The Notre Dame men’s basketball team took center stage Sunday night in a rare standalone ACC matchup against Louisville, a game that aired on the ACC Network. Despite keeping things close through the first half and into the early minutes of the second, the Irish ultimately faltered in the final 10 minutes, falling 75-60 to the Cardinals. The defeat dropped Notre Dame to 11-14 overall and 5-10 in conference play, further complicating their hopes of avoiding the ACC’s bottom three. Meanwhile, Louisville continues its push to challenge Clemson and Duke at the top of the standings.
Following the loss, Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry did not hold back his frustration. Speaking to the media, he delivered a fiery postgame rant, making it clear that he expects better from his team—and from the fan base.
Shrewsberry Sounds Off: ‘That’s Embarrassing!’
“I sat there and I watched more Louisville fans in here than Notre Dame fans. And that’s embarrassing, that’s embarrassing for me ’cause I’m the head coach here,” Shrewsberry said. “And yes, I got us in this predicament. But don’t come back when we’re winning. We’re turning this around. You better believe that. Everybody that gave up on me, write this date down, and believe me, we’re going to get this rolling.”
Shrewsberry’s frustration is understandable. The Irish have shown flashes of strong play this season, but they haven’t been able to sustain it. Against Louisville, they battled for over 30 minutes before unraveling late. Just earlier this month, they built a double-digit first-half lead over Virginia Tech, only to see it slip away. In the second half, another late collapse cost them a 65-63 loss to the Hokies.
Notre Dame Fighting to Stay Out of ACC’s Bottom Three
With the conference tournament looming next month, Notre Dame finds itself in a critical stretch, needing wins to avoid finishing in the ACC’s bottom three. If they can’t turn things around quickly, they risk missing out on the conference tournament altogether. The Irish will have to navigate a tough schedule ahead while proving they belong in the mix.
Meanwhile, Louisville’s surge up the standings could spell trouble for other struggling teams like Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, and Boston College. Those teams now find themselves on the chopping block in the battle to avoid the ACC basement.
Shrewsberry’s impassioned words should serve as a wake-up call for both his players and the Notre Dame faithful. Whether or not his team responds remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: He won’t tolerate mediocrity—on the court or in the stands.
