By Patrick Hayes

Overseas bonding trips are a staple of college basketball programs everywhere, and two Michigan college teams — Albion and Michigan Tech — happen to be in Italy at the same time this week.

Here’s Albion coach Jody May on what his team will do there this week:

Among the highlights of the trip will be a guided tour of Florence including Michelangelo’s statue of David; a tour of Rome including the Colosseum, the Forum, and St. Peter’s Basilica; and a trip to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

There is basketball activity, too, as the Britons will play a game against an Italian team and run a clinic in one of the towns they visit.

“The Albion men’s basketball program is very fortunate to have great alumni who give generously to the program,” May said. “It will be a great experience to play basketball in addition to getting an exposure to the Italian culture. It is something the players will always remember.

“I expect the team to grow closer overall by getting to know each other better,” May added. “I also like the trip because we can toy around with strategy.”

Albion’s players and coaches plan to maintain a blog, which you can read here, about their experiences.

Here’s Michigan Tech coach Kevin Luke on their trip:

The Michigan Tech men’s basketball team is beginning its 2012-13 season early by taking a foreign tour to Italy Aug. 15-23. The trip will span nine days and feature three games against Italian club teams.

“The trip will be a good exercise for this year’s team because we have the chance to be very competitive,” said head coach Kevin Luke on why the team decided to take the trip.

“We have a good nucleus of players returning. Hopefully this trip will foster team chemistry and jump start the season.”

The team did not have a specific destination in mind when it started planning the trip. Coach Luke chose a company called Team USA, which organizes trips in Italy and Greece, based on the recommendations of other basketball programs that have used the service.

The team, which will be comprised of all returning players (incoming players are not allowed) and coaches, will depart for Rome on Aug. 15th. Upon arrival in Rome, they will travel to Montecatini through the Tuscany region sight seeing along the way.

The Huskies will play their first game against a Roman team Stella Azzurra on Aug. 20th. The team will follow up with games against Citta di Castello on Aug. 21st and Basket Pamphili on Aug. 22nd before returning home on the 23rd.

“We don’t know much about any of the three teams,” said Luke. “This will allow us to just play our game and not worry about scouting reports.”

Michigan Tech’s team also plans to maintain a blog during their travels.