Penn basketball preps for Italy

Yesterday, Penn men's basketball opened up media availability as the team prepares to head to Italy for a trip spanning from Aug. 15-23. The trip will find the Quakers playing four games against Italian clubs - Tezenis Verona on Fri., Aug. 16, Giorgio Tesi on Sun., Aug. 18, Prima Napoli on Tues., Aug. 20 and FMC Ferentino on Wed., Aug 21.

Former Pitt standout guard Brad Wanamaker signed with Giorgio Tesi earlier this month, so the matchup will mark Wanamaker's first game against Penn since Nov. 27, 2010, when he notched six points and six assists in Pitt's 82-58 romp over Penn at the Petersen Events Center. St. Joseph's and Temple are also spending time in Italy this month.

Penn will leave Philadelphia on Aug. 14 and arrive in Venice on the morning of the 15th, subsequently staying two nights in Venice and Florence each before busing to Rome on the 19th. On the 23rd, the Quakers will fly back to Philly. The incoming freshman class will not travel to Italy for the nine-day trip per NCAA rules.

A few highlights from yesterday's media scrum:

Penn plans the trip to Italy to be more about team togetherness and less about actual on-the-court play. Sophomore guard Tony Hicks said it best: "There's only so much you can learn in three games."
Hicks has spent the summer working on his mentality, believing the mental aspects of his game needing more fine-tuning than the physical components. "I've been focusing on the mental part of the game," Hicks said. "Last year, when things started to slow down for me, it was kind of my approach than just the work I was putting in."
There are currently 20 players on the roster, so cuts will have to be made. Sophomore center Darien Nelson-Henry said that the incoming freshman class, from what he's seen this summer, has been impressive, but that does not mean that all of them will suit up for every game once the season comes around.
Junior forward Henry Brooks had a soft cast on his left forearm but was still seen practicing.
Seniors Fran Dougherty and Miles Cartwright, Hicks, Nelson-Henry and sophomore guard Jamal Lewis were the starting five in team drills. Lewis' playing time fluctuated quite often last season due to his inconsistent performance. Both Hicks and Nelson-Henry acknowledged that getting playing time last season will be invaluable, as coach Jerome Allen is now more confident to put more of the lead onto his two sophomores.