June 2, 2009

NOTE: Release contributed by...
Michael Gilliland, Sports Editor
The Laurinburg Exchange
SOURCE: www.laurinburgexchange.com

LAURINBURG, N.C.—St. Andrews men's basketball coach Richie Schueler is on his bike today, continuing a two-day bicycling adventure from Laurinburg to Myrtle Beach, S.C.

SAPC Head Coach Richie Schueler (pictured on the sidelines during a Knights game in 2009) will be coaching a team sponsored by USA Athletics International across Europe in June.

Schueler will make a much longer trip, this time by plane, on Monday as he and a group of Division-II players head to Europe to take part in a round of games against international competition.

Schueler will serve as the team's head coach. The team is sponsored by USA Athletes International, an organization that has been around since 1992.

It's a gig that friend and coaching colleague Tim Ryerson — the Methodist basketball coach — helped Schueler get.

"Tim's the guy who got me involved," said Schueler. "It's a hard thing to try to get into, and Tim called me last summer and said, 'Do you want to go next year?' I told him I was all for it."

Schueler's team will travel to London, Paris, Belgium and Amsterdam to play in five games versus international teams. The games give the American players the chance to gain exposure with European professional teams, and it gives coaches like Schueler and opportunity to pick up on things that could possibly be used back home.

"To see another style of play, to compete against another style of play and to experience a different type of culture," said Schueler, when asked what the trip was all about.

Bringing former Knight

Schueler was able to secure the commitment of one former St. Andrews player for the trip. Six-foot-8 forward Thurl Bailey Jr. will play for Schueler's team in Europe. Bailey struggled to become academically eligible before appearing in 15 games last season while scoring five points and grabbing 16 rebounds.

Bailey was beginning to come into his own in his senior year, and was averaging 2.3 points and 2.4 rebounds through eight games before sustaining a broken leg that ended his college career just eight games into the 2008-09 season.

Ironically, Bailey Jr. broke his leg in the first and only start of his career. Schueler is convinced that his former player is good enough to play professionally, perhaps on a European team.

"He never got to reach his full potential," said Schueler. "As soon as he got cleared by the NCAA, he played three weeks and broke his leg."

"I really believe St. Andrews missed out with Thurl, we missed out with Thurl. Thurl could have been an all-conference player; he has that type of talent."

"I think Thurl is a legitimate pro basketball prospect."

Keeping it simple

Schueler admits he has not met any of the players on his team besides Bailey Jr. Putting together a game plan could be tough. The team will have its only practice prior to the games beginning on Tuesday.

"It's going to be very basic," Schueler said of the offense the team will likely use. "I'm probably going to use a 'blockers and movers' offense, where our two post players will be constantly setting screens and rolling to the basket."

"The guys who set the screens are often the guys who get open. Thurl can step out and hit the 3-point shot as well."

"We're going to have to conserve energy. We'll probably drop back into a zone defense after made shots, and after misses, we'll go into a man-to-man."

"I really won't know what I'll have to work with until Tuesday when we get in the gym."