Villanova and Notre Dame open season with games in Rome

College basketball is increasingly using international venues to attract casual viewers before the regular season begins. The next major test of that strategy arrives this weekend in Rome, where Villanova and Notre Dame will play two exhibition games at the Vatican.

The men’s matchup is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday and will air on Fox. The network is dropping one of its NFL pregame shows to make room for the broadcast. The women’s game follows at noon on FS1. This doubleheader caps a multi-day trip to Italy that includes a private audience with Pope Leo XIV.

Villanova head coach Kevin Willard has visited the city multiple times with his family. He described the Vatican as an incredible experience for players who have never been to Rome. His favorite stop was the Pope Carriage Pavilion, which displays papal vehicles from different eras. Willard noted that the collection shows the varying tastes of different popes, ranging from grandeur to simplicity.

The team will meet the 71-year-old pontiff on Saturday in the Paul VI audience hall. Approximately 7,000 people, including players and traveling fans, are expected to attend the private audience. Health permitting, Leo will host the event despite undergoing surgery earlier this month to remove a lower lobe of his right lung and receiving a lung cancer diagnosis.

Willard said the trip offers a balance between sightseeing and preparation for the upcoming season. He emphasized that the experience is too important to skip. Notre Dame point guard Braeden Smith called it a great opportunity to make memories with teammates. The itinerary also includes a welcome reception, a basketball clinic for local children, and a private mass led by Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez.

The men’s game marks the home debut for Villanova freshman center Luigi Suigo. The 7-foot-3 player from Tradate, Varese, is a projected NBA draft lottery pick. Suigo said he is happy to be playing in his home country. He noted that the only thing he misses about Italy is the food.

Villanova women’s coach Denise Dillon said her team will rely on the support of the crowd. Villanova was picked to finish second in the Big East preseason poll, while Notre Dame enters ranked No. 13. Dillon expects the home crowd to provide a boost for her guards Jasmine Bascoe and Kennedy Henry.

Pope Leo XIV, who was born in Chicago, commented on the expected crowd composition during a plane ride in September. He said 90% of the people coming to the match are Villanova fans and 10% are Notre Dame fans. He predicted that the voice of the people of God would be strong on the Villanova side.

Villanova has a history of deep tournament runs, including winning the 1985 national championship as an eighth-seed. The Wildcats also won the 2016 title with a buzzer-beater. Notre Dame women have won two national championships in 2001 and 2018, while the men’s team is still seeking its first NCAA title. Fighting Irish swingman Ethan Roberts said the Rome venue speaks to the brand of the two schools.