UNI to head to Brazil in Aug

by **uniftw** » April 21st, 2011, 11:08 am

This is taken from the second half of the article...the first half is the injury situation at UNI.

http://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/un ... 03286.html

SUN-SPLASHED SUMMER: The animated movie "Rio," which raked in $40 million last weekend, might soon be required viewing for the Panther cagers. UNI, after all, has officially finalized a summer trip to Brazil, where Jacobson and company will spend most of their time in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

The Panther men will depart for Brazil July 31 and return Aug. 9. In between, they'll play four or five games against professionals from the area. NCAA rules allow UNI to have 10 practices before its trip south of the Equator.

The overseas venture - which UNI funded through private donations - should help the Panther roster define roles for next season as it replaces star point guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe.

"The trip really fits our program at this time," said Jacobson. "We're going to have a younger basketball team, so it really fits from a team standpoint.

"It's going to give us a better handle on our basketball team as we start practicing in October."

None of UNI's 2010-11 seniors will make the trip to Brazil. However, due to an NCAA rule-change from a few years ago, all five of the Panthers' incoming freshmen will make the voyage to South America, largely due to the fact they'll already be enrolled in collegiate summer-school classes.

It should make for some intriguing summer travel as the Panthers take part in activities like youth basketball clinics in a country of more than 190 million.

"The opportunity to take this kind of trip for the educational experience - and hopefully to be able to give something back while we're on the trip - is important," said Jacobson.

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by **DUBulldog** » April 21st, 2011, 2:34 pm

Those foreign trips really help a team...the extra couple of weeks of practice is very helpful, especially for a younger team. Drake also has a foreign trip in August, to Australia and New Zealand.

by **Ali** » April 21st, 2011, 3:58 pm

I think trips like this help a team gel and the early season results improve because of that but I also worry that teams who do this might hit the wall at the end of the year.

by **MSUDuo** » April 21st, 2011, 4:41 pm

I don't ever remember MO State having a trip like this. If we have, it has been an extremely long time. If there was ever a year for MO State to need to have one, this would be the year. The extra games from the CIT worked wonder for us for this year and the benefit would be the same if we had something in August

by **LJay** » April 21st, 2011, 5:23 pm

Creighton is heading to the Bahamas in August...all the new guys get to go as they will all have enrolled in summer school.

As stated above, these things are great for getting a head start and trying to integrate so many new guys in for Creighton this is definitely the year to do this.

Bad side of this may be that the season can get pretty long. Then again CU just played 39 games this year...almost a half of an NBA season...and were playing better in the last few weeks so who knows.

by **wildjays** » April 27th, 2011, 9:59 am

LJay wrote:Creighton is heading to the Bahamas in August...all the new guys get to go as they will all have enrolled in summer school.

As stated above, these things are great for getting a head start and trying to integrate so many new guys in for Creighton this is definitely the year to do this.

Bad side of this may be that the season can get pretty long. Then again CU just played 39 games this year...almost a half of an NBA season...and were playing better in the last few weeks so who knows.

Here is Creighton's schedule in the Bahamas.

http://whiteandbluereview.com/?p=11792

by **tribecalledquest** » April 27th, 2011, 11:15 am

Northern Iowa should get really good games and will probably lose once or twice.

Creighton, on the other hand, will win every game by 60+ points. If you are wanting to see good basketball don't go to the Creighton games in the Bahamas. Getting five Bahamian players to show up on time is a victory itself.

by **Ali** » April 27th, 2011, 2:24 pm

tribecalledquest wrote:Northern Iowa should get really good games and will probably lose once or twice.

Creighton, on the other hand, will win every game by 60+ points. If you are wanting to see good basketball don't go to the Creighton games in the Bahamas. Getting five Bahamian players to show up on time is a victory itself.

I hope anyone making the trip is doing it for the vacation and not for the hoops. Otherwise save your money and take a couple of roadies during conference play.