49ers Will Play 6 Games in Canada

The Cal State Long Beach men’s basketball team will leave Sunday for a seven-day tour of western Canada and six games against Canada’s Junior National Team.

“This is something a good program does to develop more rapidly,” Coach Seth Greenberg said. “The 10 days of practice and the games provide an opportunity for the younger players to gain experience.”

Greenberg is also understandably eager to begin as soon as possible to erase memories of his first season as a head coach. The 49ers, a preseason choice as one of the best teams in the West, were 11-18 last season.

Greenberg, who has been instructing his players in closed practices, said the 49ers will use the trip to work on half-court defense and install a pass-oriented “motion” offense designed to get high-percentage shots.

Players making the trip will be Lucious Harris, Bobby Sears, Frankie Edwards, Chris Tower, Bryon Russell and Mike Atkinson, all members of last year’s team, and newcomers Rod Hannibal, Carlos Dew and Jeff Rogers.

The NCAA permits teams to make summer trips once every four years.

“The money for the trip ($750 a player) has been raised by myself and the booster club,” Greenberg said. “No state or university money will be used.”

The 49ers, who will be headquartered at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, will also go on a fishing trip and attend the Calgary Stampede.