Micah Shrewsberry Rips Notre Dame Over Loss to Stanford

Notre Dame coach says team "deserved to lose" after poor performance against Cardinal.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Notre Dame men's basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry harshly criticized his team's effort and focus following their 86-78 loss to Stanford on Wednesday night. Shrewsberry said the Fighting Irish "deserved to lose" because they failed to execute and "do what they're supposed to be doing" on the court.

Why it matters

The loss continues Notre Dame's struggles under Shrewsberry, who is just 41-55 overall and 19-38 in ACC play since taking over the program in 2023. Despite the team's poor performance, reports indicate Notre Dame has no immediate plans to part ways with Shrewsberry, who is signed through the 2029-30 season.

The details

In the loss to Stanford, Notre Dame matched the Cardinal's scoring in the second half but was done in by a slow start. Shrewsberry said his team lacked focus, discipline and awareness, claiming they "deserve to lose" when they don't execute properly. The coach praised Stanford's effort and contributions from multiple players.

  • Notre Dame lost to Stanford 86-78 on Wednesday, March 5, 2026.
  • Shrewsberry is in his third season as Notre Dame's head coach, having taken over prior to the 2023-24 season.

The players

Micah Shrewsberry

The head coach of the Notre Dame men's basketball team, who has led the Fighting Irish to a 41-55 record over his first three seasons.

Stanford

The opponent that defeated Notre Dame 86-78 on March 5, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Credit to Stanford, because I thought they came in really locked in. They got a lot of big contributions from a lot of different guys. For us, man, you get what you deserve. I thought our focus sucked and our discipline sucked. I thought our awareness sucked. When your back is against the wall, like, you've got to come out and be better than that. We weren't. Somehow, we keep getting chances.”

— Micah Shrewsberry, Notre Dame Head Coach (on3.com)

“Now, you need somebody else's help. If you just handle business, come out locked in, and come out assertive, you do what you're supposed to do on every possession. Mistakes are going to happen, but we've got guys not going what they're supposed to do. You deserve to lose when you're not doing that.”

— Micah Shrewsberry, Notre Dame Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

According to reports, Notre Dame has no immediate plans to part ways with Shrewsberry despite the team's struggles, as he is signed through the 2029-30 season.

The takeaway

Shrewsberry's harsh criticism of his team's performance highlights the growing frustration with Notre Dame's lack of progress under his leadership. The Fighting Irish have failed to make the NCAA Tournament in three seasons, raising questions about Shrewsberry's long-term future with the program.