SOUTH BEND ― It was only a matter of time, and that time will be a Friday night this fall in Indianapolis.
When Micah Shrewsberry was hired in March 2023, it seemed inevitable that Notre Dame basketball would find some way to get Butler back on its schedule, and likely sooner than later. Shrewsberry spent four seasons (2007-11) as an assistant at Butler under former coach Brad Stevens. He’s an Indianapolis native. The ties to that area, and to that team, run deep.
Notre Dame and Butler will meet Friday, October 17, in an exhibition at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Butler will visit South Bend for an exhibition prior to the 2026-27 season.
Notre Dame and Butler have played 103 times in a series that started in 1909 with a visit (and a 47-14 Irish win) to Butler’s old College Gym. Notre Dame leads the series 72-31, including 29-20 at Butler. The 72 wins are second only to Marquette (81) for wins over an opponent in Notre Dame program history.
October will mark the first time the teams have played since a memorable second-round overtime game in the 2015 NCAA Tournament (the Pat Connaughton block game), won by Notre Dame, 67-64, which snapped a six-game losing streak to Butler.
Notre Dame last played at Hinkle on February 15, 1995 (its last season of basketball independence), a 76-60 loss under the late John MacLeod. The teams last met in the regular season on November 13, 2006, at Gainbridge (then Bankers Life) Fieldhouse as part of the National Invitation Tournament Tipoff. Butler won 71-69.
Butler last visited Purcell Pavilion on February 8, 1994, and won 67-57.
This season’s exhibition was made possible following an NCAA rule change at the start of last season that allows Division I teams to play other Division I teams in early-season exhibitions. Previously, Division I teams could only hold “secret” scrimmages with other Division I teams or play a team from a lesser Division ― II or III or NAIA schools.
Notre Dame and Xavier have held closed scrimmages each of the past two years.
Notre Dame’s lone open exhibition last season was a visit to Purdue Fort Wayne, a game won by the Irish, 91-54. Its 2025-26 schedule will be released sometime in September.
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com
