Wednesday 5.14.08

10:30 p.m. CHINA TIME

Ni Hao,

Zai Jian means goodbye.

I am currently sitting in an Internet cafe at 1 a.m. on Thursday morning.  Most of you are wondering why I am still awake but to tell you the truth, "I don't want to miss out on anything."  It's important that I share this experience with you all!

I want to send my condolences to the families in China that were impacted by the massive earthquake early on this week.

How about this travel itinerary prior to playing our first game?

Monday (Noon)             (Flight) Chicago to Tokyo (13hrs)

Tuesday (3 p.m.)           Arrive in Tokyo

Tuesday (6 p.m.)           (Flight) Tokyo to Beijing (4hrs)

Tuesday (9:30 p.m.)       Arrive in Beijing

Tuesday (11 p.m.)          (Bus) to Hotel (Lido Hotel)

Wednesday (5 a.m.)       Wakeup call

Wednesday (6 a.m.)       (Bus) to Beijing Airport

Wednesday (9 a.m.)       (Flight) Beijing to Chongqing (2hrs)

Wednesday (11 a.m.)     (Bus) to Fuling (2hrs)

Wednesday (2 p.m.)       Arrive in Fuling (Fuling Hotel)

REST/PREGAME MEAL

Wednesday (8 p.m.)       Game Time vs. the #3 Team in the Country

The atmosphere was unbelievable.  5000 plus - standing room only and we lost 67-66!

"Practice alone does not make you perfect. Perfect practice does."

We did not have a perfect practice due to the time but we did manage to have a walk-through in the Tokyo Airport during our three hour layover. For those who are wondering if Tokyo has a basketball court in its airport, NO!  We used a sock which took the place of a basketball and we used a sign that I could not read as the basket.

If you had not figured it out, Ni Hao means Hello.

Zai Jian,

Dennis Gates

Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach