UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 15, Page 2
December 17, 1992
Hen hoopsters to play in Tokyo tournament

     The University men's basketball team left Tuesday for Tokyo, Japan,
where the members will participate, along with teams from Rice and Xavier
universities, in the annual NCAA Ball Tournament, from Dec. 18-20 at the
6,000-seat Metropolitan Gymnasium.
     The Blue Hen basketball squad is the first U.D. team ever to travel
abroad to play another U.S. team. The tournament, which began in 1980 as
the Suntory Ball Tournament, is the only official NCAA regular season
basketball tournament held outside the United States.
     "This is an exciting educational experience for everyone involved,"
said head coach Steve Steinwedel, whose 3-2 team could face its toughest
on-court test of the season.
     "That is the primary reason for taking this trip," Steinwedel said,
"the fact that it adds to the students' academic career. It's nice to be
invited to play in a tournament like this. All of our expenses are paid and
obviously the competition will be outstanding. Xavier and Rice may be the
best teams we play all season and that gives us excellent preparation for
January and the conference season."
     The tournament, which is being sponsored by New York-based
Teleplanning Inc. and Tokyo-based Daiwa Securities, features three American
college teams plus a Japanese All-Star team. All games will be televised
live on Japanese television.
     The Fightin' Blue Hens will face undefeated Xavier (4-0) Friday, Dec.
18, at 8 p.m. (6 a.m. EST). They will ake on Rice (2-1) Dec. 19 at 3 p.m.
(1 a.m. EST), and play against the All-Japan team in an exhibition game
scheduled for Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. (12 midnight EST).