Men's Basketball 2022 Summer Tour: Daily Blog
Educational. Cultural. Historical.
Every four years, the University of Michigan basketball program has an opportunity to travel abroad for educational, cultural and historical opportunities, while also playing exhibition games. This year's 11-day tour starts in Paris, France, and ends in Athens and Mykonos, Greece. Follow your Wolverines on social media and as well as our daily travel log on MGoBlue.com.
DAY 9: Our finale! After an amazing journey, the Wolverines closed the Summer Tour heading out for a day of cruises on the Aegean Sea. Leaving early afternoon, U-M began the day at sea. Diving contests, rock jumping, jet-skis and just general swimming were on the immediate list of things to do. A hearty lunch helped close out the afternoon as the Wolverines took a small tour of Mykonos while kicking back and relaxing. The day ended with a final team dinner to bid farewell and talk about all that has transpired. It was also a chance to thank our hosts at CSM -- Lea, Mallory, Michelle and Ali -- for creating and executing a lifetime of memories! Tomorrow, we start the long journey home, but are ready to get the fall, football and classes started. It will be Sept. 26th sooner than you think (oh, that's the first official day of practices). Go Blue!
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DAYS 7 & 8: Packing their bags on Tuesday, the Wolverines boarded the ferry and traveled across the Aegean Sea to the final stop of the Summer Tour -- Mykonos. After enjoying a seaside lunch, the Wolverines quickly headed to the docks and jumped in! That evening, the travel party enjoyed an amazing dinner in the hills of Mykonos. As the day turned to Wednesday, it was the final game vs. Mykonos. After Mykonos suffered training injuries, the teams agreed to play two quarters. After falling behind in the first quarter, U-M rallied in the second to earn a double digit victory. Will Tschetter led U-M with nine points, while Dug McDaniel and Isaiah Barnes each had seven apiece in the shortened exhibition. Heading to the beach after the game, the Wolverines ate lunch and relaxed. One final day on the island tomorrow before heading home.
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DAY 6: Game Day! Following extra sleep in from the Acropolis Tour, the Wolverines spent the afternoon prepping for its game against Olympiacos BC's second squad in the famed Peace and Friendship Stadium in Athens. In what would turn out to be a resounding victory, the Maize and Blue had four Wolverines close in double figures led by Jaelin Llewellyn's 18 points. The other three included Jett Howard's 16 points and 10 apiece from Isaiah Barnes and Dug McDaniel. Hunter Dickinson fell just shy of a second double-double after closing with nine points and 10 rebounds. U-M jumped out to an early 10-point lead, only to see Olympiacos cut it to three in the second quarter. However, a 13-0 quarter-ending run put the Wolverines ahead for good as they cruised in the second half to earn their first win of the Summer Tour. Following the game, the Wolverines headed back to the hotel and then a final dinner in Athens. Early in the morning, they are off to Mykonos -- the third, and final, stop of the trip.
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DAY 5: Travel day! An early morning wake up after bidding farewell to Paris, the Wolverines headed out to the Paris airport to begin their journey to the second stop of the Summer Tour -- Athens, Greece. As the Maize and Blue deplaned, the sunshine and warm temperatures drew smiles from the entire party. After heading to the hotel and stopping for a welcome lunch, the Wolverines headed to the Panathenaic Stadium -- a late 19th century site of ancient Athens from the fourth century. It is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble and it hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Continuing their day, U-M headed to the Acropolis of Athens -- an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens that contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. After learning all about the construction and intricate details and lore at the Acropolis museum, the Maize and Blue began the climb all the way to the top to take in the sites and the views of Athens. After trekking back down the famed hill, U-M closed out the evening with team dinner.
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DAY 4: After a great evening dinner experience, the Wolverines were up early for breakfast followed by a guided tour in the famed Musée du Louvre. Just a short 10 minute drive, the Maize and Blue made sure to head straight to Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa as well as viewing four additional of his 15 paintings known to exist. The tour shifted to The Winged Victory of Samothrace featuring the Greek goddess Nike ("Victory") and dating back to the beginning of the second century. After only scratching the surface of the massive museum, the Wolverines headed outside to take photos in front of the Pyramide du Louvre -- designed by the Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. The remaining afternoon was allotted time for the Wolverines to take in the sites on their own, or shop!
Following free time in the afternoon, the Wolverines assembled for their final dinner at Chez Francis before heading for a traditional team photo in front of the Eiffel Tower. The evening was capped off with a Seine River Cruise and farewell to Paris. Tomorrow, the Wolverines are up early to catch a flight to Athens, Greece and part deux of their 2022 Summer Tour.
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DAY 3: It is game day! In the first of three exhibition games, the Wolverines spent the morning prepping for their contest with Fos Provence Basket, who plays in the first tier (Pro A) of the Ligue Nationale de Basket. With rainy conditions outside, the gymnasium was hot and humid inside; however, the Wolverines did not back down. Showing several positives and gritty effort, the Maize and Blue fell to the much older and experienced professional French squad. Hunter Dickinson led U-M with a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds), while Jaelin Llewellyn (15 points, seven assists) and Jett Howard (11 points) gave Michigan three in double figures. Returning to downtown Paris, the Wolverines headed out for a marvelous dinner on the rooftop of George's. With the nighttime skyline of Eiffel Tower, the Roue de Paris, Notre Dame and other national treasures, the evening was capped off by celebrating strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson's birthday -- especially by Jace Howard and Will Tschetter, who serenaded him.
Dripped out @KITH Paris ?? pic.twitter.com/p3XGekYScz
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) August 19, 2022
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Day 2: On another beautiful day in Paris, the Wolverines continued their summer tours to some of the world's most renowned football (soccer) stadiums in the world. In 2018, U-M's visit to Spain saw the Maize and Blue tour Camp Nou, home of FC Barcelona, as well as Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. Thursday, U-M added Le Parc des Princes, home of Paris Saint-Germain, to the list. From the views from atop the stadium to the locker room, media and training areas and the pitch itself, the Wolverines can check another off their bucket list. The afternoon was capped off with a penalty-kick contest between brothers -- Jace and Jett Howard. Ask them who won. Maybe this December, the Maize and Blue can knock off some stadiums in London. Capping off the night, the Wolverines headed to dinner at Kith, which is known for its own apparel alongside footwear collaborations, as well as a number of renowned streetwear brands.
The squad is finally full ???? Welcome @youssefkhayat24 to the ???? family pic.twitter.com/KKEYexjdeB
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) August 18, 2022
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DAY 1: After completing their 10th and final practice allowed before the trip, the Wolverines began their journey across the Atlantic to Paris. Flying through the night, the Maize and Blue arrived and began its first day of the tour. Following lunch at the hotel, the goal was to start the day to try and adjust to the time change (six hours ahead of Ann Arbor) with a walking tour of the grounds of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. A 2019 fire nearly destroyed the famed church and it is currently being renovated with the hope of reopening in 2024. Continuing their acclimation, the team closed out the evening with a Welcome dinner, where they ran into legendary actor/comedian Adam Sandler. All-in-all, it was a great start to what will be a great journey.
?? We’ve touched down in Paris! Our foreign tour is officially underway… ?????????? pic.twitter.com/PVMyt5zEv8
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) August 17, 2022
Fam Photo at the Notre-Dame Cathedral ???????? pic.twitter.com/m1QB6u45a4
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball) August 17, 2022
Time to start making a lifetime of memories. ?? FAMILY! pic.twitter.com/IquAdDccOS
— Juwan Howard (@JuwanHoward) August 17, 2022
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