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SoCalHoops College Hoops News

Redlands Basketball Team Playing
In Germany--(Aug. 31, 1999)

Eleven members of the University of Redlands men's basketball team left last week for an 11 day tour of Germany, which will include playing six overseas games in seven days against various German All Star and Club teams. According to an article last week in the San Bernardino County Sun, Redlands' Coach Gary Smith was excited about getting to work with his team just a bit earlier than normal. "I'm very excited about going to Germany," Smith told reporters from the Sun. "I have friends there. I have contacts. I think the team will appreciate it as well."

NCAA rules prohibit the number of times a school can make trips abroad outside of the academic year; NCAA regulations provide that schools can take such trips just once every four years, according to Smith. "(The NCAA) thinks it may give you an unfair advantage in recruiting," Smith said. To get ready for the trip, Redlands has been practicing up to three times a day for the past two weeks. Junior forward Jon Allen, the team's leading scorer last season at nearly 20 points per game, told the newspaper the practices have been tough but he's still looking forward to the "fun" parts of the trip. "This is like an undercover basketball experience," Allen said. "We get to study the European culture and sightsee. We're practicing for Germany, but this also gives us a chance to prepare for our season. It gives me a chance to work on my weaknesses like defense."

According to the paper, Smith has taken three previous Bulldogs teams to Germany in 1979, 1984 and 1988. He said the 11-year layoff between trips was because of escalating costs. The cost per player this year is about $2,200. "It got to be so expensive," he said. "This time we were able to offset the costs through fund-raisers and donations." The team will return to Redlands on Sept.2.