief in the program's trajectory. Having visited the new facilities myself, I can attest they now compare favorably with other top programs in the conference. Such resources matter more than casual fans might realize—they impact both player development and recruiting pitch effectiveness.
Still, I have concerns about the frontcourt depth behind Njie. If he encounters foul trouble or injuries, the interior defense could become problematic against physical ACC opponents. The development of sophomore forward Ven-Allen Lubin will be crucial—he showed flashes last season with his 8.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game but needs to demonstrate more consistency. I'm also watching how Shrewsberry manages late-game situations, an area where his predecessor sometimes struggled. Close games often reveal a team's championship mettle, and Notre Dame lost 7 games by 5 points or fewer last season. Turning even half of those losses into wins would dramatically change the season narrative.
The player's comment about valuing experience over mere victory suggests this team understands the process-oriented approach required for long-term success. Championship teams often reference these small building blocks when reflecting on their journeys. The 2015 team that nearly reached the Final Four frequently spoke about early-season lessons that prepared them for March. Current players seem to be embracing similar perspective, which gives me optimism about the program direction.
Realistically, contending for a national championship this season seems premature. But returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022 represents an achievable goal that would signal the program's resurgence. With the expanded 68-team field, I estimate Notre Dame needs around 21-22 wins to feel secure about an at-large bid. That means improving last season's win total by approximately 8-9 victories—a significant jump but not impossible given the roster upgrades and coaching continuity. The development trajectory reminds me somewhat of Virginia's rebuild under Tony Bennett, where gradual defensive improvement eventually produced a national champion.
As the season unfolds, I'll be watching several key indicators: three-point percentage defense (which needs to improve from last season's abysmal 35.1%), assist-to-turnover ratio (currently sitting at a respectable 1.4 through early games), and performance in road environments (where young teams often struggle). These metrics typically separate good teams from great ones. The early signs offer reasons for measured optimism, though the true tests await once ACC play begins in earnest. For now, the team's focus on process over results—as captured in that post-game comment—suggests they're building something sustainable rather than chasing quick fixes. And in college basketball, sustainable processes eventually produce championship results.