Notre Dame basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry issued an apology for losing his cool on Friday, Jan. 2.
The Fighting Irish coach got into a heated exchange, charging toward an official after California pulled off a 72-71 win over Notre Dame, following a controversial reversal and re-reversal of a four-point play opportunity for the Golden Bears with five seconds remaining in a game that Notre Dame led 71-68.
Shrewsberry charged toward the official who awarded the four-point play, showing visible anger and yelling at the official. He was held back and restrained by multiple Notre Dame players and staffers for a few seconds before he finally led the postgame handshake line with the Cal team.
“I want to apologize for what took place immediately after the Cal game last night,’ Shrewsberry’s statement read. ‘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 (California) Coach (Mark) Madsen and his team, and to the ACC, as my actions were unacceptable.”
With the Golden Bears trailing 71-68 with seconds remaining, Dai Dai Ames hit a 3-pointer to tie the game, drawing a foul from Notre Dame’s Logan Imes in the process. Initially, it was ruled a four-point play, giving Cal a chance to take the lead.
However, the official overturned the call and said the foul happened before the shot. He then reversed course again and said the foul happened during the shot, resulting in a four-point opportunity.
Ames knocked down his free throw with five seconds remaining to give Cal a 72-71 lead. Notre Dame’s Braeden Shrewsberry missed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer as time expired, which resulted in Micah Shrewsberry losing his cool.
The Atlantic Coast Conference issued a statement reprimanding Shrewsberry’s outburst on Saturday, Jan. 3. There will be no suspension.
‘Shrewsberry aggressively confronted a member of the officiating crew following the game,’ the statement read. ‘The unsportsmanlike behavior that was displayed is unacceptable and tarnishes the on-court play between these institutions.
‘The ACC considers this matter closed and will have no further comment.’