The Northern Kentucky men's basketball program is currently on an 11-day trip to Italy, which includes stops in the cities of Rome, Florence and Naples. NKU student-athletes will have the opportunity to tour multiple Italian cites, play games against local teams and take part in numerous sightseeing excursions on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Be sure to check in on
NKUNorse.com and across the team's
Instagram,
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Facebook pages daily to follow along with the trip!
Following an overnight flight out of Atlanta, the Norse touched down in Rome for their first full day of their Italy excursion on Friday, August 4. After a quick stop for brunch, the team traveled to the historic Colosseum for a guided tour.
The squad then headed into the city for an afternoon walking tour that included stops at the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna) and the Column of the Immaculate Conception. NKU also had a birthday in the group as
Bryce Darbyshire celebrated his 19th birthday.
The day ended with dinner and the group splitting off to explore the city and a much-awaited chance to rest up for the remainder of the trip.
The Norse returned to the court for the first time overseas to get their Saturday stared on August 5; Northern Kentucky's second day in Rome. After an hour and a half workout, the team returned to their downtown hotel to get ready for the Vatican City.
The NKU squad then headed for tours of the Vatican, St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
After a full afternoon of exploring the Vatican City, the Norse then went to break bread as a team at the Restaurante Terme Di Diocleziano that included authentic pasta, saltimbocca (a pork dished which means jumps in the mouth in Italian), tiramisu and gelato.
After dinner, the squad split up to explore the city, with another full day of exploration set for Sunday, August 6.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6 – ROME, ITALY
The last day in Rome was a true off day for the Norse, with a wide-open schedule for NKU student-athletes to explore the city to conclude the first leg of the trip.
The day got started off with a team workout, running through the parks of Rome.
The squad then split off to spend their final day in Italy's capital. Some continued their exploration of the city, some rested up for a busy Monday, some staff members hit the links and spent the day with their families, and all enjoyed a final outstanding meal in Rome.
Monday was a new leg of the trip for the Norse as NKU headed to Florence, with a quick stop in Siena, on Monday, August 7.
The team started the day early with an 8 AM bus ride to Siena, which was followed by a walking tour of the city. The squad then headed to lunch at Villa Cerna, a countryside winery and restaurant.
Following lunch, the Norse finished the drive to Florence and hit the court once again in the evening for a team workout. After practice, NKU split up to explore the city and finished the night with a delicious meal.
To go with the jam-packed day, Norse guard
Sam Vinson also celebrated his 21st birthday, the second NKU birthday of the trip!
Northern Kentucky will jump right back into it with a busy day on Tuesday, which includes the team's first game against local competition.
The Norse got the day stared with a rooftop breakfast followed by a guided tour of The Accademia Museum, which featured the world-renowned statue of David by Michelangelo.
After the tour, the squad got together for a team meal before departing for their first game of the trip against the Pro Camp Selection, a mix of elite players from the Lombardy region.
Northern Kentucky won the game by a 96-55 margin and were led by 19 points from
Marques Warrick. Overall, the Norse had five student-athletes finish in double-digits in scoring, which included
Cade Meyer (18 points),
Trey Robinson (14),
Keeyan Itejere (10) and
LJ Wells (10).
NKU then headed back to the hotel for more team bonding and to get ready for their second and final game of the trip on Wednesday.
It was a jam-packed Wednesday for the Norse on August 9, the sixth day of NKU's Tour of Italy.
The day got started with a rooftop breakfast, followed by a two-hour bus ride from Florence to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. After a three-course lunch at the Trattoria II Turista Pisa, NKU student-athletes and staff toured the grounds of one of the most iconic buildings in the world.
Following the tour, it was time to get back to work for the Norse with their second and final game of the trip. NKU defeated the Tuscan Select squad by an 88-68 margin. Northern Kentucky was led by
Marques Warrick (21 points, three rebounds, three assists),
Sam Vinson (18 points, seven boards, five steals, three helpers),
Hubertas Pivorius (12 points, three assists) and
Cade Meyer (nine boards, 10 boards) as the group went a perfect 2-for-2 in Italy.
The squad then headed for a team meal before one last night to explore the city of Florence. NKU will hit the road for a travel day on Thursday, August 10 as the Norse head to the beautiful beaches of Naples.
It was a busy travel day for the Norse on Thursday, August 10. After one final rooftop breakfast in Florence, the squad headed to the train station for a high-speed, three-hour train ride to Naples.
Once NKU arrived, the student-athletes headed into town for a local meal while the staff and families went to Cantine del Vesuvio for a one-of-a-kind food and wine tasting.
After lunch, the two groups met back up to tour the ancient city of Pompei.
The Norse ended the night with a team dinner at Trattoria Medina, where fresh local seafood was on the menu. The team indulged in pasta with clams and mussels, fried shrimp and calamari and an Italian rum cake.
NKU also had another celebration on the trip as head coach
Darrin Horn and wife Carla celebrated their 27th anniversary!
It was a fun-filled Friday for the Norse on August 11 as the team traveled out for a day in the sun off the coast of Capo Miseno, Italy.
NKU arrived at the Turistico Beach Park where they tossed a football around (to some interested looks), swam in the Tyrrhenian Sea, jumped off some rock structures and lounged around in the beach club in a true day of bonding for the squad.
The Norse then returned to the city of Naples for a team meal. The group finished the day with one final evening of exploration and a night of rest before a boat cruise of the Amalfi Coast set for Saturday.
It was the final day for the Norse on their Tour of Italy as the squad headed to the Amalfi Coast for yet another once-in-a-lifetime experience.
After a team rooftop breakfast, NKU departed for Salerno Harbor to enjoy a cruise of the Amalfi Coast. The ride lasted for about an hour and a half before the group turned around to visit the city of Amalfi.
While there, NKU student-athletes and staff enjoyed one last authentic Italian meal, one final dip in the water at the local beach and an afternoon of touring the shops throughout the city.
Following their time spent in the city, the Norse boated back to their bus to take them back to Naples to prepare for a full day of travel.
NKU will now be headed back to Highland Heights as the Norse will arrive back at Truist Arena late on Sunday, August 13.
