The University of Akron Athletics
Summer Trip to Canada on Tap for Men's Basketball
July 20 | Men's Basketball
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's basketball team will make its first foreign summer trip in 12 years when it travels to Canada to play five exhibition games beginning on August 11.
The summer trip is the first for the Zips under eighth-year head coach Keith Dambrot and the first for Akron since the 1999-2000 squad went to Europe during the summer of 1999. That year, Akron went 5-1 playing in Italy, Malta and France, including victories over the Slovenia and Malta national teams, Treviglio (Italy) and two wins over Antibes (France). UA followed their summer trip with a 17-11 regular season record (11-7 Mid-American Conference).
"We are looking forward to getting our six new players acclimated to college basketball," Dambrot said. "Having 10 days of practice before the trip and five games will benefit them and the entire team heading into this season."
The squad will begin practice on Monday, Aug. 1, before departing for Toronto on Wednesday, Aug. 10. The first team on the schedule will be Sheridan College on Thursday, Aug. 11. Tip-off for that contest will be 1 p.m. ET.
The Zips will then enjoy a day off before playing two games on Saturday, Aug. 13. The day will open with a game against the University of Quebec at 1 p.m. ET. Later that day, Akron will take on Champlain Alumni at 7 p.m. ET.
Akron will play its third game in a 24-hour period when it faces off against McGill University on Sunday, Aug. 14, at 4 p.m. ET.
After a much-needed day off, the Zips will conclude the trip with a game against Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, on Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m. ET.
The Zips will then return to Akron Thursday, Aug. 18.
Foreign tours are outstanding experiences for student-athletes. They can be taken once in a four-year period and provide an opportunity for participation outside of the student-athlete's normal schedule. This opportunity is exempt from their "in-season" practice schedule and the games they play on this trip do not count toward the number of contests during the academic year. Tours can only be taken during vacation periods and the teams are allowed up to 10 days of practice prior to departure.
The Zips are coming off of a 23-10 record (9-7 MAC) during the 2010-11 season after winning their second MAC Tournament title in three seasons and appearing in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history (1986, 2009, 2011). Akron has won 20 games in six-straight seasons – one of 20 Division I programs to do so during that period (out of 345) – and is tied for 29th nationally with 162 wins over the past seven seasons (Davidson, Kent State and San Diego State).
Stay tuned to GoZips.com for more updates on the trip, including results and special coverage of the trip.
Schedule
|
Date |
Event | Time (ET) |
| Aug. 10 | Depart for Toronto | – |
| Aug. 11 | Game 1 – Sheridan College | 1 p.m. |
| Aug. 12 | Off Day | – |
| Aug. 13 | Game 2 – University of Quebec | 1 p.m. |
| Game 3 – Champlain Alumni | 7 p.m. | |
| Aug. 14 | Game 4 – McGill University | 4 p.m. |
| Aug. 15 | Off Day | – |
| Aug. 16 | Game 5 – Carleton University | 7 p.m. |
| Aug. 17 | Off Day | – |
| Aug. 18 | Return to Akron | – |
