The men's basketball team for Bryant traveled to Italy this week for a foreign tour.
Once every four years, NCAA athletic teams are permitted a trip for a foreign tour, and this year, the men’s basketball team for Bryant University traveled to Italy to face four Italian professional teams in exhibition games.
We had a great time @ The Flavian Amphitheater, but more commonly known as the Colosseum pic.twitter.com/6dfW1rWCHD
— Bryant Men's Hoops (@BryantHoops) August 24, 2016
The team left Sunday for the 12-day excursion, planning to explore multiple cities throughout Italy both on and off the court. However, the team was in the country Wednesday morning when a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy. A release by Bryant Athletics said that the team is safe and unharmed following the quake.
“Bryant Athletics extends its thoughts and prayers to all those affected by the earthquake,” read the release.
However, the first game the team, which was set to play in Sploleto on Wednesday night, was cancelled due to damage, according to the release.
For more information and live updates about the earthquake, visit CNN's live blog about the earthquake.
Once the Bryant Bulldogs’ men’s basketball team returns home, the team will begin preparing for the team’s opening game against Notre Dame in November, as part of the tenth annual Legends Classic. Last year, the Bulldogs finished with an overall record of 8-23. This year, however, the team looks to start its season with challenging games that will better prepare the team for a successful season.
