World University Games

[tornado]

US is currently playing their semi final game vs. Russia...

USA is up 34-27 at half in a low scoring game.
Russia is only 1-10 from 3-pt

The winner of this semi will play the winner of the semi between Israel & Serbia in tomorrow's Mens Gold Medal Game.

[tornado]

unfortunately the Russians came back and beat the Americans...so now the US plays for the Bronze Medal.
USA loses 69-68

the Gold Medal game will be Serbia vs. Russia

[tornado]

the Bronze Medal game is underway...
US leads 33-25 midway through the 2nd quarter,

Canada wins and finsihes officially in 9th place,
they beat Finland 88-63, David Collins 2 pts, 1 reb

[MacabreMob]

I could care less about this.

Maybe we shouldn't be a proud country anymore. Maybe better to see others win. Hey - we get our props for participation and also promote nobody's a loser.

[tornado]

well, they are the USA representatives, so I will continue to follow them.
But as I said....at each age, the US gets weaker...
we kill them at the U16 level...

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=12524&highlight=u16

but then by U18 or U19 several other countries catch up...
then by the time we send a team of adults as our World team or Olympic team, then we have little chance of winning.
I have said it before, the logic used is faulty....
they choose players for the team based exclusively on athleticism...
Sure that have the best athletes, but we don't take a 7-footer (Mike Tisdale was cut), and we generally don't take a lights out 3-pt shooter...

In this year's U19's we did finally take a couple good shooters and we win it!
But in the World University Games (U22's), we get beat.

[Da Coach]

It has something to do with the fact that the best US basketball players are playing in the NBA by the time they are 20, and no longer eligible to play in these amateur competetions.

[SFP]

It has something to do with the fact that the best US basketball players are playing in the NBA by the time they are 20, and no longer eligible to play in these amateur competetions.

I'd like to think that this is the case but we do have a much larger population playing hoops then just about all the other countries combined. What happens in the other countries though is that these team's players play as a unit much more, are put into more regimental club programs where the basics are stressed and play year round with the international rules where team play and outside shooting is rewarded more.

What needs to happen is that we either start rewarding the young players who play a complete game compared to the ones that make acrobatic plays and start fielding teams that better represent a team that can take advantage of international rules. The big difference in international rules is the larger lane which give teams with shooters the ability to spread things out while those without them a disadvantage because the bigs are further from the basket to make a difference. Right now the US teams without shooters the other teams crowd the lane where our bigs are not as useful and our slashers can't slash.

[tornado]

It has something to do with the fact that the best US basketball players are playing in the NBA by the time they are 20, and no longer eligible to play in these amateur competetions.

ridiculous...as the best 20 year olds in almost every country are also playing professional ball.......

BTW-- many of the guys who played in the World University Games ARE already playing professional ball..
Gal Mekel, who left Wichita State a year ago has been playing pro ball for a YEAR.
He is playing professionally for the same team ex-Illini Brian Randle plays for

http://www.eurobasket.com/team.asp?Cntry=Israel&Team=85&Page=3

[Da Coach]

Yeah, I guess you're right. Gal Mekal is as good as any American kid like Derrick Rose who would probably be playing for one of these US amateur international teams if he wasn't starring in the NBA.

[tornado]

but playing professionally doesn't make one ineligible..
and argue if you want who's better...just note who always seems to be playing in the Bronze Medal game