UCLA Basketball Team Going to Italy for 10 Exhibition Games
Searching for some seasoning for a team that lost four key players after last season, UCLA basketball Coach Jim Harrick will take the Bruins to Italy on Sunday for 10 exhibition games in two weeks against club teams from Italy, Greece and Turkey.
“This will be a tremendous opportunity for our players,” Harrick said. “Not only will they get to see another part of the world, but at the same time, our team will pick up valuable experience against international competition. It will be just like a mini-season for us.”
Eight players will make the trip: centers Rodney Zimmerman, Mike Lanier and Jirk Zidek; forward Ed O’Bannon, and guards Tyus Edney, Shon Tarver, Mitchell Butler and Steve Elkind.
Richard Petruska, a transfer from Loyola Marymount who is expected to be UCLA’s starting center next season, is not eligible to make the trip, nor are three incoming freshmen: Marquis Burns, Ike Nwankwo and Kevin Dempsey.
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