UPDATE: The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has issued a public reprimand of Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry following a dramatic incident at the conclusion of the Fighting Irish’s narrow 72-71 loss to California on January 5, 2024. Just moments after the game, Shrewsberry confronted an official, an action that has now drawn significant scrutiny.
With just seconds remaining, Notre Dame held a three-point lead when a controversial foul was called against Logan Imes on Cal guard Dai Dai Ames, who subsequently converted a critical four-point play to secure the victory for the Golden Bears. The confrontation escalated as Shrewsberry charged after official Adam Flore, but was restrained by players and staff before he could reach Flore.
The ACC confirmed that Shrewsberry’s behavior violated the conference’s sportsmanship policy. In an official statement, the ACC declared, “Shrewsberry aggressively confronted a member of the officiating crew following the game. The unsportsmanlike behavior displayed is unacceptable and tarnishes the on-court play between these institutions. The ACC considers this matter closed and will have no further comment.”
In a timely response to the reprimand, Shrewsberry released a personal statement apologizing for his actions. “I want to apologize for what took place immediately after the Cal game last night,” he stated. “My actions were inappropriate and not symbolic of the leader I strive to be and what Notre Dame expects of its coaches and educators. I will learn from this lack of judgment and be better in the future. I want to apologize to our team, our University and its leaders, to Coach Madsen and his team, and to the ACC, as my actions were unacceptable.”
This incident comes as the Fighting Irish fall to 10-5 overall, with a record of 1-1 in the ACC, while the Golden Bears improve to 13-2 and also stand at 1-1 in conference play.
As the fallout continues, fans and analysts alike are keenly watching how this reprimand will impact Shrewsberry’s coaching moving forward. Notre Dame is expected to address this issue internally as they aim to regroup from the loss and refocus on upcoming games.
Stay tuned for further developments on this story as it unfolds.