A Controversial Call Costs Notre Dame a Win

Notre Dame’s men’s basketball team was on the verge of completing a successful west coast road trip, aiming to sweep their games against Stanford and California. After defeating Stanford in a closely contested match with a final score of 47-40 earlier in the week, the Fighting Irish found themselves leading late in the game against Cal, holding a 67-63 advantage with just under 30 seconds remaining.

However, what seemed like a sure win turned into a nightmare for the Irish due to an extremely controversial call that would have major implications on the outcome of the game. With California leading 71-68 and only 10 seconds left on the clock, Notre Dame attempted to stop the Golden Bears from attempting a three-pointer to potentially tie the game. The Irish tried to foul as California brought the ball upcourt, but the call wasn’t made until after the fact. Dai Dai Ames then launched a potential game-tying shot with 5.5 seconds remaining, which was ultimately not called, resulting in a loss for the Fighting Irish.

This call sparked immediate controversy and became a hot topic on social media, especially within the sports world. Former Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey took to X to express his frustration, stating:

“Push is prior to ending his dribble and prior to start of shooting motion. College rule is more in line with NBA now and this would be ruled non-shooting in NBA too.”

Brey, a long-time college and NBA referee who has since retired and trains referees, emphasized that the ruling was in line with NBA standards, suggesting that the call was clearly incorrect.

Reactions and Apologies

Nick Shepkowski, a sports analyst, provided his take on the situation, noting that while the optics of Micah Shrewsberry chasing down the official were problematic, it’s unlikely that the coach intended to cause any physical harm. Shepkowski pointed out that such reactions are often a result of frustration when a team is on the verge of a significant win and then loses it due to a questionable call.

Shrewsberry took time to address the incident publicly, offering an apology for his actions immediately following the game. He stated:

“I want to apologize for what took place immediately after the Cal game last night. My actions were inappropriate and not symbolic of the leader I strive to be and what Notre Dame expects of its coaches and educators. I will learn from this lack of judgment and be better in the future. I want to apologize to our team, our University and its leaders, to Coach Madsen and his team, and to the ACC, as my actions were unacceptable.”

Interestingly, Shrewsberry did not explicitly apologize to the official in his statement, which some believe was a strategic move by the Notre Dame public relations team. They likely knew that there wouldn’t be any physical confrontation, given the nature of the incident.

Despite the controversy, the ACC did not suspend Shrewsberry for his actions, possibly because they recognized how poor the call was.

Looking Ahead

Notre Dame will return to action next Saturday night when they host Clemson at 7:00 p.m. ET. Shrewsberry will be on the bench, looking to refocus the team and regain momentum after the heartbreaking loss.

Other Notable News

In addition to the basketball game, there were other updates regarding Notre Dame athletics. One of the most significant was the news that a defensive lineman had entered the transfer portal. This development has raised questions about what Notre Dame football needs most in the 2026 transfer portal.

Additionally, there were reports that backup quarterback Kenny Minchey is expected to land in the Big Ten, further highlighting the shifting landscape of college football recruiting.

Another notable story was Indiana’s dominant victory over Alabama, which confirmed concerns that Notre Dame fans cannot ignore. These developments continue to shape the narrative around Notre Dame athletics as the season progresses.