STANFORD, Calif. - Four years ago, the Stanford men's basketball team embarked on a six-game, 11-day summer tour of Spain.
In 2011, Stanford played six games against teams from the ACB League (or Liga ACB, The Asociacion de Clubs de Baloncesto), which is regarded as the second-best league in the world behind the NBA. Touring cities such as Madrid, Alicante and Barcelona, the Cardinal was able to experience the culture and beauty of Spain.
Prior to his senior season in 2011, Josh Owens had already overcome adversity to emerge as a team leader, navigating through a coaching change following his freshman year and unexpected medical setback that forced him to redshirt the 2009-10 campaign.
However, a productive trip to Spain put Owens on the right track in his final season. The 6-8 post from Kennesaw, Georgia, led the Cardinal to an NIT championship in 2012, ranking third on the team in scoring (11.6 ppg) and first in rebounding (5.8 rpg) while starting all 37 games. Active at both ends of the floor, Owens also led the team in steals (45) and ranked second in blocks (26) and reached the 1,000-point career mark during Stanford’s postseason run.
Owens would eventually continue his professional career overseas after graduation.
With Stanford embarking on a 14-day trip to Italy later this week, we look back at Owens’ foreign tour experience.
Why was it so important to gain extra practice time heading into the 2011-12 season?
Owens: "It was really important for us as a team. We had that big group of sophomores with guys like Dwight Powell and Josh Huestis who were coming into their own and Chasson (Randle) was the only freshman. And then we had a core group of seniors, with Jarrett Mann, Jack Trotter and Andrew Zimmermann. So, there were two distinct groups on the team, which made the trip very important.”
The team was winless on the trip, but that was due to a concerted effort to schedule higher-level opponents.
Owens: "It was disappointing not to win any games, but considering we were playing the top-tier teams in Spain, and with the league being one of the best in the world on an international level, we were able to walk away from it having learned so much.”
Was there a specific area of improving your game that was a focus?
Owens: "There were a few post moves I was working on. More than anything, it was just about improving the team dynamic. We had just completed one week of training camp just a few days before leaving. Once we got out there, most of it was just focusing on the team and trying to grow as soon as possible.”
What about the cultural experience of visiting a new country?
Owens: "It was so much different compared to America. We got to see all parts of Spain – Madrid, Alicante, Barcelona. So we got to experience many different flavors. The city feel of Madrid, the beach in Alicante. I think it was just a lot of fun.”
Mark Madsen, who spent two years in Spain on a Mormon mission after high school, was invited on the trip as a guest. What was it like to have him around?
Owens: "Having Mark come on the trip was really special for the guys. Having someone around with that much knowledge of the game and just being able to share his professional experience with us was really beneficial.”
What were your favorite parts about the trip off the court?
Owens: "Definitely the food. I love to eat and I think you can learn so much about the culture just through the food.”
Since finishing your college career, you’ve been back playing overseas. How much did the foreign trip prepare you?
Owens: "Just for myself professionally, I think the Spain trip helped because it gave me a taste of what international basketball is like. It’s a lot different from what we see in the NBA and on TV from college basketball. So getting that first experience of what it might be like to play overseas was really important. The game in Europe is more technical, the way they move the ball and what they expect from different positions. I don’t think you can just get away with being a good athlete. There is really an emphasis on knowing how to play the game correctly.”