As great as playing basketball in Italy was for Michigan State, the cultural and educational experiences were just as meaningful.
The Spartans spent every waking moment off the court exploring five cities in 11 days. They visited the Coliseum in Rome and squared off in a verbal exchange over religion after visiting the Vatican. They test drove world-renowned race cars, albeit in simulators, at a remote Ferrari plant. They traversed the canals of Venice and Coach Tom Izzo registered 22,000 steps one day on his Fitbit.
“I think the last city we visited, Venice, definitely stands out,” said senior combo guard Denzel Valentine.