Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Basketball Announces European Summer Tour
May 31, 2018 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State basketball team is headed to Venice, Rome and Athens for a 10-day European tour in August that will feature games against international competition as well as numerous educational and teambuilding activities.
"This is a tremendous opportunity that the NCAA allows for our team that will have a lasting impact on the future of our program," said Cowboy head coach Mike Boynton. "I want to first thank our administration for allowing us to do this, and extend my thanks to the generous donors who have stepped up to make this a reality.
"Our team will have a great experience bonding with one another and it will give our staff a chance to work with these guys through our extra practices during the summer and kick start what will be a very exciting season of Cowboy basketball. In the weeks leading up to this trip, we will open the doors to our practices so that our fans can come get a preview of our preparation."
OSU's opponents on the European tour will be determined in the coming weeks, but the Cowboys will play at least three games with the possibility of adding a fourth. In preparation for the trip, the Cowboys will be allowed 10 practice in Stillwater beginning in July.
The Cowboys will arrive in Venice on Aug. 5 and will take in a day of gondola rides and sightseeing prior to playing its first game on Aug. 7.
A high-speed train will take OSU to Rome on Aug. 8, where they will take guided tours of the Roman Colosseum and the Pantheon, as well as Vatican City over the next two days. The Cowboys will also play their second game on Aug. 9 in Rome.
A quick flight to Athens on Aug. 10 will have OSU touring the Acropolis and the Parthenon and also hosting a local youth clinic. The third and final game of the tour will be on Aug. 11. After two more days of sightseeing and exploring the Cowboys will return to Stillwater on Aug. 14.
"This is the trip of a lifetime for me," said Cowboy forward Cam McGriff. "This will be my first time out of the country, and I can't wait to experience the history and culture in Italy and Greece. I came to Oklahoma State to grow as a player and a person, and it's these types of experiences that help me do that. I'm so thankful to the people that helped make this a reality for me and my teammates."
The NCAA affords each program the opportunity of traveling outside the U.S. to face foreign competition once every four years. This will be the second foreign tour for OSU basketball and the first since traveling to Spain in 2012.
Cowboy Basketball European Tour Itinerary
Aug. 4 – Leave Stillwater and fly overnight to Venice
Aug. 5 – Arrive in Venice and take a boat to the hotel
Aug. 6 – Gondola tour of Venice
Aug. 7 – Game No. 1
Aug. 8 – High-speed train to Rome / Tour of the Colosseum and Pantheon
Aug. 9 – Guided tour of Vatican City / Game No. 2
Aug. 10 – Morning flight to Athens / Walking tour of Athens
Aug. 11 – Tour of the Acropolis & Parthenon / Host local youth clinic / Game No. 3
Aug. 12 – Saronic Gulf Cruise to visit Hydra, Poros and Aegina Islands
Aug. 13 – Beach time at Akanthus / Farwell dinner
Aug. 14 – Return to Stillwater
"This is a tremendous opportunity that the NCAA allows for our team that will have a lasting impact on the future of our program," said Cowboy head coach Mike Boynton. "I want to first thank our administration for allowing us to do this, and extend my thanks to the generous donors who have stepped up to make this a reality.
"Our team will have a great experience bonding with one another and it will give our staff a chance to work with these guys through our extra practices during the summer and kick start what will be a very exciting season of Cowboy basketball. In the weeks leading up to this trip, we will open the doors to our practices so that our fans can come get a preview of our preparation."
OSU's opponents on the European tour will be determined in the coming weeks, but the Cowboys will play at least three games with the possibility of adding a fourth. In preparation for the trip, the Cowboys will be allowed 10 practice in Stillwater beginning in July.
The Cowboys will arrive in Venice on Aug. 5 and will take in a day of gondola rides and sightseeing prior to playing its first game on Aug. 7.
A high-speed train will take OSU to Rome on Aug. 8, where they will take guided tours of the Roman Colosseum and the Pantheon, as well as Vatican City over the next two days. The Cowboys will also play their second game on Aug. 9 in Rome.
A quick flight to Athens on Aug. 10 will have OSU touring the Acropolis and the Parthenon and also hosting a local youth clinic. The third and final game of the tour will be on Aug. 11. After two more days of sightseeing and exploring the Cowboys will return to Stillwater on Aug. 14.
"This is the trip of a lifetime for me," said Cowboy forward Cam McGriff. "This will be my first time out of the country, and I can't wait to experience the history and culture in Italy and Greece. I came to Oklahoma State to grow as a player and a person, and it's these types of experiences that help me do that. I'm so thankful to the people that helped make this a reality for me and my teammates."
The NCAA affords each program the opportunity of traveling outside the U.S. to face foreign competition once every four years. This will be the second foreign tour for OSU basketball and the first since traveling to Spain in 2012.
Cowboy Basketball European Tour Itinerary
Aug. 4 – Leave Stillwater and fly overnight to Venice
Aug. 5 – Arrive in Venice and take a boat to the hotel
Aug. 6 – Gondola tour of Venice
Aug. 7 – Game No. 1
Aug. 8 – High-speed train to Rome / Tour of the Colosseum and Pantheon
Aug. 9 – Guided tour of Vatican City / Game No. 2
Aug. 10 – Morning flight to Athens / Walking tour of Athens
Aug. 11 – Tour of the Acropolis & Parthenon / Host local youth clinic / Game No. 3
Aug. 12 – Saronic Gulf Cruise to visit Hydra, Poros and Aegina Islands
Aug. 13 – Beach time at Akanthus / Farwell dinner
Aug. 14 – Return to Stillwater
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
