MADRID, Spain - Forward Blake Foeman looked up as he was tying his shoes before shoot around this morning.
"I think this is where basketball was invented," Foeman said, smiling.
Andrew Hooper looked around, handed someone his iPhone and begged him to take photos so that Hooper could Tweet them later.
The home court of Real Canoe N.C. gives new meaning to hardwoods. The gym looks like it's straight out of Hickory High.
The floor is hardwood, more like what you might see on a ship than in most American arenas. In fact,Alex Pickert suggested the wood may have come from three Spanish ships: Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria.
There are seven cement rows that make up the spectator area above the court. The team benches appear to be actual wooden benches bolted to the brick wall behind them. Just outside, people are lounging around a swimming pool, enjoying the warm Spanish sun. But there are no peach baskets hanging at each - just the standard rims with nets hanging down.
As Coach Norman Dale might say, "The rims are 10 feet. The free throw line is 15 feet. Gentlemen, I think you'll discover these dimensions are just like our gym back in Hickory (or Denver)."
So, after a good night's sleep last night, the Pioneers are ready to go tonight.
None of us know much about tonight's opponent, Real Canoe NC, so nobody really knows what to expect.
As Denver head coach Joe Scott has said repeatedly, though, the Pioneers came over to play Denver Basketball, so it doesn't really matter who the opponent is.
Technical Difficulties: Trainer Pat Hoxsey was overheard talking about watching the news when he woke up this morning. Apparently, he watched the Spanish version because he couldn't figure out the Spanish remote control.
"I think this is where basketball was invented," Foeman said, smiling.
Andrew Hooper looked around, handed someone his iPhone and begged him to take photos so that Hooper could Tweet them later.
The home court of Real Canoe N.C. gives new meaning to hardwoods. The gym looks like it's straight out of Hickory High.
The floor is hardwood, more like what you might see on a ship than in most American arenas. In fact,Alex Pickert suggested the wood may have come from three Spanish ships: Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria.
There are seven cement rows that make up the spectator area above the court. The team benches appear to be actual wooden benches bolted to the brick wall behind them. Just outside, people are lounging around a swimming pool, enjoying the warm Spanish sun. But there are no peach baskets hanging at each - just the standard rims with nets hanging down.
As Coach Norman Dale might say, "The rims are 10 feet. The free throw line is 15 feet. Gentlemen, I think you'll discover these dimensions are just like our gym back in Hickory (or Denver)."
So, after a good night's sleep last night, the Pioneers are ready to go tonight.
None of us know much about tonight's opponent, Real Canoe NC, so nobody really knows what to expect.
As Denver head coach Joe Scott has said repeatedly, though, the Pioneers came over to play Denver Basketball, so it doesn't really matter who the opponent is.
Technical Difficulties: Trainer Pat Hoxsey was overheard talking about watching the news when he woke up this morning. Apparently, he watched the Spanish version because he couldn't figure out the Spanish remote control.
No comments:
Post a Comment