The second-to-last day of the Arizona Summer Tour saw the Wildcats take advantage of their last opportunity to see more of what Abu Dhabi has to offer.
The student-athletes and select staff members were able to go dune bashing, which involved riding jeeps through the desert sand outside the city of Abu Dhabi and also spend time and ride camels. Needless to say, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that left a lasting impression on the group.
While the student-athletes were on the dunes, the rest of the travel party stopped by the Louvre Abu Dhabi. The art gallery featured artifacts from centuries ago along with the featured piece of art – St. John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci – is part of an unprecedented partnership between France and the UAE for cultural exchange.
Another interesting feature of the Louvre Abu Dhabi is the "roof" that covers a majority of the facility. It is eight layers of metal that blocks 98% of the sunlight and provides an outdoor environment that is tolerable for visitors and employees to be outdoors even during the height of the summer heat.
Following another special dining experience for lunch, the entire group made the short trip to the historic Abrahamic Family House. The location features a mosque, a synagogue and a church – all separate buildings but at the same location as a result of the Abraham Peace Accords signed in 2020 between Israel and five Arab nations including UAE. The purpose of the house is to continue the pursuit of peaceful coexistence through exchange of knowledge, ongoing dialogue and practice of faith.
When the team returned to the hotel, a special visitor was there to greet them at the team meeting – Steve Kerr. The Arizona legend and current Golden State Warriors head coach and the head coach of the Team USA men's basketball team that is also in Abu Dhabi. Kerr spoke to the team about the fraternity that they are part of in the Arizona basketball family and the bond they all share.
When dinner was finished, everyone hopped on the bus and headed to Etihad Arena to watch Kerr and Team USA play Greece in an exhibition game that was part of International Basketball Week and the USA Basketball Showcase. It's always an honor to watch the senior national team compete and this time was no different. The United States was able to pull away in the second half for the win, but the experience of playing the game that so many people love halfway across the globe is one of a kind.
The third and final game of the Summer Tour will be played on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 6:00 a.m. (PT) against Lebanon. The game will take place at Etihad Arena, with a capacity of 18,000 fans, and will be streamed live on YouTube.com/@ArizonaWildcats. Lebanon is ranked No. 43 in the current FIBA men's national team rankings.
Please check @ArizonaMBB on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook or online at arizonawildcats.com/SummerTour for the most up-to-date content from the trip.
