Notre Dame has reasons for optimism, starts season vs. Stonehill

Notre Dame is coming off consecutive 20-loss seasons for the first time in school history, but the performance of Markus Burton in his freshman season makes the Fighting Irish optimistic for better things on the horizon.

After enjoying a standout freshman campaign, Burton begins his sophomore season Wednesday night when the Fighting Irish host Stonehill in South Bend, Ind.

Notre Dame went 11-21 in Mike Brey's final season (2022-23), including 3-17 in ACC play, and then went 13-20 after Micah Shrewsberry was hired from Penn State. Burton led all ACC freshmen with 17.5 points per game, a figure that was third nationally among Division I freshmen.

"It's a confidence that I have in myself and my teammates, for them to show the world how good they are, too," Burton said during the preseason.

Burton and Judah Mintz of Syracuse were the only freshmen in the nation to average at least 17 points, four assists and 1.9 steals. He ended the season with at least 20 points in six of his final seven games, and returned to Notre Dame after declaring for the NBA draft.

"He's been phenomenal this fall, this summer," Shrewsberry said about Burton. "You can tell he's worked. He's put some time in."

Burton is hoping to lift Notre Dame beyond its preseason expectations since it was picked 10th among 18 teams in the ACC's preseason poll.

Besides Burton, Braeden Shrewsberry is back after averaging 10.2 points and is joined in the backcourt by Princeton transfer Matt Allocco and four-star freshman Sir Mohammed.

Stonehill is entering its third season in Division I, and in the Northeast Conference preseason poll it was picked tied for eighth in the nine-team league with St. Francis.

The Skyhawks went 4-27 last season after going 14-17 the previous season, and Todd Brogna is the only returning starter from last season's team, which averaged 63.5 points and allowed 76.1. He is joined by Chas Stinson, who averaged 7.0 points as a part-time starter and scored 23 against Rutgers last season.

"I'm really excited about the group and the potential of where this group can be," Stonehill coach Chris Kraus said.

--Field Level Media