18/04/2006
News
to read
Watch out Europe, here come the Cats
From wildcat.arizona.edu
Download source here
The Arizona men's basketball team will embark on the ultimate road trip about a week after finals end.
The Wildcats' version of "Euro Trip," a two-week tour of some of Europe's most popular destinations, will begin May 21 when they land in London and travel directly to Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, home of junior forward Ivan Radenovic. Radenovic's mother plans to cook the team a typical Serbian meal, and Arizona will stay for three nights while playing two games in the war-torn town.
"When you take a look at Belgrade and what the people in that area have had to go through, it's really been about 5,000 years of war," Arizona head coach Lute Olson said. "From Ivan's standpoint, he's excited about the fact that the guys are going to see the differences in how they've had to deal with all of these problems through the years.
"We face the terrorism thing now, but that's something that's been there for thousands of years."
In Belgrade, the team will go see a town that has stood for 6,000 years, according to Radenovic.
"It's definitely going to be a cool experience," he said.
Radenovic thinks the trip will benefit more than just the Wildcats.
"It's going to be a good experience for Serbian fans and also for our players," he said.
From Belgrade, the team will fly to Milan, Italy, then immediately travel to Venice, Italy, to take a tour, according to the tentative schedule. After the tour, Arizona will play one of the Benetton teams in Treviso, Italy. Benetton Treviso is one of Europe's best-known basketball clubs. The Wildcats then will go to Bologna, Italy, an Olson-described "college town" and a place with which assistant coach Miles Simon is very familiar.
Simon played professionally just outside of Bologna and said it was one of his favorite places, according to Olson. The team will play two games in Bologna and stay for two nights.
Sophomore walk-on forward Bret Brielmaier, a self-proclaimed "big art history guy," said he was the most excited to see Italy.
"I'm really excited to go see the Vatican, a lot of artwork in Rome … and all those spots," he said. "The games will be great, but I'm going for more of the cultural aspect."
Following Bologna, the Wildcats will take a train ride to Florence, Italy, a city they will tour for half a day with the possibility of playing a game there. If they are unable to schedule a game, they will travel during the second half of the day to Rome, where they will stay for three days and play two games.
"We'll take one day to tour the Vatican and the southern hills of Rome," Olson said. "The great thing about Rome is … it's like an open-air museum."
Having Olson as its head coach, Arizona will receive some perks other tourists may not, like Olson's favorite tour guide.
"We'll visit the Vatican with probably the best tour guide I've ever had anything to do with," Olson said. "In Florence it will be two people that I know that can present more than what the normal tour guide can provide."
After staying in Rome, Arizona will fly to Barcelona, Spain, and stay in a seaside community called Sitges, an artist colony.
"They will have a day at the beach," Olson said. "We'll play a game in Barcelona (and then) fly to Paris. The first day will be for tours of Paris, and then we will play two games there and fly back (to Arizona) on Sunday."
The Wildcats have quite a bit of international flavor, but Australia native and sophomore guard Daniel Dillon said it will be "a cultural experience."
"Shock," Radenovic interrupted.
More than just seeing Europe, the trip may serve as a team chemistry builder.
"It's a bonding experience for the guys," Olson said.
Download source here
The Arizona men's basketball team will embark on the ultimate road trip about a week after finals end.
The Wildcats' version of "Euro Trip," a two-week tour of some of Europe's most popular destinations, will begin May 21 when they land in London and travel directly to Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, home of junior forward Ivan Radenovic. Radenovic's mother plans to cook the team a typical Serbian meal, and Arizona will stay for three nights while playing two games in the war-torn town.
"When you take a look at Belgrade and what the people in that area have had to go through, it's really been about 5,000 years of war," Arizona head coach Lute Olson said. "From Ivan's standpoint, he's excited about the fact that the guys are going to see the differences in how they've had to deal with all of these problems through the years.
"We face the terrorism thing now, but that's something that's been there for thousands of years."
In Belgrade, the team will go see a town that has stood for 6,000 years, according to Radenovic.
"It's definitely going to be a cool experience," he said.
Radenovic thinks the trip will benefit more than just the Wildcats.
"It's going to be a good experience for Serbian fans and also for our players," he said.
From Belgrade, the team will fly to Milan, Italy, then immediately travel to Venice, Italy, to take a tour, according to the tentative schedule. After the tour, Arizona will play one of the Benetton teams in Treviso, Italy. Benetton Treviso is one of Europe's best-known basketball clubs. The Wildcats then will go to Bologna, Italy, an Olson-described "college town" and a place with which assistant coach Miles Simon is very familiar.
Simon played professionally just outside of Bologna and said it was one of his favorite places, according to Olson. The team will play two games in Bologna and stay for two nights.
Sophomore walk-on forward Bret Brielmaier, a self-proclaimed "big art history guy," said he was the most excited to see Italy.
"I'm really excited to go see the Vatican, a lot of artwork in Rome … and all those spots," he said. "The games will be great, but I'm going for more of the cultural aspect."
Following Bologna, the Wildcats will take a train ride to Florence, Italy, a city they will tour for half a day with the possibility of playing a game there. If they are unable to schedule a game, they will travel during the second half of the day to Rome, where they will stay for three days and play two games.
"We'll take one day to tour the Vatican and the southern hills of Rome," Olson said. "The great thing about Rome is … it's like an open-air museum."
Having Olson as its head coach, Arizona will receive some perks other tourists may not, like Olson's favorite tour guide.
"We'll visit the Vatican with probably the best tour guide I've ever had anything to do with," Olson said. "In Florence it will be two people that I know that can present more than what the normal tour guide can provide."
After staying in Rome, Arizona will fly to Barcelona, Spain, and stay in a seaside community called Sitges, an artist colony.
"They will have a day at the beach," Olson said. "We'll play a game in Barcelona (and then) fly to Paris. The first day will be for tours of Paris, and then we will play two games there and fly back (to Arizona) on Sunday."
The Wildcats have quite a bit of international flavor, but Australia native and sophomore guard Daniel Dillon said it will be "a cultural experience."
"Shock," Radenovic interrupted.
More than just seeing Europe, the trip may serve as a team chemistry builder.
"It's a bonding experience for the guys," Olson said.
