NEWPORT NEWS, Va.--Rhode Island and Saint Joseph's men's basketball teams are particiapting in a foreign tour, with both teams travelling to Italy. URI began its 10-day tour Aug. 2, while SJU departs this weekend.
Rhody has won both of the games it has played so far, collecting a win over Pesre All-Stars, 92-87 to open the trip and a 91-79 victory over the Vicenza All-Stars.
The Saint Joseph's men's basketball team will embark on a 10-day tour of Italy from August 11 to 21, playing four games and visiting four cities.
It marks the second time that coach Phil Martelli has taken Saint Joseph's overseas, as the Hawks also traveled to Italy in 1999.
Saint Joseph's will begin the trip in Rome and travel to Florence, Venice and Como. Among the sites the Hawks will visit are The Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica, the Accademia Gallery in Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Grand Canal in Venice, and Lake Como.
"We're excited to make the trip. The basketball opportunity is unique. The overall experience is once in a lifetime," said Martelli.
In preparation for the tour, the Hawks were permitted to hold 10 full-squad practices beginning on July 30.
The most recent SJU team to take an international trip was the women's basketball team, which toured Ireland and Northern Ireland last summer. The Hawks went on to win the Atlantic 10 Championship and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.