Kansas assistant coach Kurtis Townsend turned his head around, facing freshman forward Billy Preston in front of the Fountain of the Four Rivers on the Piazza Navona.
“Billy, andiamo!”
An amused KU coach Bill Self turned to Townsend after he heard the phrase.
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“What was that?”
“We’ve got to teach them something,” Townsend said with a smile.
“Andiamo!” — Italian for “Let’s go!” — worked this time, as the KU men’s basketball team gathered quickly to head back to the team bus following a walking tour of Rome on Wednesday morning. The itinerary included stops at the famed Colosseum, Pantheon and Venti Fountain.
KU guard Malik Newman was most impressed by the Colosseum.
“Just learning about the history, learning about what they had to go through to survive another day,” Newman said. “... To just be actually up close and personal inside it, I think that was very cool.”
The Jayhawks’ sightseeing trip finished about six hours before their exhibition opener, as they will face Stella Azurra/HSC Roma at 11:30 a.m. central time Wednesday.
Here’s a closer look at the KU’s Rome outing.
Udoka Azubuike, Clay Young and Chris Teahan stop for a selfie in front of Trevi Fountain in Rome. pic.twitter.com/7bsOxnIYLX
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 2, 2017
KU players admire invisible chair magician on Wednesday morning in Rome. pic.twitter.com/5apXbq9WjT
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 2, 2017
Udoka Azubuike stops for a photo of Pantheon in Rome. pic.twitter.com/jvD6FltDWu
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 2, 2017
Sam Cunliffe admires the inside of Pantheon in Rome. pic.twitter.com/ccPkCEdxFv
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 2, 2017
Udoka Azubuike looks at the Treni Fountain in Rome with teammates in front of The Church of Saints Vincenzo and Anastasio. pic.twitter.com/UmO9GrOUgs
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 2, 2017
Svi Mykhailiuk and Devonté Graham share a light-hearted moment during a walking tour of Rome on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/RfNC1sXU7E
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 2, 2017
Udoka Azubuike takes in Rome sites during Wednesday morning's tour. pic.twitter.com/tN1v3KkomV
— Jesse Newell (@jessenewell) August 2, 2017
Jesse Newell: 816-234-4759, @jessenewell
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