Villanova and Notre Dame open season with doubleheader in Rome

Villanova and Notre Dame will open their basketball seasons on Sunday with a doubleheader in Rome, Italy.

The event, branded as the Eternal City Tip-Off, features men's and women's games between the two Catholic institutions. The men's contest is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on Fox, while the women's game follows at noon on FS1. Fox has removed one of its NFL pregame shows to accommodate the broadcast.

Approximately 7,000 people, including players and fans, are expected to attend a private audience with Pope Leo XIV on Saturday. The meeting will take place in the Paul VI audience hall inside the Vatican. The plans were finalized before the 71-year-old pope underwent surgery earlier this month to remove a lower lobe of his right lung and was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Villanova men's coach Kevin Willard, a Catholic and frequent visitor to Italy, described the Vatican as an unbelievable experience. He noted that his family often vacations in the country. Willard said the trip is not a summer tour but a necessary balance between sightseeing and preparing for the season.

Villanova women's coach Denise Dillon said her team will rely on the pope's support. The Wildcats were picked to finish second in the Big East preseason poll. They face No. 13 Notre Dame, a team that has won two women's national championships in 2001 and 2018.

Villanova freshman center Luigi Suigo will make his debut on home soil. The 19-year-old from Tradate, Varese, is a projected NBA draft lottery pick. Suigo said he misses only the food in Italy. Notre Dame point guard Braeden Smith called the opportunity to travel with his teammates and visit the pope a great chance to make memories.

Pope Leo XIV said on a plane in September that the voice of the people of God will be loud for Villanova. He noted that 90% of the crowd is expected to be Villanova fans. Notre Dame swingman Ethan Roberts said the opportunity to play in Rome speaks to the brand of the schools involved.