USA/SEN/POL – SMU bonds on trip to Africa

DALLAS (NCAA) - The college basketball season only recently tipped off in America but team building exercises began several months ago for most of the squads across the United States.

That was the case with Southern Methodist University in Texas.

Matt Doherty, a member of the North Carolina team that won the 1982 NCAA Title who is now the coach of the Mustangs, went on a 12-day tour to Africa with his players at the end of May.

Three of the SMU players - Bamba Fall, Papa Dia and Mouhammad Faye - hail from Senegal and the entire team went to visit their families.

"That trip really helped with team bonding," Doherty said on the Mustangs' website.

"To learn about another culture where three of our players come from really makes them become closer as teammates.

"The guys took a class to study the culture.

“We brought professor Joci Caldwell-Ryan and academic adviser Dr Vicki Hill with us to coordinate daily class sessions and to connect what we were visiting."

One of the assignments for each of the players was to keep a journal.

While in Africa, SMU played exhibition games against the national teams of Senegal and South Africa.

Doherty said the trip really made an impact on him, and his players.

"Papa hadn't been home in four and a half years," he said.

"To see him greeted and welcomed in by his family is a really neat experience.

"The respect our players showed toward the players and families was great.

"Sometimes when you travel, players get tired of the travel and dealing with the bus rides. The guys showed a lot of respect toward Bamba, Papa, and Mouhammad and their families.

"They became genuinely interested in learning more about their families and culture."

Papa Dia is a player who could have a big future in the sport both for SMU and Senegal.

He made the Conference USA All-Freshman team last season after averaging 9.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

The team has quite an international flavor.

One player looking to make his mark this season is 7ft 1in center Tomasz Kwiatkowski.

Back problems hobbled the native of Bydgoszcz last year.

Kwiatkowski, 21, has played for Poland's under-16 and under-18 national teams.

SMU lost their season-opener to South Florida.

They next play on November 21 in the Tip-Off Classic. Houston Baptist, Alabama State, and Illinois State are also in three-day event.

FIBA