Notre Dame Basketball Endures Tough Season Despite Flashes of Promise

The Fighting Irish struggled to a 13-18 record and 4-14 mark in ACC play, but there were still some bright spots worth remembering.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 8:03am

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Notre Dame basketball entered the 2025-26 season with high hopes, but those hopes never materialized as the Fighting Irish endured another long, losing season. The team staggered through its fourth straight losing campaign overall and continued to struggle in ACC play, compiling a 22-56 conference record since a program-best 15-5 mark in 2021-22. However, the season was not without its bright spots, including an impressive overtime win at TCU and a thrilling victory over NC State.

Why it matters

The continued struggles of the Notre Dame basketball program have raised questions about the direction of the team and the ability of head coach Micah Shrewsberry to turn things around. With the program missing the ACC Tournament for the first time in 31 seasons, there is growing concern about when the Fighting Irish will return to relevance in college basketball.

The details

Despite the overall disappointment of the season, there were some memorable moments for Notre Dame. In early December, the team rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to beat TCU 87-85 in overtime, getting 20 points each from sophomore Cole Certa and freshman Jalen Haralson. Four days after a historic 44-point loss to Duke, the Fighting Irish showed resilience with a 96-90 overtime win over NC State, led by 32 points from Certa and 25 from the returning Haralson. However, those high points were followed by tough losses, including a double-overtime defeat against Virginia and a last-second loss at California that sparked a four-game losing skid.

  • On July 4, Quinn allegedly dove onto the hood of a Waymo vehicle and covered sensors.
  • On July 29, Quinn allegedly damaged a Waymo's tires and driver's side mirror.
  • On August 11, Quinn allegedly stomped on a windshield while someone was inside.

The players

Markus Burton

Notre Dame's leading scorer who suffered a broken left ankle early in the first half against TCU, sidelining him for the final 21 games.

Cole Certa

A sophomore who scored 20 points, including six 3-pointers, in the overtime win against TCU and later had a 32-point game in the victory over NC State.

Jalen Haralson

A highly touted freshman who averaged a team-high 17.4 points per game in ACC play and showed flashes of his potential, including a 25-point performance against NC State.

Carson Towt

A graduate student who played with maximum effort throughout the season, averaging 5.9 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.

Braeden Shrewsberry

A junior shooting guard who became the 69th player in program history to score at least 1,000 points and finished third in the ACC in 3-point percentage.

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What they’re saying

“This building, I'm shocked. I'm shocked because it didn't look like it did 10 years ago when (Mike) Brey had his program rolling. The crowd was the difference in his tenure. The Notre Dame crowd (then) was unbelievable.”

— Dennis Gates, Missouri Head Coach

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery Employee

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.