Sept. 2, 2009 - Men's Basketball
Maroons Set for South American Tour

CHICAGO -- The University of Chicago men's basketball team will embark on its second international tour Friday, Sept. 4 when it begins a 10-day trek in Argentina and Chile.

Head Coach Mike McGrath's team, traveling with Head Coach Aaron Roussell's women's basketball squad, will visit the cities of Buenos Aires, Mendoza, and Santiago. In addition to a game in Buenos Aires and a youth clinic to be conducted in Mendoza, planned activities include a trip to a cattle ranch (Estancia), a professional soccer match, a family winery tour, city tours, and a hiking/rafting trip in the Andes Mountains.

"I believe that the foreign travel that our program has undertaken is one of the best things that we do. It is a wonderful experience for our student-athletes that is also tremendously beneficial in preparation for the upcoming season," said McGrath.

"Most importantly, the generous and widespread support of our alumni -- which makes this travel possible -- is an indication of how much they value their basketball experience at the University of Chicago. We refer to this often and with great effect in the recruiting process.”

The trip marks the Maroons' second international excursion in recent years, following a tour of Italy in 2006.

Chicago's men's and women's basketball teams are among four Maroon teams making overseas trips this fall, joining men's soccer (Italy) and women's tennis (Argentina, Uruguay). Upon the completion of these four trips, 10 different U. of C. sports teams will have visited 14 nations since 1997.

Team fundraising efforts as well as support from the athletic department and alumni have made the trips possible.

"We have committed these special funds to international travel for our teams and believe that it substantially enhances the student experience here," said Director of Athletics Tom Weingartner.

"It sets our athletics program apart and makes it consistent with the college's emphasis on foreign study and travel. These special foreign trips allow our athletes to gain not only national but international experience that can shape them for the rest of their lives while helping them to learn how to be genuine global citizens."