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How College Basketball Ended Up in Rome: An American Pope, a Text, and a Wild Idea

How College Basketball Ended Up in Rome: An American Pope, a Text, and a Wild Idea
World Sports · 13:58:30 - Saturday, 31 October 2026

A new report by John Leuzzi for USA TODAY explores the unlikely story of how college basketball made its way to Rome. The piece details how an American pope, a text message, and a wild idea converged to bring the sport to the Vatican city, highlighting a unique intersection of faith, sports, and international culture.

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