By Michael Kinney
The University of Oklahoma basketball program is touring Europe this summer. Both the men’s and women’s teams are taking separate trips overseas in August that will combine basketball and new cultural experiences.
The OU men will travel for a 10-day trip to Spain and France that features three games of international competition to prepare the squad for the 2022-23 season.
The Sooners will begin their journey Aug. 2 and will return Aug. 12.
OU coach Porter Moser is excited about the trip and the practice time his squad gets to prepare for the competition.
“To have the extended hours of going overseas and you’re allowed the 10 practices, that has been a great part of this whole thing,” Moser said.
The Sooners open with an international exhibition against Matero Select Team Thursday, Aug. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Barcelona. Their final game in Spain will be against the Maresme Select Team Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Oklahoma battles the Paris All-Stars Monday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m., to finish its slate of international competition.
In between games, the Sooners will also take in historical sites that will provide the players and coaches with an experience that will be just as big as the games.
“One the cultural aspect of it,” Moser said. “To be able to go over there and see a different culture. I did a trip when I played in college to Italy. It’s just a different cultural experience some of the things we’re going to do over there. We’re going to go to Normandy. I can’t wait to do that and talk to them about that.”
The OU women will begin their foreign tour in Cannes where they will explore the city before heading to Monaco on Aug. 6.
On Aug. 7, the Sooners travel to Lyon, France, where they’ll take on Roanne Basket on Aug. 9. Oklahoma then heads to Paris for a pair of games vs. the Lithuanian U23 national team on Aug. 11-12.
The preseason trip is not limited to just on-the-court action, as the Sooners will explore Cannes, Monaco, Monte Carlo, Lyon, and Paris. In addition, the team will have countless sightseeing opportunities highlighted by numerous guided tours.
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