When NAU basketball coach Mike Adras takes his squad on the road during the season for a game, he always considers it a business trip and doesn't give his guys too much free time, if any.
But, before the 2010-2011 season tips off, Adras will take the Lumberjacks on the road and the trip will have a drastically different format than in-season trips.
Starting Aug. 11, the Jacks will play five games in five days in Canada, as part of the Battle of the Border tournament hosted by the University of Calgary.
All games will be played at the Jack Simpson Gym on the campus of the University of Calgary. All of the contests will be classified as exhibition games and the Jacks' record during those five games won't count toward their regular season record.
"I think it's going to be a wonderful opportunity for our team to spend some quality time together before the season starts," Adras said Tuesday during his annual basketball camp. "Every time we travel during the season, it's a business trip. This one will be a bit different. Our guys will get the chance to bond in a non-pressure situation."
The trip is sponsored by Global Sports because the Jacks will play in a multi-team tournament at the start of the season put on by Global Sports. NAU will face Iowa State and Creighton, among other teams as part of the tournament.
Once the Jacks return from Canada, they'll have about a two-month break before practice starts for the regular season. The way the NAU players look at it, it gives them a chance to work on things while the rest of the teams in the conference won't be practicing.
"Canada is coming at a perfect time for us," NAU senior guard Cameron Jones said. "We have high expectations this season with a real experienced team and this gives us a chance to get a head start and get going on things we need to work on.
"This is going to be a great trip for us."
The Jacks will open the trip on Aug. 11 with a game against the University of Lethbridge at 6 p.m. Arizona time. The trip will conclude with another game against Lethbridge on Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. In between those two games, NAU will play three games with two of them coming against the University of Calgary and the other one against Concordia University.
"We are excited to be hosting another NCAA Division I school and I look forward to the competition with our young lineup," Calgary coach Dan Vanhooren said in a statement.
NAU will be allowed to bring their entire roster, including incoming freshmen.
"It will definitely give me an opportunity to give all of our guys extended minutes in big situations," Adras said. "I'll start different combinations while we're up there and give everyone a chance. We're obviously going to try to win games while we're up there, but it's a chance to see some different things."
This trip will mark NAU's first international trip since the 2003 preseason, when the Jacks posted a 3-1 record in Mexico. On that trip, NAU faced professional teams, rather than the college squads it'll be playing against this time.
"I'm hoping this trip is more organized than that one," Adras said. "I think this one will be a lot different than Mexico. There, we were at a resort with the beach over here and the pool over there. It was also more spread out and we were there for like 10 days. This trip will be a blur with us playing five games in five days.
"I'm excited about it."
Daniel Berk can be reached at dberk@azdailysun.com or 556-2251.
NAU'S game schedule while in Canada
(All times are Arizona time)
Aug. 11 vs. Lethbridge, 6 p.m.
Aug. 12 vs. Concordia, 7 p.m.
Aug. 13 vs. Calgary, 6 p.m.
Aug. 14 vs. Calgary, 6 p.m.
Aug. 15 vs. Lethbridge, 9 a.m.
