Okinawa venue for Armed Forces Classic?

[PittMBA]

Any insight as to the venue? I know it's at the Marine Corp base in Okinawa. Is it in a gym? outside?

When does Pitt leave Pittsburgh? I read on the Gonzaga board they are leaving Tuesday. I wonder if Pitt adds a day given we have to fly across the country before heading over the Pacific.

I would imagine heat and humidity are a factor. My guess is no matter the venue-- the gym won't be conditioned like both teams are used to in most arenas they play in. From what I understand, it's pretty hot and humid in Okinawa this time of year.

It should be fun and pretty nice exposure for Pitt. I know it's MO to rag on Pitt's OOC schedule, but this is certainly no small thing for Pitt to be in this event. It's essentially the first major college game of the year-- sort of a kick off classic for basketball.

 

[Zaratoughda]

Dixon says we leave Tuesday morning. As I here it there is the flight to SF and then to Tokyo and then to Okinawa... and on the last two legs... both teams are on the same plane.

Yeah... probably the same on the return trip and the winner better not be ragging on the loser or things could get testy.

 

[Scruffy the Panther]

Yeah... probably the same on the return trip and the winner better not be ragging on the loser or things could get testy.

Doubtful. Not rivals, no bad blood, never play each other.

 

[KiwiJeff]

Doubtful. Not rivals, no bad blood, never play each other.

Not to mention, getting porky on an airplane is a sure way to get arrested.

 

[Pittx9]

both teams are on the same plane.

What a terrible idea. Let's say the winners are celebrating on the flight home, the losing team is not going to get annoyed? I know I'd be yelling at them to shut the hell up. What if something happens between two players during the game and there's a brawl that may lead to two guys getting ejected. They're gonna be on the same plane after? I've never heard of such a thing, get two different planes for pete's sake.

 

[NTOP]

What a terrible idea. Let's say the winners are celebrating on the flight home, the losing team is not going to get annoyed? I know I'd be yelling at them to shut the hell up. What if something happens between two players during the game and there's a brawl that may lead to two guys getting ejected. They're gonna be on the same plane after? I've never heard of such a thing, get two different planes for pete's sake.

Crapsake. Most of their kids don't speak English. It's not like there are 30 shuttles a day from there to Tokyo. No history at all between the kids or coaches that's been mentioned. Nobody will be slinging 200-yen coins at our staff.

 

[JoseLind13]

While I never played D1, I've spent a lifetime playing scholastic, organized, and pickup hoops. I've been in countless heated arguments and chippy games with both friends and strangers on basketball courts and at the end of the game, you still shake hands, respect the opponent, and all is good again.

Sorry, but sharing a plane to and from a once-in-a-lifetime type of game seems like a complete non-issue.

 

[KiwiJeff]

While I never played D1, I've spent a lifetime playing scholastic, organized, and pickup hoops. I've been in countless heated arguments and chippy games with both friends and strangers on basketball courts and at the end of the game, you still shake hands, respect the opponent, and all is good again.

Sorry, but sharing a plane to and from a once-in-a-lifetime type of game seems like a complete non-issue.

Agreed. Raising your voice on a plane is enough to get you arrested. There is exactly 0% risk of a team celebrating on the plane, and 0% risk of an altercation. Players are not fans. They don't celebrate for days after a win, they focus on what games are coming up next. Given who the coaches are too, it's just a silly notion altogether.

 

[NCPnthr05]

I spent 8 years in Okinawa growing up back in the 90s, what a great experience this will be for these guys.

Dixon actually invited my dad to the practice today to talk to the team before the trip. As a retired Marine and someone who has lived in "Oki" for well over a decade of his life, it's exciting to know he was able to share that with them before they go. And a big thanks to Coach for involving people outside of the program in things like this - very cool!

 

[NTOP]

I spent 8 years in Okinawa growing up back in the 90s, what a great experience this will be for these guys.

Dixon actually invited my dad to the practice today to talk to the team before the trip. As a retired Marine and someone who has lived in "Oki" for well over a decade of his life, it's exciting to know he was able to share that with them before they go. And a big thanks to Coach for involving people outside of the program in things like this - very cool!

JD is a good guy. Thanks to your Dad, too.

 

[Scruffy the Panther]

I spent 8 years in Okinawa growing up back in the 90s, what a great experience this will be for these guys.

Dixon actually invited my dad to the practice today to talk to the team before the trip. As a retired Marine and someone who has lived in "Oki" for well over a decade of his life, it's exciting to know he was able to share that with them before they go. And a big thanks to Coach for involving people outside of the program in things like this - very cool!

Cool. How was Dixon's eye contact?

 

[levance2]

Cool. How was Dixon's eye contact?

It's always refreshing when people on here actually admit that Dixon is a nice guy and wants the program and school to be successful.

I'm sure SMF and Zara will be along quickly to explain why all our players will develop deep vein thrombosis on the flight over.

 

[cruzer]

I wonder if anyone has given the team a few travel tips on how to at least attempt to avoid jet lag. I've never been to Okinawa, but I've been to Tokyo 35+ times in the past 10 years (departing from Pittsburgh and more recently SFO). I've tried everything to avoid jet lag. Sleep the whole way, drink heavily, don't drink at all, take sleeping pills... you name it. What works best for me is to force myself to stay awake the entire flight. Typically, flights from the US land in Japan in late afternoon or early evening. If you don't sleep, you arrive in country dog tired. If you can force yourself to stay awake that first night until about 9PM, I find it easier to get a full night of sleep and to get in sync with the time zone difference. Not sure if this approach works for everyone, but it's the best I've come up with.

The good news is these guys are a heck of a lot younger then me, so they should recover quicker.

Cruzer

 

[cruzer]

Any insight as to the venue? I know it's at the Marine Corp base in Okinawa. Is it in a gym? outside?

When does Pitt leave Pittsburgh? I read on the Gonzaga board they are leaving Tuesday. I wonder if Pitt adds a day given we have to fly across the country before heading over the Pacific.

I would imagine heat and humidity are a factor. My guess is no matter the venue-- the gym won't be conditioned like both teams are used to in most arenas they play in. From what I understand, it's pretty hot and humid in Okinawa this time of year.

It should be fun and pretty nice exposure for Pitt. I know it's MO to rag on Pitt's OOC schedule, but this is certainly no small thing for Pitt to be in this event. It's essentially the first major college game of the year-- sort of a kick off classic for basketball.

One more minor point on the trip to Japan. It's a bit of a pity that the team can't lay over in Tokyo for at least one day. So much to see and do in a great city. It's a bit of a shame to travel all that distance and never see Tokyo. I guess their schedule doesn't permit. Bummer.

Cruzer

 

[levance2]

One more minor point on the trip to Japan. It's a bit of a pity that the team can't lay over in Tokyo for at least one day. So much to see and do in a great city. It's a bit of a shame to travel all that distance and never see Tokyo. I guess their schedule doesn't permit. Bummer.

I stayed at the team hotel in Maui last year and saw the team always walking to practice or meetings or meals, but never doing anything fun. Apparently they were on a plane back to the mainland as soon as they were done. It is a shame that these athletes travel so damn much and aren't given an opportunity to even enjoy any of it.

Since Dixon is familiar with Hawaii and New Zealand, I'm sure he has some tips for the team when it comes to jetlag. I know for Hawaii, after the long trip, the first thing he made them do was practice. Having made the same trip myself (with an extra layover) I can't even imagine how bad that would've felt.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

When traveling multiple time zones in the US it is fairly easy to control jet lag by eating and sleeping as close as possible to the times you would in your home time zone. That won't work for this kind of far far longer trip, of course.

Probably best advice is to tough out arrival day without sleeping until night. That seemed to work for me on trips to Europe. After arriving in the early AM force yourself to stay awake all day. You will be fairly well adjusted the following morning.

 

[DT_PITT]

I stayed at the team hotel in Maui last year and saw the team always walking to practice or meetings or meals, but never doing anything fun. Apparently they were on a plane back to the mainland as soon as they were done. It is a shame that these athletes travel so damn much and aren't given an opportunity to even enjoy any of it.

Since Dixon is familiar with Hawaii and New Zealand, I'm sure he has some tips for the team when it comes to jetlag. I know for Hawaii, after the long trip, the first thing he made them do was practice. Having made the same trip myself (with an extra layover) I can't even imagine how bad that would've felt.

I stayed at the team Hotel in Maui. I saw the walk-ons (and Cam Wright) at the pools and the beach a number of times, but never the rest of the team.

I didn't get to the hotel until Saturday night (games started Monday). My understanding is that they did more "fun stuff" before that point.

 

[NTOP]

When traveling multiple time zones in the US it is fairly easy to control jet lag by eating and sleeping as close as possible to the times you would in your home time zone. That won't work for this kind of far far longer trip, of course.

Probably best advice is to tough out arrival day without sleeping until night. That seemed to work for me on trips to Europe. After arriving in the early AM force yourself to stay awake all day. You will be fairly well adjusted the following morning.

LOL!!! My wife & I tried that on a trip to Paris in 2013. She actually fell asleep at the Louvre around 4:00 PM. Tough to do, but we were absolutely fine the next day.

 

[GoZags1]

Crapsake. Most of their kids don't speak English.

Hmmm ... don't be afraid to look at a roster. Zags* have one guy (Karnowski) born outside of the U.S. Two if you count awalk-on from Vancouver, BC (who's Dad is h.c. of the Canadian National Senior Men's team).

Looks to me as if that's about the same number as Pitt. Other than that ... great point.

*If your inaccurate statement was based on dual citizen Domas Sabonis ... he's a US born kid (arriving between Games 4 and 5 of the '96 NBA Playoff series between Portland and Utah).

 

[KiwiJeff]

I wonder if anyone has given the team a few travel tips on how to at least attempt to avoid jet lag. I've never been to Okinawa, but I've been to Tokyo 35+ times in the past 10 years (departing from Pittsburgh and more recently SFO). I've tried everything to avoid jet lag. Sleep the whole way, drink heavily, don't drink at all, take sleeping pills... you name it. What works best for me is to force myself to stay awake the entire flight. Typically, flights from the US land in Japan in late afternoon or early evening. If you don't sleep, you arrive in country dog tired. If you can force yourself to stay awake that first night until about 9PM, I find it easier to get a full night of sleep and to get in sync with the time zone difference. Not sure if this approach works for everyone, but it's the best I've come up with.

The good news is these guys are a heck of a lot younger then me, so they should recover quicker.

Cruzer

That's exactly the way to do it Cruzer. I have travelled to Japan quite a bit, and lived there 5 years. Also, when I went to NZ from NY to visit the wife's family, we arrived in Auckland at 2:30 am. I forced myself to stay awake till 10 PM, then went to bed. I forced myself not to sleep on the plane, so I had gone almost 40 hours with no sleep. But the next day, I woke up, and had no jet lag. Ten years later, not sure I could pull that off again though.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Hmmm ... don't be afraid to look at a roster. Zags* have one guy (Karnowski) born outside of the U.S. Two if you count awalk-on from Vancouver, BC (who's Dad is h.c. of the Canadian National Senior Men's team).

Looks to me as if that's about the same number as Pitt. Other than that ... great point.

*If your inaccurate statement was based on dual citizen Domas Sabonis ... he's a US born kid (arriving between Games 4 and 5 of the '96 NBA Playoff series between Portland and Utah).

Don't take anything said on this forum, especially by old guys...at all seriously.

 

[GoZags1]

Don't take anything said on this forum, especially by old guys...at all seriously.

Good point.

No harm. No foul.

 

[NTOP]

Hmmm ... don't be afraid to look at a roster. Zags* have one guy (Karnowski) born outside of the U.S. Two if you count awalk-on from Vancouver, BC (who's Dad is h.c. of the Canadian National Senior Men's team).

Looks to me as if that's about the same number as Pitt. Other than that ... great point.

*If your inaccurate statement was based on dual citizen Domas Sabonis ... he's a US born kid (arriving between Games 4 and 5 of the '96 NBA Playoff series between Portland and Utah).

Do they remove everyone's sense of humor at Gonzaga?? Or were you the only victim??

 

[Pittx9]

I still have not seen the question answered unless I missed it and was wondering the same thing. The game is at an outdoor base correct? Like the Michigan State game a few years ago? That's what I was under the assumption of, does anyone know for sure though?

 

[GoZags1]

http://guboards.spokesmanreview.com...lassic-vs-Pitt-in-Japan&p=1143364#post1143364

Indoor.

 

[jsc333]

Anyone know who is doing the radio broadcast?