Villanova basketball teams arrive in Rome for season opener

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 29 Oct, 16:08 · Archive

Villanova's men's and women's basketball teams have arrived in Rome for a season-opening doubleheader against Notre Dame on Sunday.

Villanova's men's and women's basketball teams arrived in Rome on Thursday for a season-opening doubleheader against Notre Dame on Sunday. Coach Kevin Willard said the university has a responsibility to represent Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova alumnus who graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the Augustinian school near Philadelphia. Willard described Leo as the university's 'best alumnus and most notable alumnus' and 'the most famous person on earth'.

The highlight of the trip is expected to be a private papal audience on Saturday with the four teams and 7,000 travelling fans. The teams have already visited the Colosseum and plan to see the Spanish Steps. Villanova guard Jake Fiegen said 'it's crazy, the things that basketball has led us to do'.

Freshman centre Luigi Suigo, a 19-year-old Italian projected as an NBA draft lottery pick, is serving as the team's unofficial tour guide. Guard Jasmine Bascoe from the women's team said players were instructed not to sleep for more than half an hour at a time during the flight to manage jet lag.

Villanova basketball teams arrive in Rome for season opener — Image: Clickorlando

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How it is being reported

Villanova touches down in Rome for college basketball season opener and papal audienceIt hit Villanova coach Kevin Willard early Thursday morning when he got off the charter flight that carried the university’s men’s and women’s teams to Rome for Sunday’s season-opening college basketball doubleheader against Notre Dame.Clickorlando · 29 Oct, 15:30
Villanova touches down in Rome for college basketball season opener and papal audienceIt hit Villanova coach Kevin Willard early Thursday morning when he got off the charter flight that carried the university’s men’s and women’s teams to Rome for Sunday’s season-opening college basketball doubleheader against Notre Dame.News4Jax · 29 Oct, 15:30

In this story: Villanova · Notre Dame · Rome · Pope Leo XIV · Kevin Willard

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