SOUTH BEND − On the first Friday of fall, on a night that seemed like late summer, winter came to Eddy Street Commons.
Even without snow and cold, which would’ve been relief on a stifling stuffy night, it felt like college basketball season. It felt like Notre Dame men’s and women’s basketball season with the first Irish Jam in session.
This was something new and refreshing. No more yawner practices for fans across the street at Purcell Pavilion. No more wondering if it was time to dust off Midnight Madness (Is that still a thing?) to get fans thinking about hoops.
Friday worked. It had its glitches as first-time events do, but it worked.
The halfcourt black Sport Court was set up near the south end of Eddy Street with Urban Outfitters on one side and 7-Eleven on the other. No full court, no real court, limited anyone Irish from really cutting it loose. On this night, everything less than 100 percent was fine.
Players in the 3-on-3 dorm championship (held between events) broke more of a sweat than any Irish.
We didn’t see much from the Irish, which is always the point of these events.
The night started with a clang and ended with a bang. In between, there was too much down time for the fans to stand (no seating offered) and watch the Irish shoot and get loose. Eliminate that nothingness and the idea of having “MCs” work the crowd up into, whatever they were supposed to be worked up into, and the event can be a success.
“Irish Fans …Make Some Noise!”
Nah, please just stop shouting at us.
For a campus that lives and breathes college football on a home football weekend, getting up for hoops is a tough sell. This wasn’t a hoops crowd standing six deep in some spots as much as it was a football crowd curious about hoops. They tried.
This was an event three years in the making for those behind the scenes. Sometimes on Friday, it felt like it would take three years to complete. Outside of the main events, everything dragged. In the end, it still ended 12 minutes earlier than the 8 p.m. gotta-go time.
How did the players like it? Who knows? Got no time for interviews. Maybe next year. Besides, there were players signing basketballs for the crowd. Players posing for selfies. Players dribbling and shooting layups with one hand while videoing everything in the other. Players singing and dancing. So, sure, they had fun.
Friday was not without a few pressure basketball moments and a big answer for the one player on the halfcourt built to provide a big answer. Members of the men’s and women’s teams were divided into two squads — the Irish Jammers (uh … OK) and Shamrock City. They competed in three drills — the 3-point shooting contest, the skills competition and the shooting stars.
Hannah Hildalgo served as captain for Shamrock City. Markus Burton, Mishawaka’s own, was captain of the Irish Jammers.
Shamrock City won the night, 2-1, capped by Hildalgo’s halfcourt shot to cap the shooting stars. Even outside in early October, Hildalgo has a flair for the dramatic. The night started with the 3-point contest, where junior guard Braeden Shrewsberry had the unenviable task of being the first of eight to work his way through five racks of five basketballs in each.
Shrewsberry clanged four of five on his first rack before settling down. And in. He finished with 18 points. None of the seven players who followed could beat him. Not sophomore Cole Certa. Not freshman Ryder Frost, both known snipers. South Bend’s own Kelly Ratigan had hoped the previous week to show her 3-point shooting stuff, but she didn’t compete. That was odd, but par for Friday.
We didn’t see much from many of the players, but it was good to see Eddy Street Commons be associated for something during a home football weekend other than late-night shenanigans.
On Friday, Notre Dame also officially unveiled an alternate uniform —“The Bend” — an homage to the city of South Bend. It’s a uniform that will be worn by each of the teams in a game this season, though with the black and gold color scheme, it seems more fitting for Purdue.
The jerseys — fans were often reminded to stop by the bookstore and buy some swag — is an odd olive branch extended by the university to South Bend. For so long, forever really, it felt like Notre Dame did everything it could to stay separate from the city.
How? Notre Dame is not officially in South Bend, but Notre Dame, Indiana. It was long a we’re here, you’re there thing.
Why look now for backing from “The Bend?” It’s obvious. Both teams need everyone on campus, everyone near campus, everyone in Northern Indiana, on board to support both programs this season. For several reasons.
The men’s team needs more support than they’ve ever had under third-year coach Micah Shrewsberry if it’s going to take the next step toward getting back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022. Home attendance dipped to 5,262 per game last season, which may have been closer to 4,200.
The women’s team needs support in what many believe will be a down year — and step back from last season’s Final-Four-caliber team. The unis are nice, but you know what matters more? Matters to fans of both programs? Fan in and around The Bend?
Wins.
Then imagine Irish Jam.
Just bring earplugs.
Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com