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

I remember watching Notre Dame's last championship run back in 2015, and honestly, there was something magical about that team. The way they moved the ball, the defensive intensity - it felt like watching a perfectly choreographed basketball symphony. Now, nearly a decade later, I find myself wondering if this current squad can recapture that championship DNA. The Fighting Irish have shown flashes of brilliance this season, but consistency has been their Achilles' heel.

Looking at their recent performance against Louisville, I noticed something interesting in Coach Micah Shrewsberry's post-game comments. He mentioned something that really stuck with me: "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." That mix of English and Tagalog caught my attention, but more importantly, it revealed the coaching staff's mindset. They're not just collecting wins - they're building experience, gathering those crucial early-season lessons that could pay dividends come tournament time. In my years covering college basketball, I've learned that championship teams aren't built in March; they're forged in these November and December battles.

The numbers tell part of the story - Notre Dame currently sits at 14-7 overall and 5-3 in ACC play. But statistics can be deceiving. What the box scores don't show is the team's improved ball movement, the way they're starting to trust each other in crunch time. I watched their game against Duke last week, and despite the loss, there were moments where they looked every bit a championship-caliber team. The defensive rotations were sharper, the offensive sets more fluid. They're averaging 74.3 points per game while holding opponents to 68.9 - decent numbers, but championship teams typically have a wider scoring margin.

Let me be frank here - I've been skeptical about their chances all season. The ACC is brutal this year, with at least five teams capable of making deep tournament runs. But something shifted in that Louisville game. The way they closed out the final four minutes, making smart decisions under pressure - that's the stuff you can't teach. Championship teams have this almost instinctual understanding of when to push the tempo and when to slow things down. Notre Dame showed glimpses of that basketball IQ.

Their roster construction fascinates me. You've got veteran leadership in guys like Nate Laszewski, who's putting up 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, combined with young talent like freshman guard JJ Starling. That blend of experience and youthful energy reminds me of some of the great Notre Dame teams of the past. But here's the thing - talent alone doesn't win championships. It's about how that talent meshes, how players respond to adversity, how they handle the grind of conference play.

I've spoken with several basketball analysts who think Notre Dame's defensive efficiency rating of 94.3 puts them in the conversation for top defensive teams in the country. Personally, I think they need to get that number below 90 to truly compete for a championship. The good news? They're trending in the right direction. Over their last five games, they've held opponents to 41.2% shooting from the field - a significant improvement from their season average of 44.1%.

The schedule ahead is daunting. They've still got to face North Carolina twice, plus road games against Virginia and Miami. But you know what? I'm starting to believe this team might have what it takes. Not because they're the most talented squad in the country - they're not - but because they're showing that intangible quality that separates good teams from great ones. They're learning how to win close games, how to bounce back from tough losses, how to maintain composure when things aren't going their way.

Remember what Coach Shrewsberry said about gathering experience early? That philosophy is paying off. In their last three games decided by five points or less, they've won two. That's the kind of growth that matters. Championship teams find ways to win those nail-biters. They make one more defensive stop, grab one more crucial rebound, hit one more big shot.

The road to the championship is long and winding. Notre Dame still has work to do - their three-point defense needs improvement, and they could use more production from their bench. But watching them develop throughout this season, I can't help but feel optimistic. They're building something special here, piece by piece, game by game. The championship form might not be fully there yet, but the foundation is solid. And in college basketball, sometimes that's all you need to make a magical run when it matters most.