Practices are ramping up for the Iowa basketball team for next month’s trip to Europe. The Hawkeyes leave August fifth and will play three games in France and Spain.

That’s Iowa coach Fran McCaffery. The Hawkeyes have six new players, including four freshmen, and McCaffery has been impressed with how quickly they have picked things up.

McCaffery says with so many new players the timing was right for a summer trip.

The Hawkeyes finished 19-14 last season and lost to Auburn in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.