Notre Dame sets tipoff times for basketball season openers in Rome, Italy
On3 • • sports
Key Points:
- Notre Dame announced that both its men’s and women’s basketball teams will open their season against Villanova in Rome, Italy, on November 1, with the men’s game at 9:30 a.m. ET on Fox and the women’s game at 12 p.m. ET on FS1; the venue will be announced later.
- The event, called the Eternal City Tip-off, celebrates the connection between the two Catholic universities and honors Pope Leo XIV, an American-born pope and Villanova graduate, who is expected to attend a pre-game event.
- Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd emphasized the significance of combining sport with faith and culture, highlighting the university’s longstanding presence in Rome and the importance of this international competition.
- Women’s head coach Niele Ivey expressed excitement about the historic opportunity, noting the holistic experience it offers student-athletes beyond basketball, while men’s coach Micah Shrewsberry highlighted the chance for cultural growth and representing Notre Dame globally after a challenging previous season.
