Ten days of practice and a weekend trip to Mexico for four exhibition games will give Marian Washington a sneak preview of her 2003-04 Kansas University women’s basketball team.

The Jayhawks, who have been practicing since last Tuesday in preparation for a four-game stint of games in Monterrey, Mexico, are taking advantage of an NCAA rule that allows teams to play exhibitions outside the United States once every four years.

“We’re very excited about making this trip,” Washington said. “It provides us with 10 extra days of practice. When you have a team as young as we still are, it’s going to give us a chance to bond, see what we might be capable of doing this season and it will help us crystallize our recruiting efforts in terms of what we still might need. There’s so many positives about this trip, I’m very pleased that we’re going to be able to do it.”

KU will leave for Mexico Friday and play two games Saturday and two Sunday before returning Monday night.