Micah Shrewsberry came to the Notre Dame basketball program billed as someone who can build things for the long haul. Unfortunately, the biggest question for the Fighting Irish and Shrewsberry is whether he's building anything at all in South Bend.
Shrewsberry's team, despite leading most of the game in Saturday's matchup with Boston College, ended up losing 77-69. In the process, the ND's season comes to an end as their 4-14 record in conference means they don't get an invite to the ACC Tournament. Even if they had won, they still would have needed help to get a bid to continue their season.
With Notre Dame's season over, it marks a third straight campaign with a losing record. It marks the second time in three years that he's only won 13 games in a season. It's a step backward for a team that at least made some noise at the end of last year and the beginning of this one. And yet, according to ESPN's Jeff Borzello, Irish fans who want a change at the top are "likely to be disappointed."
Micah Shrewsberry's job security leaves Notre Dame basketball fans with little to cheer about
Last week, Borzello reported that there is "no appetite to make an immediate move" at Notre Dame, citing sources. He also noted that Shrewsberry remains under contract through the 2029-30 season.
There are obviously mitigating factors that could allow Shrewsberry to keep his job. Chief among those is that his team had to play almost its entire season without star guard Markus Burton. They also played a good portion without touted freshman Jalen Haralson.
However, it's unlikely frustrated Notre Dame fans will accept those excuses as a reason why Shrewsberry should be brought back. Keep in mind, despite analysts billing the Irish head coach a "builder," he managed to take lowly Penn State to an NCAA Tournament in his second season with the Nittany Lions.
Could missing the ACC tournament change things? Likely not, as Borzello's report came when it was clear they would need help to get there. At this point, it appears Notre Dame fans will have to hope Micah Shrewsberry's fourth season is the charm.