In a night that Notre Dame fans would rather forget, the Fighting Irish suffered a crushing 100-56 defeat at the hands of top-ranked Duke. The Blue Devils, led by the unstoppable Cameron Boozer, dominated from the start, with Boozer nearly matching Notre Dame's entire first-half output by himself. This 44-point drubbing marks Notre Dame's most lopsided loss since their third-ever game in 1898 against Chicago First Regiment, a historical footnote that no one wanted to revisit.
The implications of this defeat are significant, especially for head coach Micah Shrewsberry. With a season record of 12-16, Notre Dame's hopes for an ACC Tournament appearance are dwindling, and their dreams of an NCAA Tournament bid are slipping away unless they can secure an automatic spot by winning the ACC. The pressure is mounting on Shrewsberry, who has seen his team regress over the past three seasons, from a 13-20 record in his first year to 15-18 last season, and now this challenging campaign.
Shrewsberry himself has acknowledged his struggles, admitting in a recent press conference that he hasn't fulfilled his coaching responsibilities. This candid admission resonates with many within the Notre Dame community, who are questioning the direction of the program. If the university decides to part ways with Shrewsberry, it would signal a complete rebuild, a scenario they hoped to avoid when he was hired.
The Irish haven't seen NCAA Tournament action since 2022, and their last significant run was back in 2016, when they reached the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year. For Notre Dame, returning to those glory days feels like a distant dream, but one they desperately hope to reclaim.