CEDAR CITY, Utah, May 4 – Southern Utah's men's basketball team will get a taste of life Down Under in the next 10 days as the team departs Wednesday for a playing tour of Australia.
    The Thunderbirds will play four games in the 10 days as well as visit the Great Barrier Reef and other attractions, including the Cairns Tropical Zoo and the Paluma & Crystal Creek Rainforest.
    SUU is scheduled to meet four club teams, including the Cairns Marlins, Townsville, the Southern District Spartans and the Brisbane Capitols during their stay. The Thunderbirds face off against Cairns on May, 9, against Townsville on May 11, against the Southern District on May 13, and against Brisbane on May 14.
    NCAA regulations allow teams to take foreign tours once every four years, but the last time the Thunderbirds took advantage of the opportunity was back in 1989, when the men's basketball team visited France. Costs of the tour are covered by the host, Basketball Travelers, Inc.
    “This is a great opportunity for our players and other representatives of the University, not only to see Australia but also to act as ambassadors,” SUU Coach Roger Reid said. “We have three players from Australia on our team, so it's also a great opportunity for them to play in front of their friends and families.
    “In addition, it's a great learning opportunity for our players to see life in a different culture, in another part of the world,” he added.
    Reid and SUU assistant Ron Carling are no strangers to Australia, as the pair have recruited there in recent years and Carling has deep ties to the continent. During his career Carling has served as commissioner of the Australian National Basketball League as well as working with the nation's Olympic teams and spending time as the Australian National Director of Coaching.
    Nine players from last year's squad will participate in the tour, including the three Australian natives: Damon Heuir, Matt Massey and Matt Hodgson. Drew Allen, Jake Nielson, Ryan Brimley, Jackson Stevenett and Jordan Weirick will also make the trip, as will Brian Cameron, who spent last season as a redshirt.
    In addition to the players and coaches, a handful of SUU administrators, including President Michael T. Benson and Provost Brad Cook, will make the trip.

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