College basketball coaches are known for passionate sideline reactions, but what happened after Notre Dame's controversial heartbreaking 72-71 loss to Cal on Jan. 2 took intensity to a whole new level.
Head coach Micah Shrewsberry's response to a bewildering final-seconds officiating sequence became instant social media fodder when video showed him charging toward a referee, Adam Flore, while his own players physically held him back.
Here's what sparked the chaos: With five seconds left, Cal's Dai Dai Ames drained a three-pointer while Notre Dame's Logan Imes committed a foul. The officials counted the basket. Then they waved it off. Then they counted it again. All of this happened without anyone bothering to check the video replay.
Ames stepped to the free-throw line and sank the shot that clinched the Golden Bears' victory. While Cal celebrated at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California, Shrewsberry made a beeline for the referee — who had his back turned and remained completely unaware of the approaching storm.
@kentsportsAll time loss for Notre Dame that left their head coach Micah shrewsberry trying to FIGHT the refs ?? #collegebasketball #collegehoops #notredamebasketball #micahshrewsberry
♬ original sound - KentSportsVideo captured the coach yelling and swinging a towel as multiple players and staff members rushed to create a human barrier between Shrewsberry and the official. Two players literally put their hands on their coach, physically preventing him from advancing. They eventually wrapped their arms completely around him and guided him back toward the bench while the traditional postgame handshake line formed.
Notre Dame Coach Apologizes for Losing His Cool
Shrewsberry skipped the post-game media session, but issued a formal apology through Notre Dame's men's basketball account the next day.
A Statement from Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry:“I want to apologize for what took place immediately after the Cal game last night. 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…
— Notre Dame Men's Basketball (@NDmbb) January 3, 2026"I want to apologize for what took place immediately after the Cal game last night," Shrewsberry 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 judgement 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."
What Are College Basketball Fans Saying About This?
Social media absolutely exploded with opinions — and surprisingly, many sided with Shrewsberry's frustration if not his method of expressing it.
"He was mad because they first counted the shot, then took it off, then put the shot back on the scoreboard all without review which is a little crazy to go back and forth in the final seconds," one fan explained, articulating what many were thinking.
Photo by Icon Sportswire on Getty Images
Another commenter captured the absurdity perfectly: "Very valid crash. You can't wait to call that foul until the shot attempt. And then not even reviewing anything in that whole sequence is beyond insane."
The phrase "valid crashout" appeared repeatedly, suggesting widespread sympathy for a coach watching victory slip away due to officiating confusion.
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One particularly pointed comment suggested systemic change: "We gotta have refs do post game press conferences and we can ask them questions."
Others acknowledged the line between understandable frustration and unacceptable behavior: "Probably realized the outrage was justified over poor officiating" while noting "a coach going after a ref is unacceptable."
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Whether Shrewsberry faces conference sanctions beyond his public mea culpa remains unclear. What's certain is that this moment will follow him despite an otherwise stellar reputation built through three seasons of rebuilding Notre Dame basketball — including recruiting the program's highest-rated modern-era class. Shrewsberry has worked to rebuild the Fighting Irish into ACC contenders.
This moment represents a significant departure from his typically composed demeanor but even the most composed leaders have breaking points. Shrewsberry found his.
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