Basketball Team To Tour Europe

Submitted by Tim on

John Beilein has pretty consistently said that, if freshmen would be allowed to take part, the team would play in Europe this summer. Per a press release sent out by the University, that trip will happen.

Press Release:

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- University of Michigan men's basketball head coach John Beilein announced today (Thursday, July 1) plans for a nine-day trip to Europe, including four exhibition games in Brussels and Belgium, with the members of his 2010-11 U-M squad.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for our team to get an early start on the season," said Beilein. "With a young team, we hope this tour will not only help us grow, but will also be a springboard to the upcoming year. Even more important than basketball is the wonderful chance for these young men, coaches and staff to experience an overseas trip throughout Europe. The cultures, traditions and rich history of the countries we visit will be educational and provide lasting memories."

The Wolverines will depart from Ann Arbor for Amsterdam on Aug. 20. After arriving the following morning, U-M will continue onto the northern part of Brussels for its first exhibition game. The Wolverines will take on Gent in the first of four exhibition contests on Aug. 22. The next day (Aug. 23), U-M will head to the southern side of Brussels and will square off against Leuven in the second of four games.

Before heading to Belgium for their final two games, the Wolverines will take a day trip and tour Paris on Aug. 24. Arriving in Belgium on Aug. 25, the Maize and Blue play its third game against Oostande, a city located in northern Belgium on the southern side of the English Channel.

The Wolverines close their four-game schedule facing newly hired administrative assistant Travis Conlan's former team, Mons, on Aug.26.

With the basketball schedule complete, the Wolverines will travel back to Amsterdam to tour the city, the Anne Frank house and Diamond Factory before heading back to Michigan on Aug. 28.

The trip is the second foreign trip for U-M in the last six years after U-M spent a four-game exhibition tour throughout Toronto, Canada, prior to the 2003-04 season. The NCAA allows teams to take foreign trips once every four years as long as competition will be a part of the travel. Teams that take foreign trips are allowed an extra 10 days of practice together before the trip.

New NCAA legislation now makes it possible for newcomers to participate in preseason foreign trips. Those newcomers must meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements while completing a minimum of three credits of coursework during the summer term.

Michigan will travel 13 players including the four newcomers -- Tim Hardaway Jr., Evan Smotrycz, Jon Horford and Colton Christian -- on the nine-day tour.

With Laval Lucas-Perry recently removed from the roster, it will be an important opportunity for the team to gel. New coaches and players will be able to get into the groove with the team, and those extras days of practice can only make the growing pains end just a little faster.

Comments

MGoShoe

July 1st, 2010 at 1:46 PM ^

...great development.  This trip is perfect for this team and this program.  It allows for extra practice and competitive games against quality competition, provides the team with an extra opportunity to bond prior to the start of the season, and significantly -- allows Coach Beilein to showcase U-M to European ballers.

The recruiting aspect of this trip should not be understated.

Wolverine In Exile

July 1st, 2010 at 2:02 PM ^

You hit every point that is good with this trip. With the huge turnover from last year's team, any extra time the team can get together before the season officially starts is a plus. I hope this translates into 1-2 extra OOC wins this year-- we're going to need those in what looks to be a brutal Big Ten competition this year. If we can also stuff a 6'10" Dirk Nowtizki clone looking to defect from Czechoslovakia into the trunk of a Mercedes driving into West Germany, then that is also a plus.

Tim

July 1st, 2010 at 2:09 PM ^

The basketball SID has sent out a clarification that yes, he is aware that Brussel is indeed in Belgium. He was excited and made a mistake in the original release he mailed out.

ish

July 1st, 2010 at 2:18 PM ^

these trips are great not only for bball purposes but also for expanding the horizons of the players, generally. 

formerlyanonymous

July 1st, 2010 at 2:26 PM ^

Doesn't this mean that 9 games will be removed from a regular season upcoming? Maybe not this year, but next year? Or does basketball have one of those once in every 4 year exemption type things?

Tim

July 1st, 2010 at 2:34 PM ^

I can only speak to what the press release says:

The NCAA allows teams to take foreign trips once every four years as long as competition will be a part of the travel. Teams that take foreign trips are allowed an extra 10 days of practice together before the trip.

I imagine that answers your question, though not in specific terms.

Blue boy johnson

July 1st, 2010 at 9:31 PM ^

Wow this is an awesome opportunity for those kids.

Hope we can get some highlights of the trips, Friday Night Lights goes to Europe.

I will be particularily interested in Smotrycz , Hardaway, Mclimans , Stu and Darius and oh yeah Vogrich and of course Novak.

Is Morgan going to be able to play?

wishitwas97

July 2nd, 2010 at 12:50 AM ^

recruiting and scouting purpose on looking at foreign players who have yet to graduate high school.

Also, it's good for experience and competition for all players including freshmen playing against semi-pro or professional teams.  An extra 10 practice day is a huge advantage for Michigan and they will need it if they want to rebound from a disappointing season.  Plus, they will learn on how to play without Manny and Peedi.

Blue Blue Blue

July 4th, 2010 at 9:09 AM ^

Hopefully, it will be more than 4 years until we have, essentially, a total rebuilding and transition year.  certainly none of the returning players with any time.....Sut, Zack, Darius all need serious skills upgrades to be anything more than spot players for a top Big 10 team.

Vogrich seems slow and I have barely seen the big guys.