Gazette: Hawkeyes to Benefit from Trip Abroad

June 1, 2009

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – “The Iowa men’s basketball team was supposed to play the last of its four games in Europe today, but its scheduled opponent in Greece canceled it,” Mike Hlas, columnist for the Cedar Rapids Gazette wrote last week in his blog.

“That’s life on summer overseas trips for U.S. college teams. They can never be totally sure of the quality of the opponents, the officiating, or the organization. Game times can change on a whim. Gyms can be spartan, and not just in Greece.

“None of which really matters. The coaches and seven players who went to Italy and Greece for the Hawkeyes could only have profitted from their journey.

“From an ocean away, it looks like Matt Gatens added to his ballhandling responsibilities with 20 assists in the three games. Fellow sophomore-to-be Aaron Fuller may be ready to add to his role next season given his averages of 14.7 points and 12.7 rebounds.”

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