With Markus Burton's Saturday announcement that he intends to enter the Transfer Portal when it opens on Tuesday, Notre Dame basketball fans are wondering how the Irish could lose a homegrown kid who is also one of the best players ever to come through the program. However, Irish Illustrated analyst Tim O'Malley thinks that's the wrong mindset. Rather than being shocked at Burton's exit, fans should understand it was inevitable in this era of college sports.
In order to demonstrate that keeping Burton was "impossible at this point," O'Malley had a couple of his buddies interview him as though he were the star guard. Every question they offered up, he shot down, making it clear that Burton would have an answer and an explanation for why he's leaving South Bend.
When one hypothetical question that could be posed to the Notre Dame star was, "we're going to pay you $3 million and we're going to have a NIL budget of 12 to 15. Give us a chance to build around you." O'Malley put on his Burton hat and shot it down quickly.
Why did Markus Burton announce his intent to enter the transfer portal?
— Irish Illustrated (@irishillustratd) April 4, 2026
In the words of @timomalleyND, a return was "impossible, at this point". pic.twitter.com/g0449AAu5u
Why Tim O’Malley believes Notre Dame basketball never had a real shot to keep Markus Burton
"I can get that at Houston. I can get that at North Carolina ... I can go to the Sweet 16, the Elite Eight."
The next hypothetical question was about Burton's development under Micah Shrewsberry and why that might make him decide to stay at Notre Dame. "Do you feel like you've been developed in such a way that compels you to want to return to South Bend for another year?"
O'Malley once again made quick work of the question as if he was actually Markus Burton.
"I think I'm one of the best players in the country, but we've won 41 games in my three seasons here ... I think I could develop somewhere else much better."
Finally, the one hole card that the Fighting Irish often think they've got, a great education, isn't as powerful as some believe. When the hypothetical question as to whether Burton might want to get a degree and be set once his playing days were over, the analyst pointed out Burton could always come back and finish getting the degree at a later date.
In the end, the Notre Dame analyst made it clear that as painful as its been to watch one player after another leave the Fighting Irish this offseason, its something everyone saw coming and it makes perfect sense for Markus Burton, Jalen Haralson and the rest to go elsehwere.