Get ready for an exciting basketball showdown as Notre Dame takes on the Butler Bulldogs this Friday night!
The Battle for the Big East
In a highly anticipated exhibition game, Notre Dame basketball is set to face off against the Butler Bulldogs at 7 p.m. on Friday. This is the first of two exhibition matches for the Irish, with the second one scheduled for the following week in South Bend against another Big East rival, DePaul.
Notre Dame's Rising Stars
As the Micah Shrewsberry era enters its critical third year, there's a buzz of optimism surrounding the Notre Dame squad. Junior guard Markus Burton, a Mishawaka native, is back and ready to make his mark. With over 1,000 points scored and an average of more than 17 points per game in his first two seasons, Burton's talent is undeniable. He's recently been named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-ACC First Team, solidifying his place among the elite.
Burton is joined by his junior partner, Braeden Shrewsberry, who has consistently averaged double-digit points for the Irish. Together, they form a formidable backcourt duo. But the excitement doesn't stop there. Notre Dame has signed one of its highest-ranked recruits ever, five-star Jalen Haralson, ranked 19th in the class of 2025 by ESPN. The Irish also boast a trio of four-star recruits: Brady Koehler, Ryder Frost, and Tommy Ahneman, making them the ninth-ranked recruiting class in the nation, according to ESPN.
In addition to this star-studded freshman class, Notre Dame has acquired some much-needed front-court muscle in the form of Carson Towt, a transfer 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 Irish also have high hopes for their sophomore trio of Sir Mohammed, Garrett Sundra, and Cole Certa, who are looking to make a bigger impact this season.
With so much talent on display, it's anyone's guess who will make up the starting five for the Irish on Friday night. But one thing's for sure: this game will be a showcase of skill and determination.
Butler's Quest for Glory
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, Bulldogs fans are holding onto hope. The last time they saw their team play in an NCAA Tournament game was almost eight years ago, and they're eager for a return to glory.
Butler has bolstered its roster with ESPN's 25th-ranked recruiting class and five transfers. The 2025 class includes two four-star recruits: Jack McCaffery, son of longtime Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery, and Indianapolis native Azavier "Stink" Robinson. Leading the transfer class is Michael Ajayi from Gonzaga, along with the journeyman Yohan Traore, who has made four stops 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 be joined by 6-foot-6 sophomore Jamie Kaiser Jr., who made a name for himself at Maryland before transferring to Butler and sitting out last year due to an ankle injury.
The Exhibition Match
While the exhibition game won't be streamed or broadcast, basketball enthusiasts can tune into WSBT radio to catch all the action live with Conor Clingen on air. Tickets for the event are also available for purchase online, so don't miss out on this thrilling matchup!
And here's where it gets controversial... With the Big East potentially producing fewer NCAA Tournament bids this year, the field is wide open for an underdog like the Butler Bulldogs to make a surprising run. Will Notre Dame's star-studded lineup prevail, or will Butler's newfound depth and experience carry them to victory? Only time will tell.
So, who do you think will come out on top in this highly anticipated exhibition game? Share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below! Let's discuss and debate!
