The University of Dayton men's basketball team recently completed a 10-day, two-game exhibition of Spain.  The Flyers split their two games, and aside from the fact that it would have been nice to win both games, the trip could not have been more of a success on all levels.

The team benefitted from extra practices heading into the trip, played two games against good quality competition, the team had the chance to develop team chemistry by spending so much time together in a low stress environment, and for most of the team, experience a new culture and learn not just about Spain, but about themselves by being in a new country.

"The trip (was) fantastic," Flyer head coach Archie Miller said.  "The two cities were everything we thought they would be.  I think the guys had a terrific time.  When you take a trip like this, the bonding and the experiences together are what you remember.

"And we also got to work a little bit.  I thought the two games, against two older teams, were good.  You don't always know what you are going to get.  I'm glad we were able to play teams who challenged us.  We got to see some things that will help us, and heading into the fall we will be more prepared."

Daily Highlights

Friday, August 5
Travel day
• Each member of the travel party was given a big bag of snacks for the plane as they boarded the bus for John Glenn Columbus International Airport
• Connections were tight. Our flight was already boarding when we landed in Atlanta but we had no problems getting on board

Saturday, August 6
• A little over eight hours later, we were landing in Madrid
• First time overseas for all players except for but Sam Miller and Jeremiah Bonsu
• Quick passage through customs.  Surprisingly quick.
• When we got on the bus, we got our first glimpse of the police escorts that we had wherever we went
• Check in to Hotel Wellington in the Salamanca district of Madrid
• Just had time to check in, throw bags in the room and then a buffet lunch in a room overlooking the corners of Velazquez and Villanueva Streets before a bus tour of Madrid in an open-air double-decker bus
• When we returned to the hotel, Villanova's team had arrived and was checking in.  Archie and Jay Wright, and several of the players exchanged greetings
• Dinner was on the old grounds of the Royal Palace.  The team stopped and took a photo in front of the palace on the way to Café de Oriente which is in a building that originally housed members of the Royal Guard.

Sunday, August 7
Practice Day.
• The Flyers are the first college team to visit the nearly new practice facility at Ciudad Real Madrid.  Opened in May, several NBA teams and league executives have already gone over to review it. 
• The complex is part of a bigger soccer and basketball training facility that includes seven fields, dormitories, offices and a stadium that would be good enough for most teams (more on that later).  The entire facility cost close to 100 million euros to build.
• Some of the travel parties of both UD and Villanova briefly attended a bullfight that evening.  It's safe to say that the uniquely Spanish tradition did not gain any new fans in either group as all left the event well before it ended. 

Monday, August 8
Game Day
• Dayton fell to an experienced, savvy squad 64-58.  The adjustments to FIBA rules and how the game was called was very hard to overcome, but it did mark the Flyer debuts of Josh Cunningham and Trey Landers.  For more on the game click here.
• That evening, the team was treated to a private tour of Real Madrid's Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, an 81,000 seat stadium right in the heart of Madrid.  It began at the upper level in the seating area, continued through trophy rooms and hi-tech interactive displays of the team's greatest players, down to the pitch and then locker rooms.

Tuesday, August 9
• The team took a day trip to Segovia, a UNESCO World Heritage City located a 90-minute bus ride outside Madrid.
• The first thing seen at the entrance of old town is a Roman aqueduct that was used from 50 B.C. to 2000 A.D.
• The tour included examples of Roman, Jewish, Muslim and Christian architecture, and Alcazar, which originally was a fort, then a royal palace and castle when Segovia served as a capital city. 
• Lunch was at Meson de Jose Maria in Segovia.
• Suckling pig is the specialty of the house.  One member of the group called it "pre-pulled pork." It is cooked so thoroughly that it is cut with the side of a dinner plate. 
• The owner's daughter visited the team and asked Archie to do the first cutting, and to prove it was a real plate and not a prop, he was told to break the plate on the floor.  He hesitated, but was prodded by the players and responded with an epic shattering of the dinnerware.
• Our local host explained this was a traditional ceremony originated for royalty and now usually reserved for celebrities and guests who would be recognizable in Spain. 

Wednesday, August 10
Travel Day
• It was a smooth ride to Barcelona on the AVE high-speed train. Its top speed is 301 km/h or roughly 187 mph.
• The speed did not inhibit sightseeing as there is not much to see.  The route from Madrid to Barcelona is across a brown, dry Spanish plain, although the Pyrenees Mountains can be seen to the north for part of the trip.
• The Flyers checked in to the Hotel Casa Fuster, an architectural work of art located in the bustling Eixample neighborhood at the head of Barcelona's bustling Passeig de Gracia Avenue.
• After lunch at the hotel, the travel group then paid an awe-inspiring visit to La Sagrada Familia, the famously massive and massively famous Catholic church designed by renowned architect Antoni Gaudi.  Construction of the church began in 1882 and is expected to be completed in 2026. 
• Then many of the team went to an FC Barcelona game.  The nearly 70,000 fans put on quite a show for those of us who were seeing our first professional soccer game. The hosts edged Sampdoria of Italy 3-2 to win the Gamper Cup preseason tournament. 
• Superstar Lionel Messi gave the fans plenty to cheer about (not that they needed any help) when he scored two goals and had a spectacular bicycle kick assist in the box.

Thursday, August 11
Practice Day
• Practice was at Palau Municipal d'Esports, which is where the Dream Team won the gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games.
• The entire travel party lunched at Restaraunte Barceloneta, a waterside eatery overlooking a marina that is home to some of the most tricked-out super-yachts in the Med.  After everyone was done eating, the restaurant staff presented Josh Cunningham with a small birthday cake with the numerals "2" and "0" on it.
• Even though it was less than an hour after eating, the team threw caution to the wind and headed to Barceloneta Beach…The few hours of sun, surf and sand went by much too quickly, and thankfully trainer Mike Mulcahey had no sunburns that needed treating.

Friday, August 12
Game Day
• UD returned to Palau Municipal d'Esports for a game against what was reputed to be a tougher opponent than the team who beat the Flyers in Madrid. 
• Dayton had big games from Josh Cunningham and Sam Miller, and had five double-digit scorers.  For more on the game, click here.

Saturday, August 13
• The team began the day with a trip to Tibidabo Mountain.  At 500 meters above Barcelona, the top of the mountain featured a unique combination of casino (now closed), amusement park and two churches.  Patrons of all of them were treated to a fantastic view of Barcelona and beyond the city, the Mediterranean Sea.
• After lunch, almost all of the team went on an unplanned Segway tour of Barcelona waterfront.  While in Madrid, many of the support group and families went on a Segway tour while the team practiced, and it was so much fun they encouraged members of the team to do it in Barcelona. 
• Those who went would agree that it was a great way to end the trip, if not the highlight of the 10 days. 
• Three groups headed out to glide through a bit of old town, the beach area and the Olympic Park that commemorates the 1992 Olympics.  The tour began and ended in Barcelona's Parc de la Ciutadella, and the three groups met back up under the Spanish Arc de Triomf for a picture.
• The busy last day in Barcelona ended when the entire travel party enjoyed a fabulous meal at Nine 9 Restaurant, which was walking distance from the hotel.

Sunday, August 14
Travel Day
• The team took the long trip back, which was 21 hours door-to-door.
• But before taking off, the Flyers said good bye to Rafa Vidaurreta, our host in Barcelona.  The former Spanish and European star played his college ball at Wake Forest at the same time Archie Miller was at North Carolina State. 
• Vidaurreta is a sports marketing professional who actually lives in the United States with his wife and daughter.  He, along with Spanish coaches Borja Castejon and Jean Paul Turner, were the perfect choices by Complete Sports Management CEO Lea Miller to be local escorts, with their connections in Madrid and Barcelona, and understanding of what basketball teams need. 
• Players heading home for a week or two before classes start again.


Team members were enrolled in a two-credit hour class about the trip.  Team academic coordinator Beth Flach served as the instructor under the direction of Dr. Kimberly Trick.    It is clear that the trip was an eye-opening experience for the Flyers.  Here are excerpts from some of their observations:

Jeremiah Bonsu - "This experience has shown me that Americans are really stressed. Although we do enjoy life, our vacations are even filled with stress."

Scoochie Smith - "There were many cultural differences in the sport of basketball. Each time their players were at a disadvantage, they would foul the opposing team. Adapting to their rules and not being able to understand what they are saying was challenging."

Charles Cooke - "I noticed how we stood out like sore thumbs. Everyone in Spain could tell we did not belong there and knew we were tourists. This experience was a shock to me because I was not expecting to feel like this. Spain is beautiful, the people are loving and they know how to have a good time. I feel good knowing there is another beautiful place outside of our own world and bubble."

Sam Miller - "I enjoyed almost all of the food. They serve Iberian ham as an appetizer with most meals and I ate a lot of it every time. I really enjoyed the paella as well, a seafood and rice dish. One thing I did not particularly care for was the gazpacho which was like a cold soup. A meal here is a long, almost celebratory, event."

Kyle Davis - "My world view has changed because the experience just opened my eyes to something new and different. Meeting many different people from a whole new culture. Spain is a wonderful place and a great experience for anyone. My favorite memory was being able to see a soccer game up close and in person, and to witness the best player to ever play the sport - Lionel Messi for Barcelona."

Joey Gruden - "I feel like I this trip has made me a better person because I have a greater respect to other people's nationalities and I am more open to new experiences."

Darrell Davis - "Traveling by train to Barcelona was unique because the speed of the train was amazing. I did not know we were going almost 200 mph until after we arrived in Barcelona. The experience on the train was great and it was my first train ride ever."

Xeyrius Williams - "This trip was a chance for me to step out of my comfort zone and learn about myself. It opened my eyes to what I want to do in the future and I view being an American differently now and would love to live in Spain. They have a great set of standards that they follow day to day."