GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University men's basketball team will travel to Italy on Sunday, Aug. 12 to Wednesday, Aug. 22.  The trip includes three exhibition games.
 
"We planned this trip because the players asked for it," said head coach Joe Crispin.  "But it is something I wanted to do as a program.  It forced us to really develop a fundraising plan and it will be a great experience for our kids and a positive experience for our team." 
 
"I spent three seasons in Italy, so I am very comfortable there and very confident in the trip Harvard Sports put together for us," Crispin continued.  "It is a destination country and will offer a great cultural experience for our group."
 
The team departs on Sunday, Aug. 12 and arrives in Milan on Monday, Aug. 13.  The players and coaches will stay two-nights in Arona.  They travel by train on Tuesday, Aug. 14 from Domodossola to Locarno, Switzerland.  The train crosses the Alps between Italy and Switzerland.  The group will have lunch in Santa Maria Maggiore then continue to Locarno.  The group has time to explore the Swiss town before returning back to Arona.
 
"Our biggest focus is just enjoying the trip together," said Crispin.  "We play three games, but we just want to enjoy those and use them as opportunities to improve as a team.  All in all, enjoying the experience is what it's all about.  That should not be too difficult." 

Rowan heads to Verona on Wednesday, Aug. 15 for sightseeing then to Trieste.  The Profs' first competition is against Cus Trieste on Thursday, August 16.  The team will take a ferry boat for a guided tour of San Marco Island on Friday, Aug. 17.  They head to Florence on Saturday, Aug. 18 and will tour the city in the afternoon.  The men's basketball team plays Florence Academy in the evening.
 
"We have most of our returners going on the trip, so I think it is a great opportunity to build team chemistry for the season ahead," explained Crispin.  "There was a learning curve last season with our group, so the time together outside the school setting is tough to top.  I believe it will prove very helpful for the season ahead." 
 
On Sunday, Aug. 19, the team travels to San Gimignano to tour the "city of beautiful towers" and they return to Montecatini for more sightseeing.  The group will board a local railway in La Spezia on Monday, Aug. 20 and travel to Cinque Terre, where they will have time to enjoy the sights.  Rowan departs for Cremona, known for its violin making heritage, on Tuesday, Aug. 21. The men's basketball team has its third contest against Universal Basket.  After the game, the players and coaches head back to Milan for the return trip to Glassboro on Wednesday, Aug. 22.