They're calling it an experience of a life time. The Arkansas basketball team travels to Italy in a little over a week to play some top notch professional competition.
Coach Mike Anderson chose this season in particular to make this voyage since Arkansas has so many new faces, a couple transfers and four freshmen. There are a lot of question marks heading in to the 2012 season. It’s a chance to not only get to know each other, but to get a feel for everyone’s style of play.
They'll play at least four games while abroad. The rest of the college basketball world has to wait until the season starts in October. This trip is beneficial for the freshmen in particular.
“They're away from home for the first time,” said Anderson. "So for us to have the opportunity to spend that kind of time with them was good to help with that acclamation. It was good for us to have a chance to work with these guys.”
Anderson was a bit concerned that his team was starting practice a little too soon this week.
“I didn't try to burn them out. I didn't want to start practice this early because if you start too early you really can burn them out because October will be here soon enough.”
Arkansas leaves for Italy on August 10. They'll return on August 19.