Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboys' Robisch Joins All-Star Team in Japan
July 25, 2003 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Senior center Brett Robisch will join the NIT All-Stars under the tutelage of legendary Hall of Fame coach Lou Carnesecca when the team travels to Japan for five basketball games in 10 days Aug. 7-17. The team has been playing together for a week at the University of San Francisco before heading overseas.
"We have been traveling abroad with an All-Star team since the summer of 1980," said John J. Powers, executive director of the NIT. "It is a tremendous educational opportunity for the student-athletes to be exposed to other cultures, and being able to play basketball is a nice bonus. We have seen a tremendous growth in the game during that time, and basketball is now truly a global sport.
Joining Robisch on the NIT All-Star team are Corey Benjamin (Oregon State), Pat Bradley (Arkansas), Billy DiSpaltro (Vanderbilt), Richard Hamilton (Connecticut), Zendon Hamilton (St. John's), Alex Jensen (Utah), Felipe Lopez (St. John's), Danny Moore (Southwest Missouri State), Tyrone Nesby (UNLV), Damian Owens (West Virginia) and Steve Wojciechowski (Duke).
"We will be playing the national team of Japan as well as some all-star teams, so the competition will be pretty stiff," said Carnesecca, who took over the All-Star helm three years ago. "We have a fine group of young men, and I am sure we will be up to the task."
Robisch, one of two seniors on OSU's 1997-98 men's basketball team, started every game after joining the Cowboys in their sixth contest last season. He averaged 9.8 points and 6.4 rebounds and was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team.
The NIT All-Stars' first game is Aug. 10 against All-Japan in Fukuoka, Japan.
