Two Indiana-based private schools separated by 140 miles of a straight-shot highway once played basketball every year, and sometimes twice, for decades before going their own basketball ways.
That changes Friday when Notre Dame basketball makes the two hour and 30-minute trek straight down U.S. 31 to visit Hinkle Fieldhouse for an exhibition with Butler.
Advertisement
It will mark the first time the teams have met in Hinkle since 1995. Back then, Notre Dame was an independent on the verge of joining the Big East. It now calls the Atlantic Coast Conference its basketball home. Thirty years ago, Butler was a member of the old Midwestern Collegiate Conference. It’s now a member of the same Big East that the Irish fled in 2013.
Poll Position: Where did Notre Dame basketball finish in USA Today’s ACC preseason poll?
Noie: What’s the verdict of the first-ever Irish Jam basketball event at Eddy Street Commons?
The exhibition marks the return of Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry, who spent four seasons (2007-11) as a Butler assistant under former Bulldogs coach Brad Stevens.
Advertisement
Notre Dame vs. Butler start time
-
Site: Hinkle Fieldhouse (9,100), Indianapolis
What channel is Notre Dame at Butler on?
-
Radio: 960 WSBT-AM in South Bend
-
Streaming: SiriusXM on ACC Radio and channels 955 and 956
Notre Dame vs. Butler basketball series history
In a series that dates back to 1909, Notre Dame leads all-time 72-31, including 29-20 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. These teams last met during the regular season in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. Notre Dame won 67-64 in overtime to advance to the Sweet 16 in Cleveland.
This is the first meeting between the teams at Hinkle Fieldhouse since February 15, 1995, the last year of Notre Dame basketball independence, a 76-60 Butler win.
The teams are scheduled to meet at Purcell Pavilion in an exhibition prior to the 2026-27 season.
Advertisement
Keep an eye on …
Notre Dame
Freshman wing Jalen Haralson, a native of Anderson, Indiana, who played his first two seasons of high school at nearby Fishers. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound Haralson is the highest-ranked recruit in modern history of the Irish program. A five-star prospect and consensus Top 20 talent, Haralson is the first McDonald’s All-American to sign with Notre Dame under head coach Micah Shrewsberry. He is expected to start at wing guard and could become only the second one-and-done in program history (Blake Wesley, 2022).
Butler
Freshman Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor, a 6-6 forward who averaged 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals this summer while competing for Team Canada in the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland. Butler head coach Thad Matta cued up on his laptop a highlight of Oliogu-Elabor’s tip dunk one day this summer and nearly fell off his chair.
Advertisement
“Holy (cow), he’s a freak athlete,” Matta said.
Oliogu-Elabor is one of 11 new players on the Bulldogs’ roster.
Notre Dame basketball news
Where did Notre Dame finish in USA Today ACC preseason poll?
What’s the verdict on the first-ever Irish Jam at Eddy Street Commons?
Eventually, this will feel normal for one Notre Dame women’s basketball player
Why this schedule fits this Notre Dame basketball team
Why athletic director Pete Bevacqua is bullish about Notre Dame basketball
Meet Notre Dame basketball’s Mr. Sunshine
Notre Dame basketball schedule
-
Oct. 17 at Butler (Exhibition)
-
Oct. 24 DEPAUL (Exhibition)
-
Nov. 3 LIU BROOKLYN, 7 p.m. (ACCNX)
-
Nov. 7 DETROIT MERCY, 7 p.m. (ACCNX)
-
Nov. 11 EASTERN ILLINOIS, 7:30 p.m. (ACCNX)
-
Nov. 16 At Ohio State, 12:30 p.m. (FS1)
-
Nov. 19 BELLARMINE, 7 p.m. (ACCNX)
-
Nov. 24 vs Kansas (Players Era Festival, Las Vegas), 3:30 p.m. (TNT)
-
Nov. 25 vs Rutgers (Players Era Festival, Las Vegas), 1 p.m. (TNT)
-
Nov. 26/27 TBD (Players Era Festival, Las Vegas), TBD
-
Dec. 2 MISSOURI (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
-
Dec. 5 At TCU, 8 p.m. (ESPN+)
-
Dec. 10 IDAHO, 7 p.m. (ACCNX)
-
Dec. 13 EVANSVILLE, 2 p.m. (ACCNX)
-
Dec. 21 PURDUE FORT WAYNE, 12 p.m. (ACCNX)
-
Dec. 30 At Stanford, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
-
Jan. 2 At California, 11 p.m. (ESPN2)
-
Jan. 10 CLEMSON, 6 p.m. (ESPN2/U)
-
Jan. 13 MIAMI (Fla.), 7 p.m. (ESPN2/U)
-
Jan. 17 At Virginia Tech, 12 p.m. (ACCN)
-
Jan. 21 At North Carolina, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
-
Jan. 24 BOSTON COLLEGE, 6 p.m. (ACCN)
-
Jan. 27 VIRGINIA, 7 p.m. (ESPN2/U)
-
Jan. 31 At Syracuse, 6 p.m. (The CW)
-
Feb. 4 At Louisville, 7 p.m. (ESPN/U)
-
Feb. 7 FLORIDA STATE, 4 p.m. (ACCN)
-
Feb. 10 At SMU, 7 p.m. (ACCN)
-
Feb. 14 GEORGIA TECH, 12 p.m. (The CW)
-
Feb. 21 At Pittsburgh, 2 p.m. (ACCN)
-
Feb. 24 DUKE, 7 p.m. (ESPN2/U)
-
Feb. 28 NORTH CAROLINA STATE, 12 p.m. (The CW)
-
March 3 STANFORD, 9 p.m. (ESPNU)
-
March 10-14 ACC Tournament (Charlotte) TBD.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Here’s what you need to know when Notre Dame basketball visits Butler
