Colorado University Athletics
Colorado visited the historic Roman Colosseum Wednesday afternoon.
Buffs Get Back To Basketball Portion Of Italy Trip
August 16, 2017 | Men's Basketball
First of four exhibition games Thursday
With nearly two full days in Rome coming to a close, the Colorado men's basketball team got back to the business of basketball on Wednesday.
The Buffaloes held their lone practice in Italy during the morning before taking in the famous Roman Colosseum in the afternoon. Their first of four exhibition games will be played Thursday evening locally (11 a.m. Mountain).
"It was good to get in a good sweat," head coach Tad Boyle said. "They were a little sluggish at the beginning, but it got better as we went. It was good to be in the gym. It's our only practice over here so we made the most of it. Now it's game time."
After arriving in Rome Monday morning, the Buffaloes' travel party spent the day in Rome's city center, visiting the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon.
Colorado will tour the Vatican on Thursday morning before preparing for its game against All-Star Italy at the Stella Azzurra Sport Center. The game will be played under FIBA rules, meaning the Buffaloes will have to make some adjustments. Among the notable differences are:
The Buffaloes held their lone practice in Italy during the morning before taking in the famous Roman Colosseum in the afternoon. Their first of four exhibition games will be played Thursday evening locally (11 a.m. Mountain).
"It was good to get in a good sweat," head coach Tad Boyle said. "They were a little sluggish at the beginning, but it got better as we went. It was good to be in the gym. It's our only practice over here so we made the most of it. Now it's game time."
After arriving in Rome Monday morning, the Buffaloes' travel party spent the day in Rome's city center, visiting the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon.
Colorado will tour the Vatican on Thursday morning before preparing for its game against All-Star Italy at the Stella Azzurra Sport Center. The game will be played under FIBA rules, meaning the Buffaloes will have to make some adjustments. Among the notable differences are:
- The game will feature four 10-minute periods and thus two free throws after the fifth foul each period.
- The shot clock will be 24 seconds, as opposed to 30
- Back court violation is eight seconds, so two less seconds for the Buffs to get the ball over half court
- The size of the lane is four inches wider and the 3-point line is 17 inches further out from the rim
- Shot clock resets to only 14 seconds on an offensive rebound (where the attempt hits the rim)
- A ball can be played off the rim offensively or defensively while still in the cylinder
Rules aren't the only thing the Buffaloes will have to get used to. Nine players on the roster haven't played a second for the program. The four games in Italy give Boyle a chance to begin the evaluation process now.
"I'm looking forward to see who can talk on the floor," Boyle said. "Who can make adjustments from practice to game situations and who can play through mistakes and not get down on themselves. That's what I'm looking for."
Thursday is also the team's last day in Rome. Friday morning the Buffaloes will bus to Siena in the Tuscany region before settling in Florence. CU's second game is Friday night vs. BC Silute out of Lithuania in Ponte Buggianese.
"I'm looking forward to see who can talk on the floor," Boyle said. "Who can make adjustments from practice to game situations and who can play through mistakes and not get down on themselves. That's what I'm looking for."
Thursday is also the team's last day in Rome. Friday morning the Buffaloes will bus to Siena in the Tuscany region before settling in Florence. CU's second game is Friday night vs. BC Silute out of Lithuania in Ponte Buggianese.
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