Get ready to feel the chill in the air and the buzz in Purcell Pavilion—college basketball is almost back! But here’s where it gets exciting: as we gear up for the 2025-26 Notre Dame basketball season, kicking off on Monday, November 3 against LIU Brooklyn, we’re diving deep into the roster with an alphabetical player-by-player breakdown over the next 13 weekdays (October 15–31). Who are these players? What did they bring to the court last season? And how do they fit into third-year head coach Micah Shrewsberry’s vision? We’ve got the answers—and trust us, you’ll want to hear this.
Meet Cole Certa, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound sophomore shooting guard from Le Roy, Illinois, who honed his skills at IMG Academy. While his freshman stats—2.5 points, 0.2 rebounds, and 0.2 assists in 8.0 minutes per game—might not jump off the page, this is the part most people miss: Certa’s late-season surge was nothing short of remarkable. Eight of his 10 made three-pointers came in the final eight games, including a standout performance against Pittsburgh, where he dropped 12 points (with three 3s) in just 12 minutes. Talk about clutch!
And here’s where it gets controversial: Certa barely saw the court in the first three months of the season, but when he did, he became a game-changer. His confidence, shot-making ability, and knack for big moments turned heads—and now, he’s poised to build on that momentum. Shrewsberry himself praised Certa’s unshakable confidence, saying, ‘He’s stronger, moving better, and shooting the ball great. He’s ready to take another step in his game.’
But the question remains: Can Certa sustain this momentum and become a consistent contributor? Or will he fade back into the shadows? What do you think? Let us know in the comments—this is one player whose story is far from over. Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI, or reach out at tnoie@sbtinfo.com for more insights.
