The Battle of the Bulldogs: Notre Dame's Big Test
Get ready for an exciting basketball showdown as Notre Dame takes on Butler in an exhibition game this Friday at 7 p.m.! This highly anticipated match-up marks the first of two exhibition contests for the Irish, with the second one scheduled for next week against another Big East rival, DePaul.
Notre Dame: A Squad to Watch
As we enter the pivotal third year of the Micah Shrewsberry era, there's a buzz of optimism surrounding the Notre Dame basketball team. One key player to keep an eye on is junior guard Markus Burton, a Mishawaka native who's poised to have a career-defining season. Burton's already racked up an impressive resume, scoring over 1,000 points and averaging over 17 points per game in his first two seasons. He was recently named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-ACC First Team, solidifying his status as a force to be reckoned with.
Burton isn't alone in the backcourt; he's joined by his talented junior partner, Braeden Shrewsberry, who's also averaged double-digit points for the Irish. This dynamic duo is further bolstered by the addition of five-star recruit Jalen Haralson, the 19th-ranked player in the class of 2025 according to ESPN. The Irish have also signed a trio of four-star recruits: Brady Koehler, Ryder Frost, and Tommy Ahneman, rounding out ESPN's ninth-ranked recruiting class in the country.
But that's not all; the Irish have also added some much-needed front-court presence with the transfer of Carson Towt from Northern Arizona. Towt, a fifth-year senior, led the nation in rebounding last year with an impressive 12.4 rebounds per game. He'll be working alongside 6-foot-10 forward Kebba Njie, who followed coach Shrewsberry to South Bend from Penn State. The team also has high hopes for sophomores Sir Mohammed, Garrett Sundra, and Cole Certa, who are all looking to make a bigger impact this season.
Butler: A Team on the Rise
The Butler Bulldogs are entering year four of the second Thad Matta era, and they're hoping to build on their impressive College Basketball Crown appearance last April. Despite Matta and his staff missing out on the NCAA Tournament in their first three seasons in Indianapolis, there's a glimmer of hope for Bulldogs fans who haven't seen their team in the NCAA Tournament for nearly a decade.
Butler has undergone a roster overhaul, bringing in ESPN's 25th-ranked recruiting class and five transfers. The 2025 class includes two four-star recruits: Jack McCaffery, whose father is the longtime Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery, and Indianapolis native Azavier "Stink" Robinson. The transfer class is led by Gonzaga's Michael Ajayi, along with journeyman Yohan Traore, who's making his fourth stop in as many years, most recently from SMU. Other transfers include Drayton Jones (South Carolina State), Jalen Jackson (Purdue Fort Wayne), and Yame Butler (Drexel).
These newcomers will join 6-foot-4 junior Finley Bizjack, who averaged 10.3 points per game for the Bulldogs last year. They'll also team up with 6-foot-6 sophomore Jamie Kaiser Jr., who made a splash during his freshman season at Maryland before transferring to Butler and sitting out last year due to an ankle injury.
With the Big East potentially producing fewer NCAA Tournament bids this year, the door is wide open for a surprise contender like the Bulldogs to make a run.
Catch the Action
Unfortunately, the exhibition game won't be streamed or broadcast, but you can tune in to WSBT radio to catch Conor Clingen's live coverage. Tickets for the event are also available for purchase online.
So, who do you think will come out on top in this battle of the Bulldogs? Will Notre Dame's star-studded lineup prevail, or will Butler's revamped roster pull off an upset? Let's discuss in the comments and share your predictions!
