Pilots Down Under Homepage
With all 13 players returning to the 2009-10 University of Portland men’s basketball roster after one of the best seasons in school history, the summer of 2009 is a perfect chance for the team to embark on an offseason foreign tour and Head coach Eric Reveno and the Pilots will take advantage of that opportunity. The team has announced its plans for a 10-day trip to Australia with visits to Sydney, Canberra and Cairns. The Pilots will play four games “Down Under” against elite competition, including the renowned Australia Institute of Sport and various top club teams.
The foreign tour, allowed once every four years for a program according to NCAA rules, will be more than just a trip across the globe for the Pilots. It will also be an opportunity for the team to get 10 extra days of organized practice, learn about Australian history in a classroom setting, and hear from special guest visitors to provide extra learning opportunities during the team’s training camp.
“The trip was planned a couple of years ago to take advantage of where we anticipated being as a program,” Reveno said. “It is a great opportunity to have 10 days of practice prior to going to Australia. We will focus on individual offensive skills and team defense. The training camp will be the most intense we have had since I have been here and will combine on-court work, strength and conditioning, and class room sessions.”
Academic Advisor Dan McGinty will accompany the team on the trip and administer a class on the political and historical development of Australia. All 13 student-athletes will take part in the class, which will begin during the training camp and continue on the road.
Reveno has also arranged for Willamette University Football Head Coach, Mark Speckman, to kick off the training camp by visiting with the team on the evening of Monday, May 4. Speckman guided the Bearcats to an 11-1 record last season and finished third in national coach of the year voting at the NCAA Division III level. Speckman has also become a renowned motivational speaker as he overcame being born without hands to become a star student-athlete and accomplished coach. USA Today chronicled his story during the 2005 season.
Golden State Warriors Strength and Conditioning Coach, John Murray, will also visit the team’s camp for two days (May 5-6) and teach the players about how martial arts training can serve as functional strength training for basketball.
The team will head to Australia on the afternoon of Saturday, May 16 and arrive early on May 18.
“Once we go to Australia, the trip will be focused on playing top level competition and enjoying Australia,” Reveno added. “Hopefully, both the basketball and the travel will be a bonding experience for the team as we continue to develop our teamwork and leadership. To have this experience in May when we normally are not allowed to work with our team is fantastic.”
To view the complete training camp and Australian Tour itinerary, click here. All practice sessions are open to the public, although the schedule is subject to change. For consistent updates throughout the training camp and trip, continue to check out the ‘Pilots Down Under’ page linked above. The page will include daily recaps, photos, podcasts and much more from the Pilots’ over the next month. Fans can also get real-time updates from the trip via the official University of Portland Athletics twitter site, www.twitter.com/portlandpilots.
