Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547434
54 NOV. 7, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED Make no mistake, Smith looked like the best passer Notre Dame has had in the Shrewsberry era. "He has a huge impact for us," Ahn- eman said. "He has the ability to get anybody the ball wherever he is on the court. So honestly, when I'm set- ting him a ball screen, I'm pretty happy that he's the one coming off the ball screen because I know either one of our shooters like [Ethan Roberts], [Braeden Shrewsberry] or [Koehler], the guys are gonna get a shot, or I might get an open shot closer to the rim." The leadership Smith brings is real, too. He's one of three graduate trans- fers in Notre Dame's projected start- ing lineup (alongside Ethan Roberts and Duncomb), but Smith is the one who has taken charge in a new-look locker room since joining the program. Koehler, only a sophomore but a player Notre Dame needs to become a star in order to succeed, even cred- ited Smith for helping him find his own voice as a leader as his teammates in- creasingly turn to him. "Giving props to him, like, he has helped me become a better leader," Koehler said. "I'm trying to use my voice a little bit more. Last year I prob- ably didn't do it as much, being a fresh- man on that team. But this year, I kind of know my place." Throughout the Shrewsberry era, when a slide starts, it has been difficult for the Irish to break out of it. Notre Dame hopes the stability Smith offers on and off the court will change that. "I keep saying he's gonna be an unbelievable coach, despite what I keep telling him about our business," Shrewsberry said. "He's gonna be an unbelievable coach at some point in time in his career." ✦ 1. How Good Is Brady Koehler 2.0? For more than two years, we've been writing about how much the Irish love Koehler and believe in his ceiling. They thought he showed NBA po- tential as a recruit, with his 7-foot-3 wingspan and 6-foot-10 height. His freshman year (in which he averaged 5.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game) screamed, "A year away, but the upside is real." Toward the end of that freshman year, strength coach Jon Sanderson compared him to former lottery pick Franz Wagner and told Blue & Gold Illustrated to "wait 'til he's 225 [pounds] and has the physicality." He's listed at 220. As we wrote earlier, Koehler is Notre Dame's only starter with real potential to disrupt opposing offenses on the defensive end, and he has the traits to become an offensive force, too. For this roster to work, Koehler has to be its best player. He showed he's capable of doing that during Notre Dame's exhibition win against DePaul, finishing with 19 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. "I thought BK was big-time," head coach Micah Shrewsberry said. "When he plays like that, we're a totally different team." 2. How Will Three Mid-Major Products Translate To Starting In The ACC? Gonzaga is not a mid-major (certainly not anymore, with the move to the new Pac-12), but Braeden Smith's best years came at Colgate. For all intents and purposes, Notre Dame needs three mid-major products in Smith, Ethan Roberts and Logan Duncomb to form the core of its team. There is obviously significant precedent for mid-major transfers to pan out in massive ways. The Irish also acquired top-tier players from that level, with both Smith and Duncomb's résumés including conference player of the year honors. However, many accomplished mid-major transfers fail to meet ex- pectations at the high-major level. Building the roster like this was a gamble, but a necessary one with a budget that falls in the lowest spending tier in CBS Sports' survey of high-major programs. It's easy to see what Notre Dame sees in Smith, Roberts and Duncomb. Combined, they are a pure point guard with a top-12 national assist-to- turnover ratio, a wing who shoots 40 percent from three-point range and a big man who led the country in fouls drawn per 40 minutes, respectively. The question is whether their skill sets translate to the next level. 3. Are Jonathan Sanderson And Tommy Ahneman Not Just Playable, But Part Of The Solution Right Away? Sanderson will not start, but he will play starters' minutes as both Smith's backup and a combo guard who is more than capable of playing off the ball. He'll do a lot for Notre Dame: pushing the pace in transition, playing aggres- sive defense, driving the lane and shooting from all over the floor. Meanwhile, Ahneman could very well start games this season. Duncomb was day to day with a left leg injury prior to the Villanova game, and while his current ailment is not expected to keep him out long, there are real ques- tions about how well his body can hold up against high-major competition. Ahneman, his backup, is a polished post scorer for his age. The Irish are convinced that both Sanderson and Ahneman can contribute immediately. They have to be right. — Jack Soble Three Burning Questions For Notre Dame Sophomore forward Brady Koehler scored a team-high 19 points and added 5 assists in Notre Dame's 71-63 exhibition win at DePaul Oct. 23, offering an encouraging glimpse of his potential for a larger role this season. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS