Basketball Culture

Men’s basketball team takes to Europe for international play and cultural exchange

photos courtesy of Ryan Connolly (Tapwatr Studios)

Members of the Red Devil’s men’s basketball team made their first appearance in the NCAA Division III Elite 8 last fall, and this summer they made their first European appearance in five years.

With stops in Nice, Cannes and Monaco and as well as Barcelona, team members hit the hard court while immersing themselves in local cultures.

“To come into an arena full of foreign people and have them ask for pictures and autographs afterward made me truly realize how blessed we are,” says Red Devil guard Chris Cox ’15 (pictured below). “And just like they showed our team a tremendous amount of respect, we tried to reciprocate as well and give back a piece of our culture.”

The NCAA allows teams to travel abroad for cultural experience and competition once every three years, so during the August trip the Red Devils got some valuable experience playing against European club teams—AC Golfe Juan Vallauris in France and C.E. Bisbal Basquet, C.E. Palamos and AEC Collblanc-Torrasa in Spain.

Between games, the Red Devils drank in the local atmosphere, shopping, playing beach volleyball, climbing and enjoying a wide array of gustatory offerings.

“The trip was an amazing opportunity and experience,” says Cox. “The best part was meeting people of a different culture—breaking down cultural barriers from languages and finding a common ground was great. It proved that we are all alike in some ways, and basketball united us.”

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• Check out Chris Cox's drive and dunk during a game in Spain
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Published August 27, 2014