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Sweden: Through the Eyes of Ali Smith
August 19, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Aug. 19, 2005
OSLO, Norway - Princeton senior guard Ali Smith scored 11 points Wednesday night against the Danish national team to help the Tigers come back and send the game into overtime. On Thursday, Smith helped out the team again by offering the following diary of the team's first four days in Scandinavia, spent in the Swedish towns of Malmo and Goteborg...
Greetings from Sweden! We spent our first two days in Malmo, learning about the layout of the village and the history of the eccentric buildings of the town. Malmo is very clean, green, and the people are mostly tall, blonde and lean!
After the tour we packed a picnic lunch and sat next to a large windmill, one of many in Malmo and in Sweden. One of the best things about Malmo has been the weather...During the day it hasn't gotten much about 70 degrees. After spending the summer in the hot, humid Big Apple, this cool weather is quite the luxury.
Our first game came against the Danish national team, and we won. It took some time to get used to the 24 second shot clock, which made the tempo of the game much faster, and it was also the first time we were running out new offense. We showed moments of greatness, and also moments where we needed to improve. Nonetheless, it was great to get out there and just play basketball purely for the experience in a foreign country.
After the game, we relaxed at one of Malmo's many outdoor cafes, lounging on couches while outdoor heaters and blankets kept us nice and cozy in the chilly night air.
Our second game against the Danes was a close one. They played much better than the previous night and got out to a lead against us, but our team effort and collective contribution was better than the night before and we were successful in improving in transition defense and transition offense from the night before. Although we lost by four in overtime, it was a fun, competitive game and we came away knowing some things we need to work on. After the game, we ate at an Italian restaurant in the square and went to a hip cafe/bar around the corner. Everyone has been very friendly and accomodating to us, and it's been fun talking with the Swedish people and learning about their culture.
On Thursday, we spent the day in Goteborg, about four hours north of Malmo, and spent the evening at Liseberg, a giant amusement park, riding the rides and having an absolute blast. Seeing Coach Barron screaming like a little kid with his hands in the air on a double-loop roller coaster is enough entertainment for the whole year!
Now we are in Oslo in Norway, exploring the city and preparing to play the Norwegian national team Friday night. We can't wait!