Villanova and Notre Dame open the college basketball season in Rome following papal audience
ROME (AP) — They’ve been blessed by the pope. And now it’s finally time for some hoops.
The Villanova and Notre Dame men's and women's basketball teams are set to engage in a doubleheader in Rome on Sunday, kicking off the college basketball season. This event, called the Eternal City Tip-Off, honors Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, who met with all four teams at the Vatican on Saturday. During a lively audience of 7,000 attendees, including players, coaches, fans, and families, Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, declared neutrality in matters of sport, stating that his former self might hold a different view.
The games will take place at the 11,000-seat Palazzo dello Sport, located approximately half an hour's drive from the Vatican. Although Pope Leo XIV underwent lung cancer surgery last month and is unlikely to attend the games, a group of cardinals and Vatican officials is expected to be present. The men's game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET) and will be broadcast on Fox with Bill Raftery as the analyst. The women's game, featuring the top-ranked Notre Dame team, is set for 6 p.m. (noon ET) on FS1.
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