When the world basketball championships tipoff on Saturday in Turkey, former SLU center Ian Vouyoukas will be on Greece's team, making him the first Billiken ever to take part in the sport's global championship at its highest level. (Several Billikens have taken part in the world junior championships.)

Vouyoukas, whose name is transliterated into English as Vougioukas by FIBA, is playing in Greece for Olympiacos and, according to his bio on the FIBA website, was "The most improved player of the season and one of the hot names of the summer market, Vougioukas has attracted early interest from Maccabi Tel Aviv."

I just wish they could have gotten a picture of him smiling.

Greece faces China today in the tournament's first game.