Getting on an airplane and flying to a game is a big deal for the University of Illinois Springfield men’s basketball program.
The regular mode of transportation for the Prairie Stars is bus as they typically travel solely in the Midwest.
Wanting to provide his players with a rare treat, UIS coach Bill Walker scheduled a pair of games in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“This is a great experience,” Walker said. “Half of the team has never been out there.”
The team and coaches flew west Wednesday from St. Louis to the D2 Vegas Showdown. The Stars open the regular season against Lake Superior State tonight at 6 CST at the Centennial Hills Community Center.
UIS plays Findlay Saturday at 8 p.m. CST.
“They’re going to be very tough games,” Walker said. “Both teams are picked to finish toward the top of their league.”
We’re going to have to play really well,” Walker said. “We’ll find up how we stack up at our level against some of the best competition.”
This story appeared online in The State Journal-Register on November 12, 2015.
Read the entire article here.
