August 11, 2000

MORAVIAN MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM TO TOUR ITALY

BETHLEHEM, PA --- For the sixth time in Jim Walker’s 21-year tenure as head men’s basketball coach at Moravian College, the Greyhounds will be going on a tour of a foreign country this August.

The Greyhounds will be in Italy from Friday, August 18th until Sunday, August 27th. Moravian is slated to play three games in Rome while in Italy as well as tour the country as a cultural experience for the team members.

"Going overseas to play teams is fairly common and a great cultural experience for the players," Walker stated. "Our players will get to meet a lot of people as well as see a beautiful country and historical sites. I have some friends who coach in Europe and that is how we decide where to travel to."

Moravian will be taking 14 players on the trip who were members of the varsity and junior varsity teams last season. The Greyhounds had a 10-14 overall record a year ago and due to NCAA rules, cannot take incoming freshman with them on the trip. The official first day of practice for the 2000-01 season is Saturday, October 21st.

In addition to the players and coaching staff, several players’ parents and the families of the coaches will be making the trip.

Moravian’s last trip overseas was in 1997 when the team went to Ireland. Walker and the Greyhounds have also taken trips to Scandinavia, England/Ireland/Scotland, Germany/Holland/Belgium and Sweden. The NCAA allows colleges to make trips overseas once every three years. Back in the 1980s when Moravian started its trips, the NCAA allowed one trip every four years.

The Greyhounds will open their 2000-01 at a tournament in Salem, Virginia with Roanoke College, Trinity University (TX) and Clark University (MA).