Can Notre Dame Fighting Irish Men's Basketball Return to Championship Form?

I remember watching Notre Dame's 2015 and 2016 NCAA Tournament runs with genuine excitement—those back-to-back Elite Eight appearances felt like the program was knocking on the door of championship contention. Yet here we are several years later, and the question hanging over South Bend is whether Mike Brey's squad can rediscover that magic. Having followed college basketball for over two decades, I've seen programs rise, fall, and sometimes resurrect themselves. Notre Dame's situation fascinates me because the pieces for a resurgence appear to be there, but the path back to championship form requires navigating the increasingly competitive landscape of modern college basketball.

The recent comments from one of Notre Dame's international players caught my attention, particularly when he mixed Tagalog with English to express the value of early-season experience. "Pero, it's a good win for us kasi it's not just a positive thing to win, nakakuha din kami ng ganitong klaseng experience as early as now," he remarked after a solid non-conference victory. That multilingual reflection speaks volumes about both the global nature of today's game and the importance of building chemistry through meaningful early tests. From my perspective, these early games matter more than ever—they're not just about padding the win column but about developing the resilience needed for March. I've always believed championship teams are forged in these seemingly minor November and December contests, where rotations are tested and players discover their clutch-time identities.

Looking at the current roster construction, Notre Dame has what I consider one of the more intriguing backcourts in the ACC. With returning veterans blending with promising newcomers, the backcourt depth appears stronger than last season's squad that finished 15-17 overall. The addition of transfer guard Marcus Hammond should provide immediate scoring punch—he averaged 18.1 points per game at Niagara last season, numbers that would have placed him second on Notre Dame's roster. But statistics only tell part of the story. What I'm watching for is how these players develop the intangible qualities of championship teams: the ability to execute under pressure, the defensive communication that disrupts opponents' sets, and the shared commitment to winning possessions rather than just scoring highlights.

The ACC landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. While traditional powers like Duke and North Carolina are reloading as usual, I see potential openings for Notre Dame to climb the standings. The conference sent just 5 teams to last year's NCAA Tournament—down from the 7-9 bids it regularly earned during Notre Dame's strong runs earlier last decade. This creates what I view as a strategic window for the Fighting Irish to reestablish themselves. The non-conference schedule includes several measuring-stick games against power conference opponents that will either build confidence or expose weaknesses. Personally, I'd like to see them schedule even tougher—championship habits are formed by regularly facing elite competition, not by stacking wins against overmatched opponents.

Mike Brey's coaching philosophy will be crucial in this rebuilding effort. Having observed his career, I appreciate his offensive creativity and player development track record, though I've sometimes questioned his defensive schemes against more athletic opponents. His motion offense remains among the most beautiful in college basketball when executed properly, but modern championship teams typically need top-40 efficiency on both ends of the floor. Last season, Notre Dame ranked 78th in defensive efficiency according to KenPom metrics—a number that must improve by at least 20-25 spots to realistically compete for ACC titles, let alone national championships. The good news is I'm seeing more defensive intensity in early games, with improved rotations and communication that suggest the players are buying into the necessary improvements.

The development of junior forward Nate Laszewski could be the X-factor. At 6-foot-10 with legitimate three-point range (he shot 41.7% from deep last season), he presents the type of matchup problem that modern basketball prioritizes. But for Notre Dame to reach championship level, he'll need to become more than just a floor-spacer. I'd like to see him develop a reliable post game and improve his rebounding numbers—from 6.8 to at least 8.5 per game. The best stretch-fours in college basketball impact games in multiple ways, and Laszewski has the potential to join that group with continued development.

Recruiting has been solid though not spectacular, which brings me to my concern about whether Notre Dame can consistently land the elite athletes needed to compete at the highest level. The 2022 class ranks around 35th nationally according to most services—respectable but not the top-15 caliber that typically produces Final Four teams. What gives me hope is Brey's proven ability to develop three-star recruits into NBA players, as he did with Jerian Grant and Pat Connaughton. Still, I can't help but feel the program needs one breakthrough recruiting class—perhaps landing a top-20 national prospect—to truly accelerate the return to championship relevance.

The international perspective that player mentioned resonates with me because basketball has become truly global. Notre Dame's roster includes players from four different countries, creating a cultural mosaic that can become a strategic advantage if properly harnessed. Different basketball backgrounds bring different understandings of the game, and I've noticed teams with international players often execute more sophisticated offensive sets. That early-season experience the player referenced—playing in diverse environments against varied styles—prepares teams for the tactical adjustments required in NCAA Tournament play.

As someone who values both analytics and the eye test, I'm looking for specific indicators of progress beyond the win-loss record. Turnover percentage, offensive rebounding rate, free throw attempt differential—these are the underlying metrics that championship teams typically dominate. Last season, Notre Dame ranked 312th nationally in free throw rate, an alarming statistic that must improve dramatically. Championship-level teams attack the basket and earn easy points from the stripe—it's a mentality as much as a strategy.

The path back to championship form won't be linear—there will be frustrating losses and breakthrough wins. But having followed this program through its ups and downs, I believe the foundation exists for a return to relevance. The combination of experienced guards, developing frontcourt talent, and a proven coaching staff creates what I'd call a 70% probability of returning to the NCAA Tournament this season. From there, anything can happen in March—we've seen crazier stories unfold. The key will be accumulating those meaningful experiences throughout the season, much like that player highlighted in his mixed-language reflection. Those early tests build the resilience that defines teams capable of making deep tournament runs. While I'm not yet predicting a Final Four appearance this season, I see the trajectory pointing upward, and in college basketball, momentum can transform hopefulness into reality faster than most people expect.