Micah Shrewsbury’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish have come out firing in 2025–26, sitting at 2-0 after a pair of dominant home wins. As they prepare to host Eastern Illinois on Tuesday, this group looks deeper, more balanced, and ready to surprise in the ACC.
A Fast Start in South Bend
Notre Dame has cruised through its first two games, beating Long Island and Detroit Mercy by identical 32-point margins. The Irish are averaging an eye-popping 95.5 points per game while showing impressive depth and energy early on.
Burton Leads the Way
Junior guard Markus Burton has picked up right where he left off last season. The Mishawaka native is averaging 18.5 points per game despite playing fewer than 23 minutes a night. After starting 58 of 59 games in his college career, Burton continues to shine as one of the ACC’s premier scorers.
Supporting Cast Stepping Up
Behind Burton, several others have made their mark. Cole Certa, a sharpshooting 6’5 guard from Leroy, Illinois, is averaging 14 points per game off the bench and has looked confident with every shot. Ryder Frost, a 6’7 forward from Massachusetts, is chipping in 12.5 points per game in limited minutes, providing spark and size in the frontcourt.
Meanwhile, Braeden Shrewsbury, the coach's son, continues to be a steady veteran presence. Now in his third season, he’s been a consistent double-figure scorer and brings leadership to a team loaded with young talent.
Looking Ahead
The schedule is about to stiffen. After Eastern Illinois, the Irish head to Ohio State on November 16 and face Kansas just over a week later. Matchups with Rutgers, Missouri, and TCU round out a challenging nonconference slate before ACC play begins December 30 at Stanford.
Still, with the offense firing on all cylinders and a bench that’s already making an impact, Notre Dame looks ready to take the next step in Shrewsbury’s third season at the helm.