Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Posted: 3:07 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
It's not exactly a semester abroad, but the Villanova men's basketball team is headed overseas.
For the first time in a decade, the Wildcats will travel to Europe, making stops in France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The trip, which will last from Aug. 7-16, includes five exhibition games as part of the tour.
The Wildcats' most recent trip outside the U.S. came over Labor Day weekend in 2007 in a trip to Ottawa, and their last tour of Europe came in Aug. 2001 when the team traveled to Italy.
Were very excited to have this opportunity to travel to Europe as a basketball family, head coach Jay Wright said. This will be our third international trip since we returned to Villanova, and both of our previous trips to Italy and Canada were extremely valuable to the development of our young men on and off the court. This trip will give us a chance to grow together as a team and experience the culture of some amazing cities.
The official team traveling party will leave Philadelphia on Aug. 7 for Paris where it will spend four days in France and Luxembourg. The Wildcats will play a pair of exhibition games over that span against opponents that have yet to be determined.
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After their stops in France and Luxembourg, the 'Cats travel to Amsterdam on Aug. 11 where they begin a stretch playing three national teams in three consecutive days. They will face off against the national team of Israel on Aug. 12, Georgia on Aug. 13 and the Netherlands on Aug. 14.
The Wildcats return two starters from last year's club in 2011-12 in guard Maalik Wayns and center Mouphtaou Yarou. Also returning are Isaiah Armwood, James Bell, Dominic Cheek and Maurice Sutton. Five players who will be freshmen in 2011-12 are also eligible by NCAA rules to make the summer trip.