I have watched these teams in the past and they don't seem all that good. What is the novelty? Why play a team and risk injury when it doesn't even count in standings? What am I missing?

Panda, It actually does count on your record as an official game. The reason teams schedule the Australian Teams is they get a home game and do not have to play that team away the next year. Most basketball contracts are set up you either play twice in a season (Home and Away) or you play this year at home and next year away. By playing the Aussies you don't have to ever play away!

Panda, It actually does count on your record as an official game. The reason teams schedule the Australian Teams is they get a home game and do not have to play that team away the next year. Most basketball contracts are set up you either play twice in a season (Home and Away) or you play this year at home and next year away. By playing the Aussies you don't have to ever play away!

 

The away game would be a nice diversion though...

Going to Aussie Land would be a good away trip.

Most of these teams are high school teams from Australia, so just like high school teams here you may have a couple of good players at most. Giving your players a chance to meet and play a team from another country is a good start.

 

I don't know which team, yet, but it's the Newington College Prep school, which is one of the two teams touring KY this week has a player I met when I was working in Hamburg this summer with FIBA. Daniel Hill is a nice little guard, a good number of college teams are looking at him, most of them are fromt he west coast, as they is where he would liek to go to college.

Australia had a team come through Kentucky a couple of years ago that was very, very good.

In addition to the home game, the way they used to do it was that the Australian kids went with a host family (usually a player's family) during their time leading up to that game. Pretty cool to have an exchange student for a couple of days.

It looks like Dixie is playing the Aussie Travel team tomorrow night. I have seen these boys and girls teams over the last few years so it must be here to stay. I think I will do the Highlands v Cov Cath instead. I suspect the Dixie cheering section might let out more than a few Aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi's.

It looks like Dixie is playing the Aussie Travel team tomorrow night. I have seen these boys and girls teams over the last few years so it must be here to stay. I think I will do the Highlands v Cov Cath instead. I suspect the Dixie cheering section might let out more than a few Aussie aussie aussie oi oi oi's.

 

Wow...that's a surprise

Dixie has been hosting the Aussies for a few years now. The traveling players / parents stay with host families provided by the Dixie basketball program for a few days.

 

I've heard nothing but positive feedback from all involved. It's a summer vacation to the U.S. for the Aussies.

 

The teams fluctuate in strength from year to year just like they do here. (And no, they aren't scheduled to pick up a home game...I think there are easier ways to do that.)

And isn't one of the OTHER goals of sport to educate and inform? At least let's pretend it still matters. What an opportunity to meet and interact with people from another country half a world away!! What a great educational experience for STUDENT-athletes.

And isn't one of the OTHER goals of sport to educate and inform? At least let's pretend it still matters. What an opportunity to meet and interact with people from another country half a world away!! What a great educational experience for STUDENT-athletes.

 

You are absolutely correct...I believe the Aussie players even attend school with the basketball players while they are in town.

I am really surprised it is a sanctioned KHSAA game. Families hosting is a pretty cool experience. Would be even better if they recipricated in Austrailia during our summer break.

 

Dixie has won this game by an average of 14 points over the last four years.

Edited January 3, 201115 yr by paNDA

Solomon, do you know which team that will be at Dixie? I see there are two of them in KY thus week. I'm trying to find out who in NKY is playing the Newington school, a Hatton Vs Hill match up would be something to watch if they are the team aging Dixie. Hill was on their 17u national team this past summer.

You are absolutely correct...I believe the Aussie players even attend school with the basketball players while they are in town.

 

This is correct.

 

They are split up and paired with different junior and senior basketball players and go to class with them.

 

Last year, Zeke Pike and his family hosted 3 or 4 of the players.