Notre Dame’s trip to Rome produced a clean sweep on the hardwood and a fresh jolt in the national rankings, with the Fighting Irish men and women both opening their seasons with wins over Villanova.
The men had to grind for theirs. Micah Shrewsberry’s team spent most of Sunday morning chasing the game before flipping it late in a 68-67 comeback.
With 1:29 left, Gonzaga transfer Braeden Smith picked Villanova’s pocket, slowed things down in the frontcourt and then found Logan Duncomb alone at the top of the key. The senior big man didn’t hesitate, drilling the go-ahead three-point jumper.
After Villanova came up empty on the other end, Smith iced it with two free throws to push Notre Dame ahead by two possessions with 24 seconds remaining.
Smith and Brady Koehler led the Irish with 16 points apiece, while Villanova’s Tyler Perkins finished with 18. Smith also added four steals, part of a defensive effort that forced 20 Villanova turnovers and helped Notre Dame survive a rough shooting night at 35% from the field. The Irish return home to face Mercyhurst in South Bend on Thursday night at 7 pm.
The women didn’t need the late drama. Hannah Hidalgo powered Notre Dame past Villanova as well, finishing with 32 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds and 3 steals.
The Irish, ranked No. 13 in USA TODAY Sports’ preseason Coaches Poll, got the kind of start that immediately validates that billing. It was the 20th time in Hidalgo’s career that she has scored at least 30 points in a game.
Notre Dame also got a huge first impression from Leah Macy. The sophomore forward poured in 27 points on 11-of-14 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds in her collegiate debut.
Macy, a 6-foot-2 forward from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, sat out last season while recovering from an injury she suffered in high school. ESPN ranked her as the 26th-best recruit in the nation for the 2025 class.
The AP Top 25 brought more good news Sunday, moving Notre Dame up to No. 4 in the country. That sets up Saturday’s matchup with Miami as a Top 5 showdown, with a major resume boost on the line for the winner.
There was also a notable spark on the football side. After a week of coaches discussing the need to expand the wide receiver rotation, Jerome Bettis Jr. stepped in when Micah Gilbert left with an apparent injury against Navy and delivered a breakout performance. Bettis caught 6 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Notre Dame also took a hit in that game when Drayk Bowen went down early. Marcus Freeman has not yet provided an update, but sources inside the program told USA Today that the two-time captain and star linebacker is likely to be out until at least the College Football Playoff.
In Other News...
Notre Dames Rome Opener Put One Irish Freshman Under The Spotlight
Notre Dames season opened in memorable fashion in Rome, where the Irish edged Villanova 74-72 and got an early look at how their new pieces might fit together. Shrewsberry led the way with 15 points, Koehler added 16 points and made key defensive plays, and the game had the feel of a showcase from the start, with the Irish already drawing attention for how they handled a high-level opponent on a stage far from South Bend.
The biggest spotlight, though, landed on freshman Luigi Suigo, whose college debut came with plenty of eyes on him because of his NBA draft potential. He finished with seven points, a modest start by the box score but still a meaningful first step for a player viewed as a possible first-round pick. Villanovas Perkins scored 18 points in the loss, but for Notre Dame, the opener was as much about seeing how Suigo settles in as it was about starting the year with a win. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Gets A Real Opening Against No. 1 Miami
Miamis defense is under the microscope heading into a trip to South Bend, and Mario Cristobal made it clear the Hurricanes know why. After a shaky showing against North Carolina, he pointed to tackling and finishing plays as issues that have to be cleaned up fast, especially with Notre Dame waiting and a quarterback in CJ Carr who can make defenses pay when they lose contain.
For the Irish, that kind of self-scout from the No. 1 team is exactly the opening this matchup seemed to promise. South Bend will get a heavyweight game with real stakes, and Notre Dames offense now has a chance to test a Miami defense that is being asked to sharpen its execution and communication in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Defense Is Running Thin At The Worst Possible Time
Notre Dames defense took another hit in the Navy game, and the timing could hardly be worse with Miami looming. Linebacker Drayk Bowen and defensive tackles Jason Onye and Francis Brewu were among the players injured, adding to a unit that has already been stretched by earlier setbacks this season.
The Irish have not offered specific recovery timelines, leaving their status for the Miami matchup uncertain and the depth chart in a familiar state of flux. For a defense already trying to patch together answers, every new injury narrows the margin for error and makes the next week feel even more important. [Read more 🡒]