Here’s what the UM basketball teams are doing in Italy this week

The University of Miami men’s and women’s basketball teams are in Italy for a 10-day tour that includes exhibition games and sightseeing tours.

The women won their first game in Rome Saturday, 61-59 over the Dutch national team, which included former Hurricanes Laura Cornelius and Emese Hof. Junior guard Mykea Gray led UM with 15 points, junior guard Endia Banks scored eight points and freshman forward Brianna Jackson had eight points and nine rebounds. The Canes are visiting Florence and Venice between Aug. 7-16 and the men will play four games in Rome, Florence and Lake Como from Aug. 9-18.

UM coach Katie Meier said the trip will be a great bonding and educational experience. The entire team took a summer course in the history of Italian Religion and each player is writing a research paper incorporating what she learned on the trip.

“It should be a very exciting opportunity to see some of the most historic places in the world, the Roman Coliseum and the Vatican, and the beautiful cities of Florence and Lake Como,” men’s coach Jim Larranaga said. “It’s one of the best NCAA rules that allows you to take a foreign tour once every four years. We have several donors who have been very, very generous in allowing us to make this trip because it is expensive.”

A group of about 10 donors contributed more than $300,000 for the travel expenses.

The trip also gives the teams a chance to bond and hold 10 extra summer practices — especially critical when integrating new players. The men’s team has three new freshmen — Isaiah Wong, Harlond Beverly, and Anthony Walker — who figure to make an immediate impact. Rodney Miller, who lost 30 pounds., is coming off a redshirt season and expected to start at center and contribute double-digit scoring and rebounds.

“It’s an opportunity to have 10 days of practice at a time when you normally have four hours in a week,” Larranaga said. “The most important thing is we get to see the new players under game conditions.”

Senior guard DJ Vasiljevic just came back from Italy, where he helped lead Australia to a bronze medal in the World University Games.

“The team bonding is a big part of a trip like this and coach is big on history, a couple of guys haven’t left the U.S. before, so getting to know different culture and experience it together is the main thing,” Vasiljevic said.

Junior guard Chris Lykes said the team is motivated after failing to make the postseason last spring. “Nobody wants a season like that again,” he said. “That was a big letdown for us and the fans, so we’re starting to build and gel as a team now.”

This story was originally published July 31, 2019 at 5:26 PM.