Five Questions To Ponder While Virginia Basketball Plays In Italy

Virginia
Reece Beekman and the Hoos are scheduled to play four games in Italy. ~ Photo by Kris Wright/TheSabre.com

Excitement for Virginia basketball season has steadily increased over the long offseason months. Luckily for Hoo fans, they don’t have to wait quite as long this year to get their first peek at the team as UVA scheduled an NCAA allowed foreign tour this month.

The Cavaliers traveled to Italy to begin a four-game and sightseeing tour from August 10-20. The exhibition schedule includes games in Rome (Saturday), Florence (Monday), and Rapallo (next Thursday and Friday). Two of the contest come against strong European club KK Mega Mozzart of Belgrade, Serbia.

“We are very excited to take our team to Italy,” Virginia coach Tony Bennett said in a news release. “We are adding four freshmen and a graduate transfer to an experienced group which showed improvement last season. The additional practices and quality competition during this tour allows us to improve and prepare for the 2022-23 season. We are looking forward to bonding and growing as a team in a beautiful country.”

The tour provides an opportunity to build team chemistry and has educational components as well, but there are obviously basketball benefits too. Bennett told Jeff White at VirginiaSports.com that the extra practice component, both before and during the trip, is where the most value is gained on the court. “It’s just a good way for them to get practices and get some game experience. You’re not really worried too much about the win-loss [aspect],” he said.

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