2025-2026 ND Basketball Thread

[sfk324]

Intel: Why Jalen Haralson entered the transfer portal, and what comes next for Notre Dame

Notre Dame will lose its leading scorer, Jalen Haralson, to the transfer portal. Here's why Haralson left, and what comes next for the Irish.

www.on3.com

Soble isn’t pulling any punches here. Administration apparently isn’t doing anything to help out with NIL, and it sounds like the undergrad transfer exceptions are just for football (which is ridiculous. Why should football get this exception but not basketball?)

What has Shrewsberry done to engender any benefit of the doubt from the administration? Marcus has built up goodwill on and off the field. Nobody can make that argument for Shrewsberry.

 

[arrowryan]

What has Shrewsberry done to engender any benefit of the doubt from the administration? Marcus has built up goodwill on and off the field. Nobody can make that argument for Shrewsberry.

Pretty much this. Why should donors open up the checkbooks, and why should the university bend the rules for a coach that has shown zero ability to build a winning team?

 

[Irish5Saint]

Pretty much this. Why should donors open up the checkbooks, and why should the university bend the rules for a coach that has shown zero ability to build a winning team?

Why does the coach need to prove it first? The school hired him because they think he can win. So why does he need to be handicapped before he gets restrictions eased up?

 

[arrowryan]

Why does the coach need to prove it first? The school hired him because they think he can win. So why does he need to be handicapped before he gets restrictions eased up?

Because no one believes he can do it. Pat Connaughton was going to fund Nate Ament’s NIL at Notre Dame, which is why ND was in his top 3. Then Connaughton realized that Shrews sucks, so he backed out. That’s why ND mysteriously dropped out of Ament’s recruitment. And have you seen the way Shrews acts on the bench and in press conferences? He’s a terrible representation of the university. He’s literally the polar opposite of Freeman, in just about every aspect.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Pretty much this. Why should donors open up the checkbooks, and why should the university bend the rules for a coach that has shown zero ability to build a winning team?

This is exactly why Shrews is still around.

ND donors aren't opening up the checkbooks for hoops, thus, the school isn't going to foot the bill to buy out his contract.

So now, they've essentially reserved their fate, keeping Shrews and telling him to plug up the holes on the sinking ship.

 

[Irish5Saint]

Because no one believes he can do it. Pat Connaughton was going to fund Nate Ament’s NIL at Notre Dame, which is why ND was in his top 3. Then Connaughton realized that Shrews sucks, so he backed out. That’s why ND mysteriously dropped out of Ament’s recruitment. And have you seen the way Shrews acts on the bench and in press conferences? He’s a terrible representation of the university. He’s literally the polar opposite of Freeman, in just about every aspect.

So spend the money to fire him then.

 

[arrowryan]

So spend the money to fire him then.

I’m for it. Shutting down the program and allocating their NIL to football sounds even better though.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

I’m for it. Shutting down the program and allocating their NIL to football sounds even better though.

Agreed....... Save the money.

 

[Crazy Balki]

This is shaping up to be possibly the worst season in the past half century of ND basketball.

 

[zelezo vlk]

This is shaping up to be possibly the worst season in the past half century of ND basketball.

Perfect time to play a game in front of an avowed basketball loving Pope in Rome

 

[sfk324]

Why does the coach need to prove it first? The school hired him because they think he can win. So why does he need to be handicapped before he gets restrictions eased up?

They brought in the highest rated recruit in program history and a Top 15 class in general. The former is leaving after 1 year and the latter did not develop at all. It's not even a "show me first" situation, it's a "based on what you've shown me" situation. His best player is a Brey recruit that didn't have any other P4 options, the guys he's recruiting aren't getting better and/or are leaving, he doesn't seem to be able to teach his concepts, and his temperament seems problematic to this point.

None of those things are true for Marcus or for Niele, for that matter. If the administration can't see on court results with what he has brought in and he's a non-entity or worse off the court, why are they going to do him any favors? Show us you're the guy, Micah. Show us you can do this job like we thought you could, then we'll look at ways we can help you. But if this is the best you can do, then you're not the guy we thought we were hiring in the first place.

 

[Irish5Saint]

They brought in the highest rated recruit in program history and a Top 15 class in general. The former is leaving after 1 year and the latter did not develop at all. It's not even a "show me first" situation, it's a "based on what you've shown me" situation. His best player is a Brey recruit that didn't have any other P4 options, the guys he's recruiting aren't getting better and/or are leaving, he doesn't seem to be able to teach his concepts, and his temperament seems problematic to this point.

None of those things are true for Marcus or for Niele, for that matter. If the administration can't see on court results with what he has brought in and he's a non-entity or worse off the court, why are they going to do him any favors? Show us you're the guy, Micah. Show us you can do this job like we thought you could, then we'll look at ways we can help you. But if this is the best you can do, then you're not the guy we thought we were hiring in the first place.

What help have they given in the portal? He got some undergrads for year 1 just to have a roster. They haven’t given him a damn thing since then.

 

[stpeteirish]

What help have they given in the portal? He got some undergrads for year 1 just to have a roster. They haven’t given him a damn thing since then.

Oh we'll get a bunch of transfers this cycle. There's some money, roster space now that everyone good is apparently leaving, and playing time galore. Problem is they'll be a bunch of low to mid major migrants, recruited by a dead man walking coach. Or stiffs who can't grab minutes on high major teams.

 

[Irish5Saint]

Oh we'll get a bunch of transfers this cycle. There's some money, roster space now that everyone good is apparently leaving, and playing time galore. Problem is they'll be a bunch of low to mid major migrants, recruited by a dead man walking coach. Or stiffs who can't grab minutes on high major teams.

How many undergrads from non Duke/Stanford/Ivy Schools?

 

[sfk324]

What help have they given in the portal? He got some undergrads for year 1 just to have a roster. They haven’t given him a damn thing since then.

Marcus is getting additional help because he's shown he can do the job and he's not going to fuck it up. Micah hasn't shown that.

The idea they aren't doing anything for him, despite not bending their rules for the portal, is absurd. They brought a kid's dad on staff to get two commitments this year. They ponied up to keep Burton and bring in Shrews' recruiting classes, especially Haralson -- you're not getting a top 15 class to ND without paying market rate for it. The problem is that he has done nothing to show he can develop that talent, and now both Burton and Haralson are leaving, as is the #2 kid from his #13 class (Frost) as well as the 3 main recruit from his first class. He has embarrassed the university more than once with his antics. They can get the same results from a less talented team that costs less as they have from putting money into it, so why should the university throw more good money after bad at this point?

I tend to agree with Noie's bigger point that they don't do enough for the MBB program, but it's hard for me to care too much when Shrewsberry hasn't done anything with th goodwill he was gifted upon arriving beyond making sure his kids get more than their talent and skills warrant.

 

[Irish2155]

Shrews knows at this point he’s coaching for his life and relevancy. I’ll be interested to see what the roster looks like. I’d take a HARD look at filling spots with some Crossroads League-NAIA types. Ben Humirochous has a Huntington>Evansville>Illinois career arc and now plays huge minutes for a Final Four team. Kyle Mangas could’ve played for anyone. Elijah Malone was solid for Colorado and his brother was just the conference DPOY at FGCU.

Was just looking at the NAIA baseball rankings today. Crossroads currently has 3 teams in the top 17: Taylor #2, Huntington #10, and Marian #17.

 

[stpeteirish]

What help have they given in the portal? He got some undergrads for year 1 just to have a roster. They haven’t given him a damn thing since then.

Oh we'll get a bunch of transfers this cycle. There's some money, roster space now that everyone good is apparently leaving, and playing time galore. Problem is they'll be a bunch of low to mid major migrants, recruited by a dead man walking coach. Or stiffs who can't grab minutes on high major teams.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Shrews is not the answer
Even if ND had the answer
They would still not be supported

What Mike brey pulled off for a little while will never be replicated in the nil era

Notre Dame doesn't care about mens basketball full stop

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Shrews is not the answer
Even if ND had the answer
They would still not be supported

What Mike brey pulled off for a little while will never be replicated in the nil era

Notre Dame doesn't care about mens basketball full stop

Nope, and that is because most of the fanbase really does not care. They feel minimal pain and pushback.

 

[irishrb]

Shrews is not the answer
Even if ND had the answer
They would still not be supported

What Mike brey pulled off for a little while will never be replicated in the nil era

Notre Dame doesn't care about mens basketball full stop

I have a hard time believing that. At the time of his hire, Shrews was a hot name, and he's getting compensated fairly well. In addition, they had some very highly rated recruits on the team, that were surely getting some money.
Now it looks like they're throwing in the towel until Shrew's contract is up, but I gotta believe once he exits the door, they will give it another run to at least be competitve.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I have a hard time believing that. At the time of his hire, Shrews was a hot name, and he's getting compensated fairly well. In addition, they had some very highly rated recruits on the team, that were surely getting some money.
Now it looks like they're throwing in the towel until Shrew's contract is up, but I gotta believe once he exits the door, they will give it another run to at least be competitve.

This is exactly my point
Notre Dame made a half hearted effort to try and play the Nil game and repair the bare cupboards that Brey left.
That investment clearly failed. The fan base is in an even worse place than before (which again was a joke even during Breys hayday relative to football support and other programs at that level of competitiveness) now with the constraints of NIL and other "smaller" athletic teams (women's bball,soccer,baseball,etc) Notre Dame is not ever going to go all in on basketball or anywhere near what they need to do.

Again, basketball has always been second fiddle at Notre Dame. But now it's going to be 3rd or 4th fiddle at best. And the general fan (who's already gone) will not push back and the admin will get away with it

For as good as NIL was for Notre Dame football (being able to match sec already paying) it will be equally bad for Notre Dame basketball

 

[irishandy]

This is not a Coach Shrews problem this is a University of Notre Dame problem.

Coach Brey left at the right time- I don't think he cared to deal with this NIL era.

When Coach Shrews was hired- he had very little to work with. Coach Shrews was able to sign a top 5-10 class last year.

We can all discuss the coaching side to it, but this is a NIL problem that the University doesn't want to support.

In this situation that Notre Dame shows how they care about this program what coach can be successful here?

When Burton and Certa make it public that they too are transferring, if I were Coach Shrews I'd consider walking away from this program.

Pat Garrity who I think can be a great GM- how much more will he put up with this?

Pete Bevacqua needs to wake the F*CK up!

 

[irishrb]

This is exactly my point
Notre Dame made a half hearted effort to try and play the Nil game and repair the bare cupboards that Brey left.
That investment clearly failed. The fan base is in an even worse place than before (which again was a joke even during Breys hayday relative to football support and other programs at that level of competitiveness) now with the constraints of NIL and other "smaller" athletic teams (women's bball,soccer,baseball,etc) Notre Dame is not ever going to go all in on basketball or anywhere near what they need to do.

Again, basketball has always been second fiddle at Notre Dame. But now it's going to be 3rd or 4th fiddle at best. And the general fan (who's already gone) will not push back and the admin will get away with it

For as good as NIL was for Notre Dame football (being able to match sec already paying) it will be equally bad for Notre Dame basketball

Yeah, I don't think anyone expects them to go all in...but I absolutely expect them to go in enough...to be competitive..in the discussion/in the tournament. It's unfortunate that Shrews ended up being total trash, but they can't let that be a knockout punch for the program.

 

[irishandy]

Haralson, Burton & Certa all want a million- ND should give it to them, they deserve it.

 

[irishandy]

Yeah, I don't think anyone expects them to go all in...but I absolutely expect them to go in enough...to be competitive..in the discussion/in the tournament. It's unfortunate that Shrews ended up being total trash, but they can't let that be a knockout punch for the program.

The University didn't set up Shrews for success and if they continue to not be competitive with NIL I don't think any coach can succeed here.

It's too easy to say Coach Shrews is "trash" I get he hasn't lived up to expectations, but ND needs to give this program NIL to build a team.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Shrews is not the answer
Even if ND had the answer
They would still not be supported

What Mike brey pulled off for a little while will never be replicated in the nil era

Notre Dame doesn't care about mens basketball full stop

All true but what Brey did after those Elite 8 runs set the program up to what it is now…desperate. It’s not like it was an enviable job when he “stepped down”. I have no issue blaming ND for being wrong on Shrewsberry but at the time I don’t recall fans being against the hire. With hindsight we can all agree he’s not the guy but at the time, it looked like the hire to jump start the program. Unfortunately, now it’s even worse.

 

[stlnd01]

Yeah, I don't think anyone expects them to go all in...but I absolutely expect them to go in enough...to be competitive..in the discussion/in the tournament. It's unfortunate that Shrews ended up being total trash, but they can't let that be a knockout punch for the program.

What does even that cost?
And is that money better spent on A: Football? or B: A bunch of other "minor" sports where we can realistically expect to compete for ACC and national titles?

I don't know the answer but these are questions the Athletic Department has to consider. Because unlike football there's no big pool of donors for Notre Dame basketball, and the competitive landscape's a lot tougher than it is for, say, lacrosse and soccer and even womens basketball.

Realistically it feels like the best we can hope is roughly getting back to where we were in the 2010s - making the tournament most years, winning a game or two - and that's a lot more expensive now than it was then. Is it worth it?

 

[Irish5Saint]

What does even that cost?
And is that money better spent on A: Football? or B: A bunch of other "minor" sports where we can realistically expect to compete for ACC and national titles?

I don't know the answer but these are questions the Athletic Department has to consider. Because unlike football there's no big pool of donors for Notre Dame basketball, and the competitive landscape's a lot tougher than it is for, say, lacrosse and soccer and even womens basketball.

Realistically it feels like the best we can hope is roughly getting back to where we were in the 2010s - making the tournament most years, winning a game or two - and that's a lot more expensive now than it was then. Is it worth it?

Several other schools are spending on football and other sports.

ND is not lacking for football money. Let's be real: an extra $15 million to football would be a waste of money. We got 25 other sports that rely on football to be funded. Notre Dame is more than the fucking football team.

 

[fightingirish26]

NIL was a thing when we signed Haralson and co last year. We may not be competitive with transfers but we certainly can do well enough with HS guys. Problem is if you're relying on HS talent, theyre gonna need to stick around. And this week proved that theyre not.

Shrews is a colossal failure. Not only fielding teams below expectations but making headlines for the wrong reasons seemingly every season. If the admin wants to keep him one more year to reduce the buyout/whatever, oh well. Fanbase is checked out anyway. But the right coach can win at ND. In my mind, winning=making the tourney. Not sure the ceiling is elite 8s, but i don't think anyone is demanding that, either. We just want competitive basketball again.

 

[stlnd01]

Several other schools are spending on football and other sports.

ND is not lacking for football money. Let's be real: an extra $15 million to football would be a waste of money. We got 25 other sports that rely on football to be funded. Notre Dame is more than the fucking football team.

We are also spending on football and other sports. Lots of them. Rightly so and with good results.
But of the 25 other sports, the one that costs - by far - the most to build a competitive team is mens basketball. And unlike many of the others mens basketball also a sport where we have a variety of built-in disadvantages. We could certainly spend more on basketball, but I'm not really clear what the payoff would be.