Picture this: Two storied rivals from the Hoosier State, separated by a straightforward drive down the highway, reuniting on the hardwood after decades apart—it's the stuff of basketball legends! But here's where it gets exciting: This isn't just any game; it's a clash that resurrects old rivalries and sparks fresh debates about college hoops loyalties. If you're new to the world of college basketball, think of exhibition games like these as warm-up matches—unofficial contests that let teams test their strategies and chemistry before the real season kicks off, often against familiar foes to build buzz and nostalgia.
For years, these two private institutions in Indiana—Notre Dame and Butler—faced off regularly, sometimes even twice a year, creating a tradition that fans cherished. However, shifts in conference affiliations eventually pulled them in different directions. Now, that's all changing on Friday, as Notre Dame's men's basketball squad embarks on a two-and-a-half-hour journey south along U.S. Route 31 to Hinkle Fieldhouse for an exhibition matchup against Butler. To clarify for beginners, exhibitions are preseason games that don't count toward official records, but they can reveal a lot about a team's potential and excitement.
This will be the inaugural meeting between the teams at Hinkle since 1995. Back then, Notre Dame operated as an independent program on the cusp of joining the Big East Conference, which back in the day was akin to a powerhouse league full of competitive schools like it is today. Fast-forward three decades, and the Fighting Irish have found their current basketball home in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), known for its tough, athletic style of play. Meanwhile, Butler was part of the old Midwestern Collegiate Conference and has since transitioned to the Big East—the very same one Notre Dame left behind in 2013. And this is the part most people miss: These conference moves weren't just administrative; they reshaped the landscape of college sports, potentially altering rivalries and how fans perceive powerhouses. Do you think these switches have diluted the thrill of regional matchups, or do they keep things fresh? It's a debate that could go either way!
Adding a personal touch to the reunion, Notre Dame head coach Micah Shrewsberry is returning to Butler, where he served as an assistant coach under Brad Stevens for four seasons from 2007 to 2011. Stevens, of course, later became a legend with the Boston Celtics in the NBA, and Shrewsberry's ties might bring an extra layer of intensity to the game—imagine coaching against a place that feels like home!
Now, let's break down the essentials for Notre Dame's showdown with Butler:
Notre Dame vs. Butler Start Time
- Date: Friday, October 17
- Start Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Venue: Hinkle Fieldhouse (capacity: 9,100), located in Indianapolis
- Tickets: They're available, so if you're in the area, grab yours early to catch this historic tilt!
Broadcast Details for Notre Dame at Butler
- TV: No broadcast on traditional TV
- Radio: Tune in via 960 WSBT-AM out of South Bend for live coverage
- Streaming: Catch it on SiriusXM, which offers ACC Radio and channels 955 and 956—perfect for fans who want to stream from anywhere
- Livestream: Unfortunately, no official livestream is available
Diving into the series history, which stretches all the way back to 1909, Notre Dame holds a commanding all-time lead of 72-31. That includes a 29-20 edge at Hinkle Fieldhouse itself. Their most recent encounter during the regular season came in the 2015 NCAA Tournament's second round at Pittsburgh's Consol Energy Center, where Notre Dame edged Butler 67-64 in overtime to punch their ticket to the Sweet 16 in Cleveland. This exhibition will be the first face-off at Hinkle since February 15, 1995—a year when Notre Dame was still independent and Butler won 76-60. To put that in perspective, independent programs in college basketball are rare nowadays; most teams align with conferences for scheduling, revenue, and rivalries, making that 1995 matchup a snapshot of a bygone era. The teams have another exhibition slated at Notre Dame's Purcell Pavilion ahead of the 2026-27 season, ensuring this rivalry isn't fading away anytime soon.
Keep an Eye On...
For Notre Dame: Freshman wing Jalen Haralson, hailing from Anderson, Indiana, who spent his first two high school seasons at nearby Fishers, is a standout. At 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, he's the top recruit in the program's modern history—a five-star prospect and consensus Top 20 talent. As the first McDonald's All-American to commit under Coach Shrewsberry, Haralson is poised to start at wing guard and could even become just the second one-and-done player in Notre Dame's history (following Blake Wesley in 2022). For beginners, "one-and-done" refers to elite freshmen who spend only one year in college before declaring for the NBA draft, a strategy that can transform a program's outlook overnight.
For Butler: Freshman Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor, a 6-6 forward, impressed this summer at the FIBA U19 World Cup in Switzerland for Team Canada, averaging 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals. Bulldogs head coach Thad Matta was blown away by a highlight reel, once watching a tip-dunk clip that nearly knocked him out of his chair. "Holy cow, he's a freak athlete," Matta exclaimed. Oliogu-Elabor is among 11 newcomers on Butler's roster, signaling a potential shake-up in the Big East.
Notre Dame Basketball News Roundup (These are recent stories to catch up on):
- Where does Notre Dame rank in the USA Today ACC preseason poll? (Duke and North Carolina State are also in the mix—check the buzz!)
- What was the verdict on the inaugural Irish Jam event at Eddy Street Commons? (It's a fun promotion that could set the tone for fan engagement.)
- How one Notre Dame women's basketball player is adapting to her new life (A heartwarming transfer story that highlights the human side of sports.)
- Why this schedule aligns perfectly with the current Notre Dame squad (An in-depth ACC analysis under Coach Shrewsberry.)
- Why athletic director Pete Bevacqua is optimistic about Notre Dame hoops (His enthusiasm is contagious!)
- Introducing Notre Dame's "Mr. Sunshine" (A key new addition to the program.)
Notre Dame Basketball Schedule (Get ready for a packed slate!):
- October 17: At Butler (Exhibition)
- October 24: DePaul (Exhibition)
- November 3: LIU Brooklyn, 7 p.m. ET (ACCNX)
- November 7: Detroit Mercy, 7 p.m. ET (ACCNX)
- November 11: Eastern Illinois, 7:30 p.m. ET (ACCNX)
- November 16: At Ohio State, 12:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
- November 19: Bellarmine, 7 p.m. ET (ACCNX)
- November 24: Vs. Kansas (Players Era Festival, Las Vegas), 3:30 p.m. ET (TNT)
- November 25: Vs. Rutgers (Players Era Festival, Las Vegas), 1 p.m. ET (TNT)
- November 26/27: TBD (Players Era Festival, Las Vegas), TBD
- December 2: Missouri (ACC/SEC Challenge), 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
- December 5: At TCU, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN+)
- December 10: Idaho, 7 p.m. ET (ACCNX)
- December 13: Evansville, 2 p.m. ET (ACCNX)
- December 21: Purdue Fort Wayne, 12 p.m. ET (ACCNX)
- December 30: At Stanford, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- January 2: At California, 11 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- January 10: Clemson, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2/U)
- January 13: Miami (Fla.), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2/U)
- January 17: At Virginia Tech, 12 p.m. ET (ACCN)
- January 21: At North Carolina, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- January 24: Boston College, 6 p.m. ET (ACCN)
- January 27: Virginia, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2/U)
- January 31: At Syracuse, 6 p.m. ET (The CW)
- February 4: At Louisville, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN/U)
- February 7: Florida State, 4 p.m. ET (ACCN)
- February 10: At SMU, 7 p.m. ET (ACCN)
- February 14: Georgia Tech, 12 p.m. ET (The CW)
- February 21: At Pittsburgh, 2 p.m. ET (ACCN)
- February 24: Duke, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2/U)
- February 28: North Carolina State, 12 p.m. ET (The CW)
- March 3: Stanford, 9 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
- March 7: At Boston College, 12 p.m. ET (ESPNU)
- March 10-14: ACC Tournament (Charlotte), TBD
As we wrap this up, one controversial angle here is the uneven series history—does Notre Dame's dominance make exhibitions like this less thrilling, or does it just fuel Butler's underdog fire? And what about those conference hops: Should programs stick to regional roots for authentic rivalries, or is chasing bigger leagues (and bigger paydays) the smarter play? I'd love to hear your take—do you agree Notre Dame's ACC shift was a game-changer for the better, or do you miss the old Big East days? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let's debate!
