Notre Dame opened the 2026-27 college basketball season in Rome with a result few would have penciled in before tipoff: a 76-72 upset of Villanova.
The Irish entered the game as roughly seven-point underdogs and spent much of the first half chasing the Wildcats. But Notre Dame steadied itself late, trimming the gap to four by halftime before flipping the game in the final 10 minutes and holding on for the win.
For Notre Dame, the victory came with a few clear themes.
Brady Koehler looked like a player ready to take a real step forward. The sophomore forward, a former four-star prospect, had already shown flashes as a freshman, when he averaged 5.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.
Against Villanova, he delivered his best kind of reminder. Koehler had six points and six rebounds in the first half, then added 10 more points after the break once foul trouble was no longer a factor.
He finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, topping the 16-point mark for only the second time in his college career. If Notre Dame is going to keep punching above expectations, this is the sort of production it will need from him.
The backcourt, meanwhile, showed both promise and some rough edges. Braeden Shrewsberry, the team’s lone returning guard, did what was expected of him by taking the most shots and finishing with 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting.
Gonzaga transfer Braden Smith added 16 points, getting there largely through 10 made free throws despite going 2-for-9 from the field. Penn transfer Ethan Roberts contributed 11 points as well.
The scoring was there, and the guards made enough plays late to help close the door. Still, with little help from the bench, Notre Dame will need more efficiency from that group if it wants to keep knocking off top-100 opponents.
Logan Duncomb also played a major role in the second-half push. The Winthrop transfer was quiet in the opening half, going scoreless in 10 minutes, but he turned it around after the break with nine points and a team-high four assists.
He also knocked down a key three-pointer during the comeback, the first of his college career. That mattered because Notre Dame has struggled to get consistent offensive production from its frontcourt in recent years.
Against Villanova, Duncomb and Koehler combined for 25 points, and that balance helped carry the Irish to a statement win to start the season.
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Notre Dame is already juggling a few health questions coming out of the Navy game, and the biggest one may be at linebacker. Drayk Bowen suffered a lower right leg injury during the matchup, and with Miami next on the schedule, his availability is now uncertain at a spot where the Irish can least afford another setback.
Marcus Freeman also had to address the status of several other injured players, including Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Leonard Moore, Cooper Flanagan and Micah Gilbert, after a game in which Notre Dame leaned on substitutions and limited some players' workloads to get through it. The next few days should tell the story on Bowen, but for now it leaves one of the defense's key pieces very much in question heading into a major test. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dames Early Navy Gamble Is Raising Questions Fast
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Instead, Navy put together its longest offensive drive of the season during that stretch, and the Midshipmen briefly led 3-0 before Notre Dame answered to go ahead 7-3. The sequence has already put a spotlight on the defensive playcalling and the decision to lean on reserves so early, leaving plenty of room for questions about how much of the opening trouble was execution and how much was design. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Freeman Just Put Notre Dames Defensive Leadership Under Pressure
Marcus Freeman did not hide his frustration at halftime of Notre Dames game against Navy, and his comments cut straight to the heart of the defenses issues. He said the unit was being asked to run plays it did not know, a sign that the problems were not just about effort or physicality but about execution and communication in a game that demanded both.
Freeman also stressed that the defense had to play physically and stay away from panic, a message that carries extra weight when a head coach is openly questioning how the calls are being handled. The Irish were sharper after the break, but the halftime critique only adds pressure on defensive coordinator Chris Ash and leaves Notre Dames defensive leadership under a brighter spotlight moving forward. [Read more 🡒]