Kim Anderson played in Italy. He says he’s looking forward to taking his players overseas
Mizzou Men’s Basketball will take off for Italy from Friday, Aug. 5-Monday, Aug. 15, with head coach Kim Anderson’s Tigers playing four exhibition games against European teams during the trip. The tour features primary stops in Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan, with additional day trips to Vatican City, Pisa, Vicenza and Lake Como.
Anderson is no stranger to Italy, as the former Big 8 Player of the Year (1977) continued his professional basketball career overseas after his selection in the second round of the NBA Draft. Anderson played three seasons for Libertas Forli (1977-80) before beginning his coaching career in 1982.
Sophomore guard Terrence Phillips (Orange County, Calif.) lived in Italy during his sixth grade year (11-12 years old) with his mother, Alice Knox, and brother, Brandon Jennings. He attended Marymount International School in Rome.
The Tigers, traveling their full 15-man roster, will suit up 13 student-athletes for the four games. Junior forward Jordan Barnett (St. Louis, Mo.) is eligible for competition at the completion of the first semester, and freshman forward Reed Nikko (Maple Grove, Minn.) is continuing his rehabilitation from hip surgery this spring.
Keys to Anderson’s update:
1–Said the young players felt shell shocked with the amount of heavy duty practices. Team challenges, a new angle to practice, have been very competitive.
2–Calls the trip to Italy great from a team bonding and educational standpoint. A professor will teach a class.
3–An FBI agent will address the team on how to conduct themselves in a foreign country.
4–Anderson doesn’t know much about the professional teams that they’ll be playing.
5–An update on the Loos Family
6–Update on recruiting
7–No news on the NCAA report. Anderson anticipates a decision coming soon.
8–His thoughts on the next A.D.
Full information for Mizzou’s four exhibition games (CT):
– Game 1: Mizzou vs. LCC International University, Sunday, August 7 (11:30 a.m.)
Location: Palazzetto Arena Altero Felici, Via Flaminia 867, Rome
– Game 2: Mizzou vs. BC Silute, Tuesday, August 9 (11:30 a.m.)
Location: Pala Terme Sport Complex, Via Cimabue, Montecatini Terme
– Game 3: Mizzou vs. Vicenza Select, Friday, August 12 (1:30 p.m.)
Location: Palazzetto dello Sport, Via Manzoni 1, Creazzo (Vicenza)
– Game 4: Mizzou vs. Kosovo National Team, Saturday, August 13 (11:30 a.m.)
Location: Palazzetto Scuole Elementari, Via Verdi, Costa Masnaga (Lecco)
