IWU hoops to play in Spain

Posted on July 28, 2016
Illinois Wesleyan Titans
(WJBC file photo)

By IWU Sports Information

BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball team begins practice on Friday, July 29, in preparation for a series of three exhibition games during an eight-day stay in Spain from August 11-20.

The Titans will face teams from Barcelona (August 14), Valencia (August 16) and Madrid (August 18).

“Trips like these have proven to be valuable for our team chemistry and to get an early start and feel for competition in preparation for the upcoming season,” said IWU head coach Ron Rose, whose squad is allowed 10 additional practice sessions in preparation for the trip that do not count against their preseason practice dates.

In addition to the basketball games, the traveling party will have guided tours of Spain’s three largest cities (Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia) along with trips to Toledo, Tarragona and the Montserrat mountain.

“The opportunity for our players to travel together and have these shared experiences is a wonderful part of their college career in addition to getting an off-season focus on basketball,” Rose said.

In NCAA-sanctioned international play, Illinois Wesleyan men’s basketball teams have traveled and played previously in Costa Rica (in 2005 and 2013) and in Italy (August 2010).

The players who will be on the trip are Danny Baker, Alec Bausch, Jaylen Beasley, Colin Bonnett, John Carroll, Nick Coleman, Kevin Connelly, Mark Falotico, Jason Gregoire, Drew Jones, Brady Rose, Isaac Rothemeyer, Trevor Seibring, Ben Sestak, Andy Stempel and Derrick Streety.

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