INDIANAPOLIS — Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry gave himself a moment to look around and savor all the memories running through his mind during Friday’s shootaround at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Shrewsberry’s Fighting Irish were about to face off against Butler in an exhibition game, the first of a home-and-home between the two schools. The Cathedral graduate and former Butler assistant doesn’t get back to Hinkle often as his coaching career has taken him from Butler to Purdue, the Boston Celtics and Penn State before becoming the Fighting Irish’s coach.
Hinkle has gone through some changes since he left, but standing on the court his mind is transported back to a formative time in his career. A time spent working under coach Brad Stevens and coaching the Bulldogs to back-to-back Final Fours. A time when his young family was growing and building core memories in his hometown.
“Our kids, they grew up running around this place,” Shrewsberry said. “They don’t remember much, but I remember every single bit of it. It’s special to come back here and I’m glad to be able to do it.”
The kids who grew up at Hinkle and in Boston during Shrewsberry’s time with the Celtics were back in Indy wearing Notre Dame jerseys. Braeden Shrewsberry, Micah’s eldest son, is a junior guard for the Fighting Irish. Brady Stevens, Brad’s son, is a sophomore guard. Butler assistant coach Alex Barlow worked for the Celtics under Shrewsberry and the two have stayed close throughout the years.
Playing in front of his father and Butler’s Final Four teams gave the exhibition added meaning for the younger Stevens. Shrewsberry said Brady handled the pressure well and came through with clutch free throws late, helping Notre Dame earn a 77-76 win.
“There’s a lot of pressure. There’s a lot of pressure to live up to some standard,” Shrewsberry said. “I was here when Brad was here and I know how special he is as a coach, as a person, as a player. What he did here.
“Brady’s been thinking about this forever. Since the game came out like, ‘Man, I’ve got to come back here and play this game in this arena that I grew up with all of my dad’s former players here. It’s a tough situation and he handled it great.”
Friday served also as a homecoming of sorts for former Fishers guard Jalen Haralson, former Zionsville guard Logan Imes and former Cathedral forward Brady Koehler.
Stevens was in town to support his son, former players and former assistant coaches, getting a sneak peek at Haralson, a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft is an added bonus. Haralson finished with seven points on 3 for 6 shooting. He added six rebounds, four assists and did not commit a turnover.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry savors return to Hinkle: ‘It’s special to come back’
Reporting by Akeem Glaspie, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
