Villanova’s all-time five is led by Jalen Brunson, Paul Arizin, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Ed Pinckney; Notre Dame’s is led by Austin Carr, John Paxson, Adrian Dantley, LaPhonso Ellis and Bill Laimbeer. The comparison highlights the programs’ history of college champions, NBA stars and standout scorers as the teams prepare to meet in Rome.

By the Numbers
  • Brunson averaged 32.6 points per game in the Knicks’ five-game NBA Finals series.
  • Carr scored 61 points in an NCAA Tournament game in 1970, a record.
  • Dantley averaged 30.4 points per game as a Notre Dame sophomore; Arizin was a 10-time NBA All-Star.
  • Villanova has won 3 national titles, while Laimbeer helped Detroit win 2 NBA championships.
Yes, But

The programs’ recent postseason fortunes have lagged behind their history: Villanova has not won an NCAA Tournament game since its 2022 Final Four run, and Notre Dame’s last Sweet 16 appearance came in 2016.

Bottom Line

The all-time matchup is a reminder that both programs’ legacies stretch well beyond their current teams—from Villanova’s championship core to Notre Dame’s record-setting scorer and NBA standouts.