Preseason Basketball

[tornado]

Washington State is taking an overseas preseason tour, and is presently playing a bunch of teams in New Zealand and Australia.

Washington State was a surprisingly GOOD team in 2006-2007, finishing in the Top 30 in RPI.

But--- they are having a little trouble so far on their tour...

In their first game, against a team called the New Zealand Breakers Academy, a team of very young players, some as young as 15, hung close until right near the end, then lost to Washington State 80-55.

But the 2nd game, June 7 against the Australian Boomers, took a 10 point 2nd half lead and hung on to win 85-84.

WSU is 1-1 with four more games remaining

http://wsucougars.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/060707aad.html

[tornado]

Washington State goes to 3-1 on their tour of New Zealand, but they have not dominated anyone.

After being threatened by a very young team in their first game, and then losing to a club team in their 2nd game, they scored a 12 point win over a club team called the Waratah All-Stars 89-77.

In their 4th game on the tour, the Sydney Kings knocked off Washington State, dropping the Cougars to 2-2.

[Da Coach]

The Sydney Kings are a member of the long established Australian pro league, the NBL. They have won the championship the last 3 years. This game against Washington State amounted to a preseason exhibition game for them. Their season begins in September. Tony Bennett, the Washington State coach, played briefly for the Sydney Kings back in the mid-90's.

http://www.nbl.com.au/

http://www.nbl.com.au/default.aspx?s=nbl_history

http://www.sydneykings.com.au/season0708v2.asp?BL=kings

http://www.sydneykings.com.au/zone/mediarelease.asp?BL=kings&MediaID=694

Story of the game--

http://www.sydneykings.com.au/zone/mediarelease.asp?BL=kings&MediaID=697

But I didn't think NCAA teams could play against professional teams, even in exhibitions like this? How do they manage this?