The UW-Platteville basketball teams leave Sunday, May 18, for a 10-day educational study tour to Ireland that includes three games for each team.

The Pioneers face the Irish National Under 21 teams on Wednesday, May 21 in Dublin's National Basketball Arena and will also play National League Division 1 clubs. The men face Team Garvey, and the women will play St. Mary's on Saturday May 24. in Castleisland, just outside of Killarney. Three nights later, the men play the GMIT All-Stars and the women square off against the Maree Ladies in Galway.

The 111-person UW-Platteville delegation will visit such places as the Dublin Castle, Guinness Brewery, the Blarney Stone, Ring of Kerry, St. Anne's Golf Course and Anthenry, the only Medieval-walled town in Ireland, and many, many more. The trip features attractions in five of Ireland's 12 counties.

"We're very grateful to have the opportunity to take this trip overseas," Pioneer Men's Coach Paul Combs said. "This is our second trip in four years, and it's a unique opportunity for our student-athletes to experience life and the game of basketball in a different culture."

Both Pioneer teams played in the Czech Republic and Austria in 2005 and made life-long memories. This short-term international study tour promises more of the same.

"It's such an unbelievable experience," UWP Women's Coach Tina Kuhle said. "I know our players have been talking about it for a long time.

Every UW-Platteville student took an eight-week class on Ireland's history and cultures to prepare for the study tour, which runs May 18-28. The course was taught by UWP's national award-winning faculty member, Dr. David Rowley.

"The class was very beneficial because it's given them great insight on what to expect when we arrive," Combs said. "The trip is much more than just basketball. The guys are looking forward to playing, but the experiences off the floor will be just as valuable in their growth as individuals."

The Pioneers also know they are in for challenges with the teams they play. The men, coming off a 19-7 season, are taking 15 players, while the women are bringing 16 athletes, although only 12 will probably suit for the games because of injuries.

"We fully anticipate the games will be very competitive," Combs said. "The style of play and the variation of the rules will provide unique settings for the players and for the coaches. We need to be able to adapt in each game because we don't know much about the opponents. We're excited to see how our guys respond."

The Pioneers had 10 practices to ready themselves for the trip. They taped the international free-throw lane onto the Bo Ryan Court floor to make themselves comfortable with the expanded area.

"It took a while for our kids to get used to it," Kuhle said. "With the flex offense we run, they're used to posting up on the blocks. They had to make some adjustments."

The basketball trip will be another in a series of educational excursions since 2003 for UW-Platteville athletics. The football team has visited Germany twice, the volleyball team has played in Germany, the basketball teams played in Eastern Europe, the soccer teams played in Spain, and the cross country and track and field teams toured Greece in January. The student-athletes fund-raise the money for these trips, and the players are grateful for the support of family and friends. Many parents are also making their trip with the children.

"We constantly talk about the Pioneer Basketball Family and how important it is," Combs said. "To have this opportunity to travel with teammates, coaches, managers, administrators, family, friends and fans is something they'll remember forever."

One friend and administrator who now will not be able to make the trip is Chancellor David Markee, recovering from recent surgery. He has been on the other athletic trips and has championed these education experiences.

"We'd like to thank Dr. Markee for his vision, although we are disappointed that he and LouAnn cannot accompany us," Combs said. "He has provided wonderful opportunities for us, and we are grateful for that and will be thinking of him."

Kuhle agreed, saying "we're going to miss Chancellor Markee. We had such a good time with him in Europe. It was great for the team to get to know him so well."

The Pioneer web site will be updated with stories and pictures from the trip. All-American center Jeff Skemp will also chronicle the trip for D3hoops.com.

Women's Ireland Roster

Note: Year is for 2007-08 school year.

Men's Ireland Roster