Notre Dame Basketball Sets Preseason Exhibition Slate with DePaul and Butler — A Test of Grit Before the Grind
In a move that has Fighting Irish fans buzzing, Notre Dame men’s basketball has officially announced its 2025 preseason exhibition schedule — and it’s anything but soft. The Irish will square off against DePaul and Butler, two programs known for their physicality and tradition-rich basketball grit.
These matchups won’t just be feel-good warm-ups; they’re tone-setters.
Entering his second year at the helm, Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry is clearly making a statement: this team isn’t ducking competition. After a foundation-setting first season, the Irish are now hungry to prove they can contend. And what better way to begin than with two high-caliber, battle-tested programs?
DePaul, a Big East staple, will bring intensity and tempo — a fitting first challenge for Notre Dame’s newly blended roster. Butler, long known for its disciplined defense and underdog tenacity, promises a rugged, blue-collar test that will demand toughness and focus.
Shrewsberry emphasized the importance of facing opponents who “make you earn it early,” and these exhibitions will do just that. The games will offer fans an early look at the Irish’s chemistry, depth, and defensive identity — all crucial ingredients in what they hope will be a breakout season.
This is not just preseason basketball. This is a message to the locker room and to the rest of college hoops: Notre Dame is setting the bar high from Day One.
Tip-off times and locations are expected to be announced soon, but one thing is already certain — Irish basketball is waking up with purpose, and these exhibitions are just the beginning.
