May 3, 2012
SEATTLE - The Husky Men's Basketball team will enhance its global presence this summer by playing a total of seven games against yet to be determined teams during a 15-day trip that will include stops on two continents, Husky Coach Lorenzo Romar announced on Thursday. The Huskies will spend time in Spain, France, Monaco, and Senegal during their two-week basketball excursion. The trip will serve as not only an opportunity to play basketball against some top-level European clubs, but also a chance for players to see the sites and experience life outside of the United States. "Foreign tours are fantastic for the overall well-being of the student athlete. It's always a great cultural experience," Husky Coach Lorenzo Romar said. It marks the second time UW has made a foreign trip during Romar's 10-year tenure. The Huskies spent part of the summer of 2007 in Greece. The team, coaching staff and other Husky personnel will depart Seattle on Aug. 25 and arrive in Barcelona, Spain where they will stay until the 29th. UW will play two games in Spain. From Barcelona, the Huskies will bus to Nice, France where they will stay for three days and play two more games in nearby Monaco. On Sept. 2, the team will fly to Paris and play twice. "We're playing some of the highest level teams internationally," Romar said of the perspective opponents. "We will play against some very tough competition. We're playing to win, but you're also trying to get better so you always want to play the best." The last leg of the trip from Sept. 5-8 includes a visit to Dakar, Senegal, home of senior-to-be Aziz N'Diaye. The Huskies will play one game, plus take part in several basketball clinics associated with the Area Development Program and supported by World Vision. "You do home visits with kids when you are recruiting them and you meet parents and have an opportunity to see their world. In this case, we not only get to see Aziz's world, but his family and friends get to see the group he has been living with the last couple of years," Romar said of the African leg of the trip. Besides playing basketball, the team will have an opportunity to see many of the sites and cultures they will be learning about in a yet-to-be-determined class. This past season, Washington players received two credits for an independent study course on Broadway plays and drama in conjunction with their weeklong trip to New York City. The Huskies will be allotted 10 practices before they leave for the trip. All players who are eligible to play in 2012-13 are eligible to play during the summer tour. Washington returns just 48-percent of its scoring after losing four letterwinners from 2011-12. "With the new rule that allows freshmen and new players to practice with you, it gives you another great opportunity to acclimate your new players early," Romar said. "We're going to play seven games so everyone is going to get quality minutes. "It's going to be an overall great experience for all and a great chance for the team to bond." The team will return to Seattle from their adventure on Sept. 9. |
