Even as the team bus wound through the scenic Spanish countryside, Joe Scott could not help imparting a few coaching points.
In August, Scott’s University of Denver Pioneers took a trip to Spain, during which they played six games in 12 days against professional teams. DU acquitted itself well, going 4-2 during its European swing, but it was the grind of the schedule that Scott believed was going to hone his team for the upcoming season.
“When we were over there, I was talking to them about ‘three games in three days,’ ” Scott said Wednesday. “I was talking to the team about how this was what they were going to have to do, because we’ll have to do this two months from now when we open the season.”
Those two months have passed, and Scott is set to begin his fourth season at DU with three games in three days, beginning Friday against Cal-Santa Barbara in the BTI Tip-Off Tournament in Eugene, Ore.
After facing Santa Barbara, an NCAA Tournament team last spring, the Pioneers will take on host Oregon on Saturday and North Dakota State on Sunday. DU completes an opening stretch of four games in seven days on Nov. 18 when it takes a 15-game home winning streak into its home opener against Colorado State.
With four returning starters and improved depth with Air Force transfer Trevor Noonan (from Legacy High School) and freshman Chris Udofia, the Pioneers are optimistic their grueling nonconference schedule will pay dividends when Sun Belt Conference play begins in late December.
“That’s where our Spain trip has to come in and help us out of the gate in these three games,” Scott said. “We’re as ready as we can be.”
DU’s women’s team opens the season on Friday at Wyoming and begins its home slate on Tuesday against the Colorado Buffaloes and new coach Linda Lappe.
