Hoops in the Holy City: Villanova, Notre Dame Set for Rome Showdown
BIG EAST basketball will take center stage internationally on Sunday, Nov. 1, as Villanova and Notre Dame meet in the Eternal City Tip-Off, a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader in Rome, Italy. The event will celebrate the universities’ shared Catholic missions and heritage while bringing athletics, academics, and spirituality together in one of the world’s most historic cities. The women’s basketball matchup will air nationally on FS1 at noon ET.

A Busy Opening Week
The BIG EAST women’s basketball season opens with a full slate of non-conference action through Thursday, highlighted by several marquee matchups. On Monday, Nov. 2, No. 2 UConn hosts Cornell at 5 p.m. on Peacock/NBCSN, while Creighton travels to face San Diego State at 8 p.m. on Midco Sports. Monday’s slate also includes Butler, St. John’s, Xavier and Georgetown. Tuesday features four more BIG EAST contests, with Seton Hall, DePaul, Providence and Marquette each hosting opponents at either 7 or 7:30 p.m. The week’s marquee matchup arrives Thursday, Nov. 5, when No. 2 UConn travels to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan at 6:30 p.m. on FS1. Xavier also hits the road to face Northwestern at 8 p.m., while Butler and Georgetown close out the evening with home contests.

Marchesano Hopes To Bring Winning Tradition Back to Butler
Marchesano arrived at Butler after a successful five-year run at Purdue Fort Wayne, where she led the Mastodons to three consecutive 20-win seasons and three straight postseason appearances. Marchesano now returns to the place where her collegiate career began. During her playing career at Butler, she was a four-year letterwinner and graduated in 2005. With her experience building successful programs and developing players, Marchesano begins her first season back at Butler, looking to establish a new foundation for the Bulldogs.

Strong Named Preseason AP All-American
UConn junior forward Sarah Strong was named to the 2026-27 Associated Press preseason All-America team, announced in mid-October. The 2026 AP Player of the Year, Strong led UConn in scoring (18.4 ppg), rebounding (7.7 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg) in 2025-26. She was remarkably consistent last year, scoring in double figures in all 38 games while recording 10 double-doubles. Her sophomore campaign also saw her earn some of the most prestigious individual women’s basketball honors, including the Naismith Trophy, Wooden Award, Wade Trophy, USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year, and Katrina McClain National Power Forward of the Year. 

‘Naismith Starting 5’ Watchlist
Nancy Lieberman Award (Point Guard) KK Arnold, UConn / Jasmine Bascoe, Villanova
Cheryl Miller Award (Small Forward) Blanca Quiñonez, UConn
Lisa Leslie Award (Center) Jana El Alfy, UConn
Katrina McClain Award (Power Forward) Sarah Strong, UConn

Fanta in 60 
NBC Sports will feature an opening night marathon from Hartford, featuring second-ranked UConn hosting Cornell at 5 p.m. ET with John Fanta, Edona Thaqi and sideline reporter Caroline Pineda on the call. Following postgame coverage from the studio in Stamford, a brand-new Fanta in 60 show airs live from PeoplesBank Arena from 7:30-8:30 pm ET. The episode is highlighted by an exclusive sit-down with Fanta, Geno Auriemma and Dan Hurley talking through the powerhouse programs at Connecticut and their friendship. 

Opening Week Schedule (through Thursday)
Sunday, Nov. 1
Villanova vs. Notre Dame, Noon Stats | FS1
(Rome, Italy)

Monday, Nov. 2
Tennessee Tech at Butler, 11 a.m. Stats | ESPN+
Lafayette at St. John’s, 2 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Cornell at #2 UConn, 5 p.m. Stats | Peacock/NBCSN
Xavier at Purdue Fort Wayne, 7 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Delaware State at Georgetown, 7 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Creighton at SDSU, 8 p.m. Stats | Midco Sports
 
Tuesday, Nov. 3
Mercyhurst at Seton Hall, 7 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Evansville at DePaul, 7 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Stonehill at Providence, 7 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Miss. Valley State at Marquette, 7:30 p.m. ESPN+
 
Thursday, Nov. 5
#2 UConn at Michigan, 6:30 p.m. Stats | FS1
Lipscomb at Butler, 6:30 p.m.  Stats | ESPN+
American at Georgetown, 7 p.m. Stats | ESPN+
Xavier at Northwestern, 8 p.m. Stats | B1G+