Arrivederci, Lawrence, Kansas. The Kansas Jayhawks are headed to Italy.
Long after the current Kansas men’s basketball team wraps up what has been an amazing 2016-17 season, the encore edition of those players who remain, along with any newcomers in the fold, will make a trip across the Atlantic Ocean for four exhibition games in Italy this summer.
The trip, which is slated for four games on Italian soil — two in Rome and two in Milan — will take place in early August and will be like past foreign trips taken by Kansas, which also has traveled to Canada, Switzerland, France and South Korea in recent years.
KU’s Williams Education Fund has put together travel packages for active members interested in joining the Jayhawks overseas, and the packages include tickets to all four games, air and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, guided tours, a reception with the team and more.
While the trip offers a wonderful chance for fans to explore Italy with a Kansas flare, the week-long escape to the heart of Italy (July 31-August 8) represents an opportunity for what figures to be a new-look team to come together on the basketball court, as well.
The Jayhawks are certain to lose seniors Frank Mason III and Landen Lucas to graduation. Freshman Josh Jackson is likely NBA bound. And KU coach Bill Self has said that he expects both juniors Devonte’ Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk to at least test the NBA waters. Positive feedback from the pro ranks about their draft stock could lead to the departure of either or both of those players, as well.
The Jayhawks will have transfer guards Malik Newman and Sam Cunliffe eligible to play in Italy and also should have big man Udoka Azubuike back in the mix from his injured wrist.
A trip like this will give that trio, along with newcomers Marcus Garrett, Billy Preston and whoever else Self signs in the 2017 recruiting class an opportunity to develop some chemistry and get used to playing together a couple of months before the official kickoff of the 2017-18 season.
KU’s games in Italy are scheduled for Aug. 2 and 3 in Rome and Aug. 5 and 6 in Milan.
For more information, contact the Williams Fund.
