by Craig Morgan
When Bobby Hurley traveled the European continent with his parents, he was always struck by how laid back the people seemed in their daily lives.
"Life just didn't seem as hectic as it does here in the United States," the Sun Devils men's basketball coach said. "People hung out at cafes more; they just didn't seem to have the same stress we might have."
Hurley hopes the Sun Devils men's basketball team understands those youthful impressions when it travels to Rome and Barcelona the first week of August to play three exhibition games against pro competition, as he hopes his players won't miss the non-playing benefits.
"It seemed like people appreciate life and enjoy life -- at least that was kind of my take -- and that's an important lesson," he said. "I don't want them to lose sight of that while they're working hard and trying to be successful."
The NCAA allows programs to schedule a preseason foreign trip once every four years and this was the year for the Sun Devils, who travelled to China in 2013.
"It's a great feeling to get a chance to explore the world," said senior-to-be Kodi Justice, whose only trip outside the United States was to the Bahamas last year. "This game gives you amazing opportunities. To see another country, how they live and how they do things, it's going to be awesome."
It's an opportunity Hurley wishes he had had at Duke.
"I'm so old that these sorts of things weren't in play when I was in college," he said, laughing.
Hurley worked with a tour company that specializes in these types of trips. He said it was just a matter of deciding which cities the team wanted to visit.
"We thought Spain and Italy both made sense in terms of the cultural experience for the players and the level of competition you can find in those countries," said Hurley, whose team gains the added benefit of 10 additional practices leading up to its departure on July 31.
"It was almost a no-brainer. I don't know of any scenario where you'd have the opportunity to travel and spend more time together that you would pass up. Hopefully, we'll connect more as a team and then get the additional training to prepare for the season."
"We've got to prepare like we're going to play the best teams no matter who we play," Justice said. "We're playing against pro teams that do this for a living. Getting paid to play basketball is what all of us dream about doing so we're going to have to prepare like pros."
Both cities offer a variety of historical sightseeing options, as well, from the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Vatican in Rome, to La Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas Street, Barrio Gotico and Park Guell in Barcelona.
"I haven't taken a poll but for most of our players, I'm guessing they haven't been to Rome or Barcelona before," said Hurley, who has been to both cities. "We'll get a chance to see two beautiful cities, do some sightseeing at places like the Colosseum, have meals together. It's an opportunity to interact more and spend more time around each other and continue to build the relationships that you have to rely during the season."
The bonding experience will be especially important for a team that returns just four players who played last year.
"It's really a chance to jump-start what we're trying to do, while doing it in a first-class way," Hurley said.
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When Bobby Hurley traveled the European continent with his parents, he was always struck by how laid back the people seemed in their daily lives.
"Life just didn't seem as hectic as it does here in the United States," the Sun Devils men's basketball coach said. "People hung out at cafes more; they just didn't seem to have the same stress we might have."
Hurley hopes the Sun Devils men's basketball team understands those youthful impressions when it travels to Rome and Barcelona the first week of August to play three exhibition games against pro competition, as he hopes his players won't miss the non-playing benefits.
"It seemed like people appreciate life and enjoy life -- at least that was kind of my take -- and that's an important lesson," he said. "I don't want them to lose sight of that while they're working hard and trying to be successful."
The NCAA allows programs to schedule a preseason foreign trip once every four years and this was the year for the Sun Devils, who travelled to China in 2013.
Some @pac12 hoops scheduling news in June? Heck yeah. Plus photo of Tra excited always cool https://t.co/JQ6lKJmCSO @ASU_Alumni @ASU
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) June 29, 2017
"It's a great feeling to get a chance to explore the world," said senior-to-be Kodi Justice, whose only trip outside the United States was to the Bahamas last year. "This game gives you amazing opportunities. To see another country, how they live and how they do things, it's going to be awesome."
It's an opportunity Hurley wishes he had had at Duke.
"I'm so old that these sorts of things weren't in play when I was in college," he said, laughing.
Hurley worked with a tour company that specializes in these types of trips. He said it was just a matter of deciding which cities the team wanted to visit.
"We thought Spain and Italy both made sense in terms of the cultural experience for the players and the level of competition you can find in those countries," said Hurley, whose team gains the added benefit of 10 additional practices leading up to its departure on July 31.
"It was almost a no-brainer. I don't know of any scenario where you'd have the opportunity to travel and spend more time together that you would pass up. Hopefully, we'll connect more as a team and then get the additional training to prepare for the season."
The schedules and teams ASU will play are still being sorted out, but Hurley expects to have that information mid-July. The team will start its trip in Rome and then move on to Barcelona.Former @SunDevilHoops player, @CurtisMillage, on the great experience of playing #basketball overseas. https://t.co/wD3pROnxTj
— Cronkite News (@cronkitenews) June 27, 2017
"We've got to prepare like we're going to play the best teams no matter who we play," Justice said. "We're playing against pro teams that do this for a living. Getting paid to play basketball is what all of us dream about doing so we're going to have to prepare like pros."
Both cities offer a variety of historical sightseeing options, as well, from the Colosseum, the Forum, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps and the Vatican in Rome, to La Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas Street, Barrio Gotico and Park Guell in Barcelona.
"I haven't taken a poll but for most of our players, I'm guessing they haven't been to Rome or Barcelona before," said Hurley, who has been to both cities. "We'll get a chance to see two beautiful cities, do some sightseeing at places like the Colosseum, have meals together. It's an opportunity to interact more and spend more time around each other and continue to build the relationships that you have to rely during the season."
The bonding experience will be especially important for a team that returns just four players who played last year.
"It's really a chance to jump-start what we're trying to do, while doing it in a first-class way," Hurley said.
Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter