While Notre Dame football tries to get back into the College Football Playoff race after an 0-2 start, basketball season is quickly approaching.
And the Fighting Irish men’s basketball program has been picked to finish No. 8 out of 18 teams in USA Today’s preseason rankings. Additionally, junior guard Markus Burton was named to the 2025-26 preseason all-ACC first team. Burton averaged 21.3 points per game last season.
The Irish are looking to bounce back after a 15-18 campaign. Along with Burton, returnee Braeden Shrewsberry is a key piece as he gets back to 100 percent after an injury, while transfer imports Carson Towt (Northern Arizona) and Matthew MacLellan (Madonna University) as well as true freshman Jalen Haralson look to help the Irish move up the league standings under Micah Shrewsberry, who is 28-38 overall in two seasons in South Bend.
How well the freshman wing Haralson adjusts to the college level could be the team’s X-factor. Haralson is the program’s highest-rated recruit of the internet era and was a McDonald’s All-American who can play multiple positions.
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Notre Dame men’s basketball ranked No. 8 in USA Today’s preseason ACC rankings
Reporting by Dave Miller, Fighting Irish Wire / Fighting Irish Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
