FIBA World Cup Preview: Team USA
By Bryce Olin
Since NBA players began playing in international competition in 1992, the United States has won gold in seven of the last 11 Olympics and FIBA World Championships, including the last three– 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 World Championships, and 2012 London Olympics.
Heading into the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Team USA is the favorite to bring home the gold for the fourth straight major international tournament.
By winning gold in London 2012, the United States automatically qualified for the world cup in Spain and avoided having to participate in the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship last September.
For the world cup, the Americans will compete in Group C, along with Finland, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, New Zealand, and Turkey. Of the four groups, Group C is, by far, the easiest of the groups, and Team USA should have no problem in any of their first five games. Turkey, ranked seventh in the FIBA rankings, will be the toughest team America faces in the group.
USA Schedule
Aug. 30: USA vs. Finland, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Aug. 31: USA vs. Turkey, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 2: USA vs. New Zealand, 11:30 a.m., ESPN
Sept. 3: USA vs. Dominican Republic, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 4: USA vs. Ukraine, 11:30 a.m., ESPN
Notice the five group play games are within a span of six days. The top four teams from group play advance into the bracket play. The dates for bracket play are listed below:
Round of 16 — Sept. 6-7
Quarterfinals — Sept. 9-10
Semifinals — Sept. 11-12
Bronze Medal Game — Sept. 13
Gold Medal Game — Sept. 14
Continue to the next slide for roster information, key storylines, and predictions for Team USA.