CLEMSON — Vacations are all about rest and relaxation.

Clemson men’s basketball will add a third “R” to that list, recovery, when the team begins its trip to Italy on July 27.

It’s also not exactly a vacation. The Tigers will play three exhibition games against international teams BC Silute, Pro Camp and Bassano during their tour with stops in Rome, Florence and Como. It’s the fourth international trip for Clemson under head coach Brad Brownell.

While all 14 members of the 2026-27 Clemson roster are set to make the trip, Brownell said he only expects nine of his players to be available to play as five players work their way back from a variety of injuries.

“We’re going backwards,” Brownell said Thursday. “We probably need to hurry up and get on the trip or some of the assistants are going to be playing. That part’s been a little challenging this summer, for sure.”

Clemson is still without Zac Foster, Carter Welling and Ace Buckner from injuries sustained over the course of last season. Foster and Welling had season-ending ACL injuries, and Buckner’s lingering shoulder issue, despite not missing a game, ultimately required surgery shortly after Clemson’s NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa March 20.

Freshman center Will Stevens and Samford transfer Dylan Faulkner were added to the injured list for the trip after Stevens injured his ankle this week and Faulkner suffered a toe injury.

Brownell gave a somewhat promising update on Foster last month after six months since his ACL surgery, and said Thursday Buckner has been increasing his activity in recent practices. Brownell added that having Buckner’s vocal leadership despite his limited physical participation has helped during practice.

“His shoulder is is healing nicely. He’s starting to do a little bit of one on zero work, a little bit of five on zero work with our guys,” Brownell said. “You definitely start to hear his voice. … Ace, even from the side, has been the one constant of trying to encourage, challenge, make guys understand you can compete a little harder.”

The biggest question mark injury-wise is still Welling, who tore his ACL against Wake Forest at the ACC Tournament March 11.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Tigers, as the whole roster will still be able to enjoy what Brownell called “organic conversations” during the sightseeing portion of their trip, the third tour in Italy among four international trips under Brownell and a gold medal run at the 2019 World University Games, also in Italy.

“We’ve got a whole new group. We have a whole new staff. We have a whole new team. Most of those people hadn’t been there. We just felt like that was an incredible trip, the first trip, let’s let’s do that one again,” Brownell said.”

Clemson will return stateside from their trip Aug. 6.