Notre Dame and Butler are about to clash on the court, but the stakes are higher than just an exhibition game. Can Notre Dame finally live up to the hype, or will Butler pull off a surprise resurgence? Friday night's matchup is a crucial early test for both teams, setting the tone for their seasons.
At 7 p.m. this Friday, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team will tip off against the Butler Bulldogs in an exhibition contest. This game marks the first of two preseason tune-ups for the Irish. The second exhibition will take place a week later in South Bend, where they will face off against another Big East team, DePaul. Think of these games as dress rehearsals, opportunities to iron out the kinks before the real competition begins.
Notre Dame: A Season of High Expectations?
As Micah Shrewsberry enters his pivotal third year at the helm, optimism is bubbling in South Bend concerning the potential of this year's squad. Junior guard Markus Burton, a local Mishawaka native, is poised for what could be a truly exceptional season. His track record speaks for itself. He's already surpassed 1,000 career points and has consistently averaged over 17 points per game in his first two seasons. Adding to his accolades, Burton was recently named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-ACC First Team. He's the engine that makes this team go.
Burton's backcourt partner, junior Braeden Shrewsberry, also brings significant firepower, having averaged double-digit points in each of his first two years for the Irish. The arrival of five-star recruit Jalen Haralson, ranked 19th nationally in the class of 2025 by ESPN, only amplifies the excitement. Haralson headlines a highly touted recruiting class that includes four-star prospects Brady Koehler, Ryder Frost, and Tommy Ahneman. This influx of talent has earned Notre Dame's recruiting class a ninth-place ranking nationally by ESPN. That's quite an achievement!
But the reinforcements don't stop there. Northern Arizona transfer Carson Towt, a fifth-year senior, brings much-needed physicality to the frontcourt. Last year, he led the nation in rebounding, averaging an impressive 12.4 boards per game for the Lumberjacks. Towt will team up with 6-foot-10 senior forward Kebba Njie, who followed Coach Shrewsberry from Penn State to South Bend. Sophomores Sir Mohammed, Garrett Sundra, and Cole Certa, who all gained valuable experience as freshmen, are also eager to make a greater impact this season.
The question on everyone's mind: Who will be in the starting five, and who will emerge as key contributors on Friday night? Despite the positive buzz, uncertainty lingers. Will the freshmen live up to the hype immediately? Can the transfers seamlessly integrate into the team? Only time will tell if the Fighting Irish can truly contend.
Butler: A Resurgence on the Horizon?
The Butler Bulldogs are entering year four of Thad Matta's second stint as head coach, a crucial juncture for the program. They're aiming to build upon their College Basketball Invitational (CBI) appearance last April. While Matta hasn't yet guided the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament in his first three seasons, hope remains alive for fans who haven't witnessed their team compete in the Big Dance in nearly eight years.
Butler has significantly revamped its roster, securing ESPN's 25th-ranked recruiting class and adding five transfers. The 2025 class features a pair of four-star recruits: Jack McCaffery (son of Iowa's head coach Fran McCaffery) and Indianapolis native Azavier "Stink" Robinson. Gonzaga transfer Michael Ajayi leads the transfer class, alongside journeyman Yohan Traore, who's making his fourth stop in as many years, most recently at SMU. Other transfers include Drayton Jones (South Carolina State), Jalen Jackson (Purdue Fort Wayne), and Yame Butler (Drexel). That's a lot of new faces!
These newcomers will join junior Finley Bizjack, a 6-foot-4 guard who averaged 10.3 points per game last season, and sophomore Jamie Kaiser Jr., a 6-foot-6 player who transferred from Maryland after redshirting last year due to an ankle injury. With the Big East potentially offering fewer NCAA Tournament bids this year, the door is open for a surprise contender like Butler.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some analysts believe Butler's reliance on transfers and freshmen might hinder their team chemistry early in the season. Do you think experience trumps raw talent, or can Butler's newcomers gel quickly enough to make a splash?
The exhibition game will not be streamed or broadcast, but WSBT radio will provide live coverage with Conor Clingen on air. Tickets are available for purchase online.
This exhibition game is more than just a warm-up. It's a glimpse into the future for both programs. Who will shine? What weaknesses will be exposed? And, most importantly, which team will emerge with the confidence to carry them through the season? Let us know your predictions in the comments below!
