Penn State Schedules Basketball Bonding Trip to the Bahamas

The Lions will take their new roster international in August for a week of sun and practice.

Matthew O'Haren/USA Today Sports

The Penn State men's basketball plans a retreat this summer to the Bahamas, where the Lions will participate in a week-long international tour that will included two exhibition games.

Penn State, which hasn't traveled abroad since 2017, will return to the Bahamas for the NCAA-sanctioned trip. Programs are permitted to make international tours every four years. Penn State also visited the Bahamas in 2017 and toured England, France and Belgium in 2013.

This will be a particularly useful trip for the Lions, who have a new coaching staff and eight transfer players. Head coach Mike Rhoades can use the tour as a bonding experience while generating practice time ahead of the 2023-24 season.

"What a perfect time for our basketball family to have a foreign trip to the Bahamas," Rhoades said in a statement. "This valuable time to work and play together during a foreign trip will help us as we move into our first season together. The trip will allow us practice time prior to our departure and game experience that can set the tone as we move forward."

During his first few months as head coach, Rhoades has rebuilt the Penn State roster through the NCAA Transfer Portal. The Lions have signed eight transfer players, including two who played for Rhoades last year at VCU. Rhoades also has signed former players from North Carolina, Georgetown, Temple, Miami and Bucknell. In addition, Rhoades signed a Bragi Gudmundsson, a first-year player from Iceland who competes in his country's highest professional league.

"We have many new players with a brand new staff, and the time together will hopefully create bonds and relationships that we will value very much," Rhoades said. "We will spend seven days in the Bahamas and play some games, but most importantly create some lifelong memories as members of Penn State basketball. We are very appreciative of those who made this foreign trip possible.  We will take full advantage of this great opportunity."

Penn State will stay at Nassau's Baha Mar Resort, where it also will play exhibition games. The Lions' 2023-24 basketball schedule includes a November trip to Orlando for the ESPN Events Invitational, where they could face VCU. The tournament's field also includes Florida Atlantic, Texas A&M and Butler.

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