MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012
PAGE 20
BASKETBALL
JAYHAWKS READY FOR EUROPE
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"You always think about options that are presented to you. I have to work 15 more years." The big picture, what's one year out of that."
—Former football offensive coordinator Chuck Long on his one-year coaching hiatus to spend time with his son after getting fired from Kansas
Source: newsok.com
FACT OF THE DAY
The Kansas basketball team under Head Coach Bill Self has a 92.9 winning percentage against Texas A&M, with the only loss coming in Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 3, 2007, when the Agents went 13-3 in the Big 12.
Source: statsheet.com
TRIVIA OF THE DAY
Q. How many head coaches has the Kansas football program had in the past 30 years?
A: Eight head coaches: Don Fambrough, Mike Gottfried, Bob Valesente, Glenn Mason, Terry Allen, Mark Mangino, Turner Gill and Charlie Weis
Source: nationalchamps.net
TRAVEL
VIRAJ AMIN editor@kansan.com
The men's basketball team will take its talents overseas this August to face off against some of Europe's finest. The team will take a nine-day trip between Switzerland and France where they will play two exhibition games against Switzerland's national team and two
against French professional teams.
The trip will come at a good time for the Jayhawks, as they have a renvamped roster from last season, which includes eight freshmen. Head coach Bill Self said this trip will help his players on and off the court for the upcoming season.
Self
"I think it's great we get to play four games against quality competition while we're over there," Self said, "but more importantly, I think it's going to be a great educational experience for our guys."
Releford
"Winning is always important, but having an opportunity to go to Switzerland and France and hang out in Paris will be memories that will last all our guys' lifetime. I'm certainly excited for them to experi-
Withey
Johnson
ence that, while at the same time,
get our basketball team a little better."
Senior guard Travis Releford said the opportunity to play against professional basketball players will be beneficial for the team going forward.
"This year, we got the new guys coming in," Releford said, "and I think it's going to be a great experience for them and our team to be able to play together and get a feel for each other out on the court."
The exhibition games will follow FIBA rules, which are significantly different from college basketball standards. The shot clock will be at 24 seconds rather than 35, players have eight seconds to cross half court and only five seconds to shoot a free throw.
Senior center Jeff Withey said the style of play in Europe is different than in the United States.
"It's a physical group of guys, and they like to hit you. Withey said, "and usually, the Americans don't get the best calls in the world.
"They love to shoot the ball. They can all shoot and face-up, so you're pretty much playing against five guards. They don't post up as much. It's definitely going to be a challenge, but I think it's going to be good for us and good for the freshmen."
Senior guard Elijah Johnson said regardless of the results in Europe, the trip will be used as a learning experience.
"I want to go over and have a good time and get to know everybody," Johnson said. "I think if there's a chance for us to get closer, it's sending us over the waters together. We are definitely going to find out some stuff about each other. I think that this trip is going to be beneficial regardless, whether we don't play as good, we are going to learn something."
—Edited by Maegan Mathiasmeier
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Coach Bill Self signs an autograph for a fan during the team's trip to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational in November 2011. Long trips to foreign or exotic places aren't uncommon in college basketball. Self is taking the team to Europe this year, while Kansas State's coach Bruce Weber is taking the Wildcats to Brazil.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
KANSAS BASKETBALL EUROPE 2012 ITINERARY
The basketball team is heading out to Europe to play against Swiss and French basketball teams. Here is the schedule.
Aug. 5 - Depart for Fribourg, Switzerland
Aug. 6 - Sightseeing, practice
Aug. 7 - GAME: Kansas vs. Swiss national team on @ 7pm at Halle St Leonard in Fribourg, Switzerland
Aug. 8 - GAME: Kansas vs. Swiss national team @ 5pm at Halle St Leonard in Fribourg, Switzerland
Aug. 9 - Travel to Paris, France
Aug. 10 - Sightseeing, practice
Aug. 11 - GAME: Kansas vs. Select team of French Pro A / Pro B @ 7pm at Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris
Aug. 12 — GAME: Kansas vs. Select team of French Pro A / Pro B @ 8pm at Stade Pierre de Coubertin in Paris
Aug. 13 - Sightseeing, depart for United States Aug.14 - Return to Lawrence
Information from KU Athletics
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