Wisconsin basketball hasn't ventured outside the borders of the lower 48 states since 2006, but that will change this summer as Bo Ryan will take his group on a summer adventure to the great white north, otherwise known as Canada, this August.
It will be a five game, eight day trip for UW basketball that will see them visit both Ottawa and Toronto.
Smart move by Bo? You bet, as this team trip will only help build chemistry to a lineup that is sure to look vastly different come November than it did a season ago. After all, Wisconsin will welcome six freshman into the fold along with a returning Josh Gasser.
“We’re really looking forward to this trip and the opportunities it presents for preparing us for next season,” head coach Bo Ryan said in a statement. “Taking this trip allows us 10 practices and five games, which is a great luxury. One aspect that is different from our 2006 trip to Italy is that incoming freshmen are now permitted to practice and play. So for a team with as many new faces as we will have, this gives us a head start on the season."
This can only be a positive thing in terms of building chemistry, figuring out lineup combinations and setting the bar as to what individual players need to work on heading into camp come October.
Here is the full schedule of the trip via the Badgers athletic department:
Aug. 21 – Carleton University
The Badgers will take on three teams from Ontario University Athletics, beginning with the class of the OUA, Carleton University. The Ravens have won 13 straight OUA titles and nine of the last 11 Canadian national championships. Carleton led the OUA in scoring offense, averaging 91.0 points per game and are led by Phillip Scrubb, who returns for his fourth season after averaging 18.6 ppg in 2012-13.
Aug. 22 – University of Ottawa
UW will visit the University of Ottawa before traveling to Toronto. The Ottawa Gee Gees went 15-5 in 2012-13, finishing in a tie for second place in the East Division of the OUA. Ottawa averaged 83.2 points per game, and will return half of the one of the league’s top scoring duos in fourth-year guard Johnny Berhanemeskel (18.9 ppg).
Aug. 24 – Canadian Junior National Team
The Badgers’ first game in Toronto will come against the 2013 Canadian Junior National Team, which is comprised of the country’s top prep players. The 2012 team finished third in the FIBA World Championships and was full of Div. I signees like Andrew Wiggins (Kansas), Tyler Ennis (Syracuse) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Florida State).
Aug. 25 – Ryerson University
The Ryerson Rams went 15-5 last season, finishing third in the OUA, a year after advancing to the Wilson Cup Championship Game in 2012. Led by Canadian National team head coach Roy Rana, the Rams return a pair of OUA All-Stars in Aaron Best (15.3 ppg) and Jahmal Jones (15.4 ppg).
Aug. 26 – A-Game Hoops
A-Game Hoops is a men’s select team comprised mainly of Canadians who are playing professionally overseas. A-Game Hoops has played 10 NCAA Division I teams over the last three summers, owning a 6-4 record. That includes win over Tulsa, Austin Peay and the College of Charleston last year.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
