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Here's the report from the first game for the men:
Sao Paulo, Brazil - The Wichita State Shockers were defeated by the Brazilian professional club, the Palmerias Sports Club, 81-76 on Tuesday in their first game of their 10-day trip in Brazil.
Ben Smith scored 14 points and Garett Stutz 10 points for the Shockers.
Wichita State will face the Brazilian National Team on Wednesday night.
And then here's the entry for the women's team:
Shocks Prevail in First Italian Test
This is the third installment of Assistant Media Relations Director Brian Petrotta's account of the WSU women's basketball team's tour of Italy. To get caught up please visit the blog "Shockers Go Italian." Photos from the first day can be viewed here and will be continually updated as quickly as possible. Photos and videos will be following soon.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 was our first full day in Italy. The baggage did not magically arrive during the night, so most of us piled in to our familiar clothes. Fortunately there was a vendor just a few blocks from the hotel selling underwear and socks, so at least a portion of the wardrobe felt fresh.
We feasted on a fine breakfast buffet at the Hotel Cicerone then hopped aboard a bus, which took us to The Coliseum. We had a new tour guide this time, a fiery Italian woman named Pasqua. Italians sound so passionate when they speak so she could have been reading us nothing but street signs and it would have been interesting. Hearing her relate the incredible history of The Coliseum and later ancient Rome, including the Basilica, was simply riveting.
The sun was shining brightly and it was perhaps 90 degrees Fahrenheit but that was still a welcome relief from the 100+ heat wave that has suffocated Wichita most of the summer. It felt wonderful to stretch our legs and walk since most of the last day or so was spent in airplanes.
By 1 p.m. we were back near the hotel for an amazing lunch. Please realize that lunch, not dinner, is the "big" meal in Italy. Various pizzas and pastas graced the table and every single meal was incredible. It took all of one bite to understand the Italians' passion for food and why the rest of the world gushes about their cuisine.
There was not much time to sit and savor the meal, however, as our bus to the first game left at 2:45 p.m. Before leaving Wichita the players were advised to pack at least one set of practice gear in their carryon bags. Now they know why.
The bus ride to Napoli took us in to town just before 6 p.m. with tipoff scheduled for 6:45. We rode through a modest residential area and soon pulled into a cramped driveway, which led to the gymnasium. The seating capacity could not have been more than 200 and the bleachers rose on the opposite side of the benches. It was warm, perhaps 80 degrees inside, though doors were opened at each end of the gym to allow a cross-breeze to flow through.
The locals were extremely friendly and appreciative of the competition. They cheered for their home team but were not afraid to recognize an impressive athletic display by the Shockers. A thunderous blocked shot by Jazimen Gordon drew "oooh's" from the crowd and as WSU began to pull away, respect for the Shockers continued to build.
Seniors Haleigh Lankster and Alicia Sanchez carried the scoring load for most of the first three quarters (International FIBA rules, remember...) while the newcomers seized a chance to shine during the final stanza. Overall the Shocks looked a bit rusty. The floor was more slippery than they were used to, the lane was wider, the shot clock was shorter and these players only had 10 practices together to prepare for the trip.
Still, certain things we have come to expect from the returners were still there. Lankster used her superior skill and athletic ability to dominate at times. Chynna Turner dropped her familiar turn-around jumper from the low block. Gordon blocked shots and rebounded, and Michelle Price mixed it up in the middle. Redshirt freshmen Krystle Henderson and Kelsey Jacobs both earned starting assignments and made the most of them.
But I know, I know. What you really want to hear is how the newcomers performed. Pretty good, actually. Freshman Alex Harden played significant minutes, racing up-and-down the court to finish on the break and starting several herself by forcing steals. Molly O'Brien showed toughness and the ability to score. Junior college transfers Jasmine Jones and Nicole Wells played quality minutes, Jones as a guard and Wells as a post. And Brittany Taylor, the walk-on from Valley Center, canned a three in the fourth quarter while providing energy off the bench.
The Shockers won by a significant margin even though it was clear they have a long ways to go before tackling the Missouri Valley Conference schedule. Still it is thrilling to see live games in August. From a preparation standpoint, there is no substitute for games with teams made up of players you don't meet in practice each day. It exposes weaknesses - and perhaps emphasizes strengths - in a way daily practices cannot. To be able to identify those things this early in the year is invaluable for the players and coaches. I would guess by the third and final game of this tour we will already see improvement.
Until then, there is food to be savored. The post-game meal at a local pizzeria turned into a joyful occasion with the coaches and few of the players from our opponent. They were once again incredibly gracious and enthusiastic. They seemed as genuinely interested in our culture as we were in theirs. Its moments like that that make the longest-lasting memories from these trips. The tours and history are amazing in their own way but personal connections have a way of sticking with you.
Tomorrow: The Vatican and Game #2 for our last full day in Rome.
Release: 08/10/2011
Am I the only one that sees something wrong here?
There's also about 50 pictures of the team in Rome.
Sao Paulo, Brazil - The Wichita State Shockers were defeated by the Brazilian professional club, the Palmerias Sports Club, 81-76 on Tuesday in their first game of their 10-day trip in Brazil.
Ben Smith scored 14 points and Garett Stutz 10 points for the Shockers.
Wichita State will face the Brazilian National Team on Wednesday night.
And then here's the entry for the women's team:
Shocks Prevail in First Italian Test
This is the third installment of Assistant Media Relations Director Brian Petrotta's account of the WSU women's basketball team's tour of Italy. To get caught up please visit the blog "Shockers Go Italian." Photos from the first day can be viewed here and will be continually updated as quickly as possible. Photos and videos will be following soon.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011 was our first full day in Italy. The baggage did not magically arrive during the night, so most of us piled in to our familiar clothes. Fortunately there was a vendor just a few blocks from the hotel selling underwear and socks, so at least a portion of the wardrobe felt fresh.
We feasted on a fine breakfast buffet at the Hotel Cicerone then hopped aboard a bus, which took us to The Coliseum. We had a new tour guide this time, a fiery Italian woman named Pasqua. Italians sound so passionate when they speak so she could have been reading us nothing but street signs and it would have been interesting. Hearing her relate the incredible history of The Coliseum and later ancient Rome, including the Basilica, was simply riveting.
The sun was shining brightly and it was perhaps 90 degrees Fahrenheit but that was still a welcome relief from the 100+ heat wave that has suffocated Wichita most of the summer. It felt wonderful to stretch our legs and walk since most of the last day or so was spent in airplanes.
By 1 p.m. we were back near the hotel for an amazing lunch. Please realize that lunch, not dinner, is the "big" meal in Italy. Various pizzas and pastas graced the table and every single meal was incredible. It took all of one bite to understand the Italians' passion for food and why the rest of the world gushes about their cuisine.
There was not much time to sit and savor the meal, however, as our bus to the first game left at 2:45 p.m. Before leaving Wichita the players were advised to pack at least one set of practice gear in their carryon bags. Now they know why.
The bus ride to Napoli took us in to town just before 6 p.m. with tipoff scheduled for 6:45. We rode through a modest residential area and soon pulled into a cramped driveway, which led to the gymnasium. The seating capacity could not have been more than 200 and the bleachers rose on the opposite side of the benches. It was warm, perhaps 80 degrees inside, though doors were opened at each end of the gym to allow a cross-breeze to flow through.
The locals were extremely friendly and appreciative of the competition. They cheered for their home team but were not afraid to recognize an impressive athletic display by the Shockers. A thunderous blocked shot by Jazimen Gordon drew "oooh's" from the crowd and as WSU began to pull away, respect for the Shockers continued to build.
Seniors Haleigh Lankster and Alicia Sanchez carried the scoring load for most of the first three quarters (International FIBA rules, remember...) while the newcomers seized a chance to shine during the final stanza. Overall the Shocks looked a bit rusty. The floor was more slippery than they were used to, the lane was wider, the shot clock was shorter and these players only had 10 practices together to prepare for the trip.
Still, certain things we have come to expect from the returners were still there. Lankster used her superior skill and athletic ability to dominate at times. Chynna Turner dropped her familiar turn-around jumper from the low block. Gordon blocked shots and rebounded, and Michelle Price mixed it up in the middle. Redshirt freshmen Krystle Henderson and Kelsey Jacobs both earned starting assignments and made the most of them.
But I know, I know. What you really want to hear is how the newcomers performed. Pretty good, actually. Freshman Alex Harden played significant minutes, racing up-and-down the court to finish on the break and starting several herself by forcing steals. Molly O'Brien showed toughness and the ability to score. Junior college transfers Jasmine Jones and Nicole Wells played quality minutes, Jones as a guard and Wells as a post. And Brittany Taylor, the walk-on from Valley Center, canned a three in the fourth quarter while providing energy off the bench.
The Shockers won by a significant margin even though it was clear they have a long ways to go before tackling the Missouri Valley Conference schedule. Still it is thrilling to see live games in August. From a preparation standpoint, there is no substitute for games with teams made up of players you don't meet in practice each day. It exposes weaknesses - and perhaps emphasizes strengths - in a way daily practices cannot. To be able to identify those things this early in the year is invaluable for the players and coaches. I would guess by the third and final game of this tour we will already see improvement.
Until then, there is food to be savored. The post-game meal at a local pizzeria turned into a joyful occasion with the coaches and few of the players from our opponent. They were once again incredibly gracious and enthusiastic. They seemed as genuinely interested in our culture as we were in theirs. Its moments like that that make the longest-lasting memories from these trips. The tours and history are amazing in their own way but personal connections have a way of sticking with you.
Tomorrow: The Vatican and Game #2 for our last full day in Rome.
Release: 08/10/2011
Am I the only one that sees something wrong here?
There's also about 50 pictures of the team in Rome.
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