US GIANTS SET TO OPEN TOUR IN CORK
28th Jul 2010
The Neptune Stadium in Cork is set to host more top class basketball this summer
Neptune Basketball Club is delighted to host the prestigious University of Pittsburgh Basketball team for their tour of Ireland beginning July 30th. Stars of Irish basketball will assemble for two days of top level basketball in Cork. Pittsburgh will then continue it’s tour with games in both Dublin and Belfast.
Neptune Stadium plays host to the opening game of the Panthers’ tour, when the collegiate team will take on a club selection team on Saturday, July 31st and Sunday, August 1st.
Pittsburgh’s tour continues in Dublin, where they will again play against an additional selection squad on August 3rd as well as Killester Basketball Club on August 4th, with both games at Dublin City University. They finish their tour in Belfast as part of the International Basketball Classic at the Odyssey August 6-7, with a tournament including The Melbourne Tigers and both England and Scotland Senior teams.
The Pittsburgh Panthers have had some standout graduates over the past few seasons, making a run to the NCAA Elite 8 just two years ago with current NBA stars Dejuan Blair and Sam Young in their ranks. In total, Pittsburgh has sent 26 players on to NBA careers. Pitt will be hoping to have a good pre-season showing with seniors Brad Wanamaker and Ashton Gibbs leading the way for the 2010-11 BIG EAST season.
Pittsburgh ranks among the USA’s top-5 programs in winning percentage (.790, 245-65) over the last nine years. During that span, Pitt has made one Elite Eight appearance, five Sweet Sixteen appearances, won five Big East titles and is one of seven schools nationwide to earn nine straight NCAA Tournament berths. Pitt is the only Big East school to appear in the last nine consecutive NCAA Tournaments and win 20 overall and 10 league games in each of the last nine years. Pitt also owns a league-best 109-41 Big East record combining the last nine years.
For the 2010-11 season, “Pitt” returns four of five starters, seven of its top eight scorers, 86 percent of its scoring and 91 percent of its rebounding. In preseason rankings, Pittsburgh is already listed as a consensus top-10 nationally ranked team for the 2010-11 season.
Pittsburgh concluded its 2009-10 season with a 25-9 overall record, a second consecutive second place finish in the Big East with a 13-5 slate, the school’s ninth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and a No. 3 seed upon entering the tourney. Prior to the season, Pitt was unranked and picked to finish ninth in the Big East by league coaches.
The 2008-09 season was notable for several historic accomplishments. The Panthers were ranked No.1 in the Associated Press poll and ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ poll for the first time in school history, claiming the No.1 spot for a total of three weeks. In 2009, Head Coach Jamie Dixon broke the record for the most victories in the first six seasons as a Division 1 Head coach and won the Naismith National Coach of the Year award.
The Club Selection team will take on Pittsburgh on Saturday, July 31st, and feature Cork’s Colin O’Reilly, 6’9 Irish Captain Conor Grace and 6’10 Limerick centre Jason Killeen. The side will be coached by Neptune’s Pat Price and Killester boss Mark Keenan.
On Sunday the 1st, a panel featuring several stars of the domestic league will be on display, including Neptune’s Gary Walsh and Ian McLaughlin, UCC Demons star Michael Plichta, Puff Summers and Cian Nihill (Moycullen).
Neptune Head Coach and Selection team assistant Pat Price said “We are very excited to bring our friends from University of Pittsburgh to Cork and Neptune Stadium. This is the highest ranked NCAA team to have played in Ireland, and there will be a great weekend of basketball at Neptune Stadium.”
Tickets for the weekend go on sale at Neptune Stadium on Wednesday, July 7th. For more information contact Neptune Stadium at 021 439 5873
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH TOUR DETAILS:
July 31; Club Selection, Neptune Stadium, Cork
August 1; Club Selection, Neptune Stadium, Cork
August 3; Club Selection, Dublin City University
August 4; Killester BC, Dublin City University
August 6; Melbourne Tigers, The Odyssey, Belfast
August 7; England, The Odyssey, Belfast
