With the NCAA's recent ruling that teams cannot travel internationally around Labour Day taking full effect next year, this is likely to be the last time for some while that CIS fans can watch NCAA/CIS games on Canadian soil. Here is a preview of Ohio State's visit to Windsor to meet the Lancers and Western Mustangs.
Timing just right for games in Canada
Saturday, August 15, 2009 3:13 AM
By Bob Baptist
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
One of the drawbacks to a college basketball team playing summer exhibition games outside the United States is that the NCAA prohibits incoming freshmen from making the trip.
That would have left the Ohio State men's team a few bricks shy of a load the past three years.
"We talked about this a couple years ago and had kind of circled this year as a good time," coach Thad Matta said. "It's hard when you can't take your incoming freshmen with you. Since we have none coming in this year, we felt like this would be the best opportunity to do it."
With all but one player -- NBA early entrant B.J. Mullens -- back from last season, the Buckeyes had the first of 10 days of practice yesterday in preparation for a three-game trip to Canada later this month.
"I'm excited to get back at it for a real practice," said David Lighty, who has not played in a game with his teammates since breaking the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot seven games into last season.
While Lighty has been cleared to play since spring, it's doubtful that Nikola Kecman will play in the exhibition games, said Vince O'Brien, the team's head athletic trainer.
Kecman, a junior-college transfer, played in only one game last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He is expected to be ready for the start of preseason practice Oct. 16, O'Brien said.
The trip to Ontario will include games Aug. 28 and 29 against the University of Windsor and Aug. 31 against the University of Western Ontario. All games will be in the St. Denis Centre on the Windsor campus, just across the border from Detroit.
"What I hope is (when) we get back, we're able to look inside of our team and say these are the things we need to be really, really good at, (things) we've got to get better at or (things) we may scrap," Matta said.
"One of the big things for us this year is opening up college basketball. We don't have a lot of time to prepare. We're opening up, I think, Nov. 9. So it's going to be upon us quickly, and hopefully this will help us."
Ohio State is expected to play host to Florida International and new coach Isiah Thomas in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic on the first night of the new season. The second-round game is three nights later. The complete schedule is expected to be released next week.
Matta did not schedule a longer trip, or one farther from home, because he is "not a real worldly traveler," he joked, and added that he wants his players to be able to go home for a while before returning for the start of fall conditioning. Most players have been taking summer classes, which end Aug. 27, the day the team departs for Canada.
"Getting back the night of the 31st allows them to get home for a week or so and enjoy their family," Matta said.
One player was not at practice yesterday. Sophomore center Zisis Sarikopoulos is scheduled to return tonight from Greece. He played for his country in two international tournaments this summer.
bbaptist@dispatch.com
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