East meets West when D4 travels to Siberia

In the most unlikely match up since Rocky Balboa faced Ivan Drago. 3 D4 teams have been invited to the Former Soviet Union to participate in a Goodwill Exhibition Tournament. Defending D4 Champ Alaska-Adak and fellow Lower North Central Upper Tennessee Middle Valley Conference member Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside, along with Exeland Institute/Edgewater Institute @Ojibway (EIEIO) from the University Conference of Wisconsin and Illinois will be traveling to Russia for an event to be hosted by Omsk State Pedagogical University.

I know it might have been better for OSPU to come here and defeat the D4 runner up, then play Alaska-Adak in Russia as a sort of revenge match, but that would be too much of a cliche.

Despite their emphasis on academics the OSPU Irtysh River Pirates have managed to recruit a line up consisting entirely of 7 footers. However, this is their first season at the varsity level and it will be interesting to see how they handle the seasoned veterans from the D4 teams. Two of the three D4s have at least four 6th year seniors so experience will have to go to the Americans.

Typically D4 teams don't compete against "real" Universities, but since this blog doesn't get many visitors, I don't think The Roop will be liable for mentioning them. Similarly, the tournament is sponsored by Power Net Global. Official long distance provider of The Roop.

The first game will feature Alaska-Adak vs. E.I.E.I.O. on Friday at 7:00AM C.S.T. OSPU and Pigs Knuckle Hollow-Creekside will square off approximately 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Consolation and Championship games will be on Saturday.