Season Tip-Off: Irish vs. Sharks on the Hardwood
Notre Dame men’s basketball kicks off its 2025–26 campaign Monday at Purcell Pavilion, hosting LIU. Under third-year coach Micah Shrewsberry—after consecutive lower-tier ACC finishes—the Irish aim to exceed their 15-18 mark. Accolades follow junior guard Markus Burton (preseason All-ACC), and Shrewsberry’s top-13 recruiting class bolsters the roster. The opener airs on ACC+ at 7 p.m. ET, with play-by-play by Jack Rinaldi and analysis from Bill Fenlon. Notre Dame enters as a 17.5-point favorite; LIU, fresh off a 17-16 season and led by ex-NBA star coach Rod Strickland, seeks its first NCAA berth since 2018. Key matchups, radio info, odds, and series history (Irish lead 3-0) round out the broadcast guide.
In a stunning turn, college basketball now requires style points for channel surfing endurance. Fans tuning in on ACC+ better have snacks, a charger, and possibly a sherpa to navigate the streaming labyrinth. Meanwhile, LIU’s Rod Strickland might break a sweat teaching his Sharks more than pick-and-roll—like how to outrun Irish expectations. And let’s all pause to ponder why we still trust odds from an app that thinks we’ll score 134.5 total points. Spoiler alert: someone’s about to hit “refresh” on those lines faster than Burton can drain a three.
Early Birds: Irish–Panthers Snag Midday Kickoff
Notre Dame’s 6-2 football squad, fresh at No. 10 in the AP Poll, shifts its matchup with 7-2 Pittsburgh to a noon ET start. Following a sleepy 25-10 win at Boston College, the Irish must navigate Navy under lights Saturday before heading to Pittsburgh. TV details (ABC or ESPN) remain TBD. ND leads the series 51-21-1, including lopsided wins in 2020 (45-3) and 2023 (58-7). Panthers have won five straight since a 2-2 start, staking an ACC claim. Coach Marcus Freeman’s Irish hope early kickoff eases tailgate fatigue but Nick Shepkowski warns of a potential trap: cold fans, colder reception, and a truly awakened Panthers squad.
Nothing wakes up college football fans like an ungodly noon kickoff—plus instant regret if you misread your alarm. Notre Dame thought relocating from primetime might cure tailgate naps; instead, it’s more like drilling your morning coffee into a cannon. Meanwhile, Pitt is sharpening cleats and gloating quietly, the underdog’s stealthy joy. And let’s not forget the network tug-of-war: ABC versus ESPN, because nothing says “college tradition” like a last-minute channel swap and that panicked “Did you DVR it?” text chain. Go Irish—just don’t oversleep.
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