Notre Dame Men's Basketball: Charity Exhibition Game Against Dayton Flyers and Season Preview
Notre Dame men’s basketball is set to return to Dayton, Ohio for an exhibition game against the Flyers on October 17. The game will support mental health awareness through Dayton’s annual Spotlight To Shine A Light On Mental Health event. The Flyers had a successful season last year, finishing with a 25-12 record but falling short in the Atlantic 10 title game.
The charity exhibition will benefit Jay’s Light, a foundation focused on mental health and suicide prevention. Notre Dame will play two exhibition games on the road before kicking off the 2026-27 season. In addition to the game against Dayton, the Irish will also face DePaul before heading to Rome, Italy for their regular season opener against Villanova on November 1.
The matchup with Dayton replaces a planned game against Butler, and Notre Dame’s non-conference schedule includes games against Villanova in Rome, Ohio State at home, an SEC team in the ACC/SEC Challenge, and participation in the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas. The Irish will compete against a mix of teams like Kansas, Florida, Houston, Auburn, West Virginia, Rutgers, and UNLV in the championship.
Notre Dame’s last visit to Dayton was in March 2022 when they secured a thrilling double-overtime victory against Rutgers in the First Four. Led by veteran forward Paul Atkinson Jr., the Irish clinched the win with a put-back layup in the final seconds. Despite their success in the tournament, Notre Dame’s season ended in the second round with a loss to Texas Tech.
Heading into the upcoming season, Notre Dame faces challenges after losing key players to the transfer portal. With a new roster that includes graduate transfers Logan Duncomb, Ethan Roberts, and Braeden Smith, the team aims to build a competitive squad around returning starters Braeden Shrewsberry and Brady Koehler. Coach Micah Shrewsberry will lead the team in their quest to return to March Madness after their last appearance in the 2021-22 season.
In conclusion, Notre Dame men’s basketball is gearing up for an exciting season with a mix of exhibition games, challenging matchups, and a renewed roster. The team’s journey back to the NCAA Tournament will be one to watch as they aim to overcome obstacles and make their mark in the upcoming season.