Huskies prep for first game in Germany

(WTNH) -- Just two days ago, the arena was nothing more than an airplane hangar. Now it hosts a historic basketball game.

The first regular season college basketball game outside the United States. It's at the Ramstein Air Force base.

The Huskies were getting ready to play Michigan State Friday night.

And it's safe to say that no matter what happens in the game, the trip will be considered a success for the team.

There's been preparation for the game. The Huskies have practiced on base, but it's what they've done away from the practice and game floor that will likely have the biggest impact on them.

It started the same day they arrived.

They were taken to the nearby Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest American Stage 1 trauma center outside the states, to meet with wounded warriors.

They are soldiers recently back from the battlefields.

"That was moving to meet with the soldiers," said UConn Head Coach Kevin Ollie.

Before their bodies could adjust to the six-hour time difference, the players were taken for a ride on one of the Air Force's biggest tools, the C-130. It is an aircraft used for transporting soldiers, tanks, it's big enough to transport just about anything.

And then it was back to the court to give a clinic. All the children on base were invited.

The Huskies teamed up with Michigan State to give the youngsters a little basketball coaching and a whole lot of fun.

For the past four days the team has stayed on the base and gotten to see a different kind of life, maybe a dose of reality.

Sports Team 8's Noah Finz asked assistant coach George Blaney if he and the team were having a good time. He said yes, but it's not about that.

He said it's about the kids seeing people their own age doing something real.