Raiders needed Italy trip, found finances to make it work

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Donlon and Wright State added 10 new players to the program, some filling spaces left by transfers or early departures. Donlon will enter his second season as coach with a roster lacking a single player who has been with the program for more than one season.

That’s why the team’s upcoming trip to Italy — including four games against Italian professional teams during 10 days beginning Saturday — makes plenty of sense for this team. These international trips are allowed once every four years by the NCAA, and they are meant to be as much team-building exercises as tests on the court.

Teams are also allowed 10 days of practice to prepare for the trip, which come in an appropriate year for the Raiders as they try to teach their philosophies and systems to six newcomers to the program.

DaytonDailyNews.com