The John Carroll men's basketball team will follow in the footsteps of their Blue Streak brethren in football and soccer by taking advantage of an opportunity to play internationally over the summer months.

The destination will be Ireland, and the dates will be July 23-31, 2019.

Head coach Pete Moran and his staff will take the Blue Streaks across the pond for the first time, with plans to pursue opportunities in the future if this first venture goes well.

"We are beyond excited to take part in the program's first-ever international trip," said Moran. "This experience will enable us to compete against three professional teams, conduct a service project, and be immersed in Irish culture."

The team will depart for Dublin on July 23, and will arrive the next day.

The itinerary synopsis is as follows:

• Day 2 (July 24) - Drive from Dublin to Galway, welcome dinner
• Day 3 (July 25) - Tour of the Burren and Cliffs of Mohrer; Also visit the village of Doolin; return to Galway, where the first game will take place against Moycullen that evening
• Day 4 (July 26) - Eventual destination of Westport, with stops along the way in Connemara, Kylemore Abbey, and Killary Harbor, where the team will cruise by Ireland's only fjord
• Day 5 (July 27) - Team will hike the legendary Croagh Patrick on the holiest of weekends before returning to Dublin
• Day 6 (July 28) - A tour of Dublin on Sunday morning, taking in many sights (Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Christ Church Cathedral) before a game that evening against the Irish National team.
• Day 7 (July 29) - Full day excursion across the south of Ireland that will wind up in Kilkenny; By the evening, back to Dublin
• Day 8 (July 30) - This day takes the team north of Dublin to the historic Brú na Bóinne (Boyne Valley), Knowth Tombs and Howth Hill; The evening brings the final game of the trip against Templeogue - the past season's Super League champion
• Day 9 (July 31) - The Blue Streaks return home

Interestingly enough, John Carroll hosted the Irish National team in an exhibition game on November 19, 1985, at Carroll Gym. The Irish Olympic squad, which was made up largely of American players who had Irish ancestry, defeated the Blue Streaks, 69-61. One of the Irish national players, Dan Trant, was a Boston Celtic during the 1984-85 season. Another Irish player was John Donovan, whose sister Anne Donovan is an American Basketball and FIBA Hall of Fame player and coach. She guided the gold medal-winning 2008 United States Women's Basketball team.

The Blue Streak team featured future JCU Hall of Famers Craig Huffman and Andy Juhola, Ric Harris (President and General Manager of NBC10 and Telemundo62 in Philadelphia) as well as Jim Berger, father of current players Jimmy Berger and Ryan Berger.

Moran was grateful to be able to put the odyssey together with a little help from friends of the program.

"We would like to thank the John Carroll University Men's Basketball alumni, friends, and families for their support," said Moran. "Not only has their support helped fund this once-in-a-lifetime experience, it will truly help enhance the student-athlete experience for future members of our program as we consider our next destination in 2023 and continue to think bigger as a program."

The team will document their trip through social media.