Make or Break: An Early Outlook on Notre Dame Basketball's 2026-27 Season
- Brenden Duffy
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
With the basketball offseason in full swing and Notre Dame’s 2026-27 roster essentially set in tone, we take an early glance at what Micah Shrewsberry’s squad could look like this winter.
Photo via Brady Koehler/IG (@brady__koehler)
It is no secret that last season was a disaster for the Irish and Coach Shrewsberry, winning just 13 games and tying second-to-last in the ACC. Shrewsberry enters year four with a 41-56 overall record at Notre Dame, resulting in his name being repeatedly thrown around the “hot seat” conversation. In all likelihood, this is a make-or-break year for the Indianapolis native. So, what can fans expect from an Irish squad that returns just under 25% of its scoring from a year ago?
The Roster
Below is a look at what Micah Shrewsberry’s rotation may look like on November 1st in Rome:
1: Braeden Smith (Gonzaga transfer), Jonathan Sanderson (Four-Star Freshman)
2: Braeden Shrewsberry (Senior), Logan Imes (Senior)
3: Ethan Roberts (Penn transfer), Devin Brown (Davidson transfer)
4: Brady Koehler (Sophomore), Bryce Dortch (Rutgers transfer)
5: Logan Duncomb (Winthrop transfer), Tommy Ahneman (Redshirt Freshman)
Reserves: Yoro Diallo, Gan-Erdene Salongo, Nick Shrewsberry, Brady Stevens, Luke Devine, Jake Burow
Notes:
Shrewsberry has favored a 10-man rotation each of the past two seasons (9-man in 2023-24)
Ideally, he can cut it down to a well-rounded 8-man rotation
I believe Diallo, Salongo, and Nick Shrewsberry can all play themselves into the rotation throughout the year
Three Players to Watch
Braeden Smith - Let me preface with Markus Burton is a great basketball player and will always be a true Domer in my mind. Now, Braeden Smith is the first true PG that Shrewsberry will get to work with. The six-foot Gonzaga transfer looks to create for others first, posting 4.6 assists per game across a 105-game collegiate career thus far. A solid shooter himself, Smith’s versatility could open up things for the Irish offense in ways we have not seen in the previous three seasons.
Logan Duncomb - Similar to Smith, Duncomb provides something that Shrewsberry has not had during his Notre Dame tenure: an offensive big-man threat. The 6-10, 230-pound Winthrop transfer shot 60% from the field last season while leading the NCAA in points per 40 minutes and player efficiency rating. Duncomb earned Big South Conference Player of the Year honors after averaging over 18 points and nearly nine rebounds per game. His offensive paint ability should allow for a more versatile team offense than we have seen thus far in the Shrewsberry era.
Brady Koehler - Perhaps the most enticing player on the roster to Notre Dame fans, many expect Koehler to take a big sophomore jump. As one of just two returnees in the projected starting lineup, the 6-10 Indiana native should be one of this group’s leaders on and off the court. A walking highlight, Koehler flashes as a potential two-way breakout star. Appearing in 30 games and starting the last 13 games of the year as a freshman, he averaged 5.6 PPG on 45% shooting from the field and 38% from three. Defensively, he added 0.7 blocks and 0.7 steals per contest, using his length to disrupt opposing offenses. If given the keys, Koehler could be amongst the top players in the ACC. But for now, he will just need to focus on continuing his development and playing whatever role Shrewsberry asks of the athletic Forward.
Way-Too-Early Predictions
Ceiling: 10th in ACC; Around 20 wins, which should be enough for ACC teams to reach the newly expanded NCAA Tournament field; Shrewsberry would likely return in 2026-27.
My Guess: 12th in ACC; Potential invite to the College Basketball Crown; Notre Dame lucked out with their ACC home and away matchups, drawing two games each against Boston College and Wake Forest are four potential wins; ACC road schedule is brutal, realistically one or two wins; Non-Conference is still TBD, however current matchups with Villanova in Rome and Florida in the Players Era 8 are brutal tests; 50/50 on if Shrewsberry would return in this scenario, likely dependent on Pete Bevacqua’s feelings.
Floor: 14th in ACC; This could be 13th, but I want to give some grace to Luke Murray and Boston College in case they have a magical one-year turnaround; Notre Dame should not finish behind Georgia Tech; Shrewsberry should and, hopefully, would be fired in this instance.
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