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March 27, 2000
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia men’s basketball teamwill play six games on a trip to Germany, Belgium and France in August.The Cavaliers are scheduled to leave on August 16 and return on August27.
UVa will play club and professional teams during the trip whichbegins in Cologne, Germany, continues to Brussels, Belgium, and ends inParis, France.
Virginia’s returning players from the 1999-2000 team areeligibleto make the trip, but incoming recruits can’t make the tour. TheCavaliersare allowed to practice for up to 10 days before departing for Europe.The trip will be a Homecoming of sorts for UVa forward Stephane Dondonwhois from Toulouse, France.
“We’re really looking forward to this trip to Europe,” headcoachPete Gillen said. “There are a lot of benefits to be derived from atripof this type. Our team gets some extra practice time in August, we havesix games to allow us to experiment with some different combinations,andhopefully we’ll get closer together. We have a pretty close- knitgroup,but hopefully we can come closer together off the court and on thecourt.
“There are also cultural benefits gained from seeing othercountries and meeting the people. I believe this will be an educationalexperience the members of our team will remember for the rest of theirlives.”
Virginia compiled a 3-3 record on a trip to Belgium and FranceinAugust of 1996.
The Cavaliers finished the 1999-2000 season with an overallrecordof 19-12 and tied for third in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 9-7record.