Saturday, November 7, 2009
2009-10 Atlantic-10 Preview
Who Said They’re Mid-Majors?
In college basketball two words separate the big guys from the little guys: power conference.
The Big East, Big 12, SEC, etc. round out the big boys in D-1 basketball, while little ole’ conferences like the Horizon League, the Missouri Valley Conference and the West Coast Conference are just praying for a conference title to guarantee them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Meet the only conference today that you’ll find hanging in the middle between those two groups: the Atlantic-10.
Although the last two years we haven’t seen it, the A-10 is almost always expected to have a squad busting through the Sweet-16 or beyond in a several year reign.
From the late ‘90s into 2001 it was Temple, and in 2001-’04 it was St. Josephs’s. Since that time it’s been the Xavier Musketeers that have captured the imagination of the college basketball world.
Enter the newest reign that will be making the newest noise in the A-10 and NCAA Tournaments: the Dayton Flyers.
Led by forward Chris Wright, who has the potential to be one of the better frontcourt studs in the conference, the Flyers will bring one of the more explosive packages in the country with Marcus Johnson, who was second in scoring at 11.8 points per game last season, lining up aside Wright.
Four starters, including Wright, return from a Flyers team that went 27-8 last season, including their 11 over 6 upset of West Virginia in the 2008-09 NCAA Tournament.
This is a team that has the best potential to reach their first Elite-Eight appearance since 1984, and is PSR’s 2009-10 A-10 champs.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
The contenders: (in their order of finish).
2. Xavier- Sean Miller is out as coach, but that doesn’t mean the dynamic guard duo of Jordan Crawford and Dante Jackson won’t have room to shine.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
3. La Salle- Forward Yves Mekongo is one of the more versatile forwards in the country. He brings a complete package to a team with every starter returning.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT/CBI
4. Duquesne- Aaron Jackson is a big loss, but with Melquan Boulding and Eric Evans leading the way, the Dukes won’t miss much of a step.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT/CBI
5. Richmond- Guard Kevin Anderson will lead this run-and-gun unit to a possible run in the A-10 tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT/CBI
6. Saint Louis- With four returning starters back, Coach Rick Majerus has arguably one of his best squads since taking over the reigns at Saint Louis.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT/CBI
7. Temple- With Dionte Christmas out, Lavoy Allen is the nucleus to the Owls this season. A possible lottery pick, Allen and sharp shooting guard Juan Fernandez rounds out a solid front court that could lead the Owls back to the A-10 championship.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NONE
The rest:
8. Charlotte
9. Massachusetts
10. Rhode Island
11. Saint Joseph’s
12. George Washington
13. St. Bonaventure’s
14. Fordham
In college basketball two words separate the big guys from the little guys: power conference.
The Big East, Big 12, SEC, etc. round out the big boys in D-1 basketball, while little ole’ conferences like the Horizon League, the Missouri Valley Conference and the West Coast Conference are just praying for a conference title to guarantee them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Meet the only conference today that you’ll find hanging in the middle between those two groups: the Atlantic-10.
Although the last two years we haven’t seen it, the A-10 is almost always expected to have a squad busting through the Sweet-16 or beyond in a several year reign.
From the late ‘90s into 2001 it was Temple, and in 2001-’04 it was St. Josephs’s. Since that time it’s been the Xavier Musketeers that have captured the imagination of the college basketball world.
Enter the newest reign that will be making the newest noise in the A-10 and NCAA Tournaments: the Dayton Flyers.
Led by forward Chris Wright, who has the potential to be one of the better frontcourt studs in the conference, the Flyers will bring one of the more explosive packages in the country with Marcus Johnson, who was second in scoring at 11.8 points per game last season, lining up aside Wright.
Four starters, including Wright, return from a Flyers team that went 27-8 last season, including their 11 over 6 upset of West Virginia in the 2008-09 NCAA Tournament.
This is a team that has the best potential to reach their first Elite-Eight appearance since 1984, and is PSR’s 2009-10 A-10 champs.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
The contenders: (in their order of finish).
2. Xavier- Sean Miller is out as coach, but that doesn’t mean the dynamic guard duo of Jordan Crawford and Dante Jackson won’t have room to shine.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
3. La Salle- Forward Yves Mekongo is one of the more versatile forwards in the country. He brings a complete package to a team with every starter returning.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT/CBI
4. Duquesne- Aaron Jackson is a big loss, but with Melquan Boulding and Eric Evans leading the way, the Dukes won’t miss much of a step.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT/CBI
5. Richmond- Guard Kevin Anderson will lead this run-and-gun unit to a possible run in the A-10 tournament.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT/CBI
6. Saint Louis- With four returning starters back, Coach Rick Majerus has arguably one of his best squads since taking over the reigns at Saint Louis.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NIT/CBI
7. Temple- With Dionte Christmas out, Lavoy Allen is the nucleus to the Owls this season. A possible lottery pick, Allen and sharp shooting guard Juan Fernandez rounds out a solid front court that could lead the Owls back to the A-10 championship.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NONE
The rest:
8. Charlotte
9. Massachusetts
10. Rhode Island
11. Saint Joseph’s
12. George Washington
13. St. Bonaventure’s
14. Fordham
Sunday, July 12, 2009
USA wins Gold in FIBA Under-19 Championships at New Zealand
ASHTON GIBBS, JAMIE DIXON AND TEAM USA WINS FIBA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDAL WITH 88-80 WIN OVER GREECE, GIBBS SCORES 13 POINTS IN VICTORY
AUCKLAND, New Zealand—The 18-year draught between FIBA Under-19 World Championships is over for the United States men. Behind 18 points from Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas / Jersey City, N.J.) and another balanced scoring effort that featured seven players contributing eight or more points, the USA fended off a determined Greek team to post an 88-80 victory Sunday night in the FIBA World Championship gold medal game in Auckland, New Zealand.
The USA squad, led by University of Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon, finished with a spotless 9-0 record and recorded a 22.2 margin of victory in the championship. The team-oriented Americans also limited opponents to 66.0 points per game and 38.2 percent (219-573) field goal shooting and outrebounded opponents by a plus-7.4 margin. All 12 players started at least one game and saw action in at least 13 minutes per game.
The USA, medal winners now in seven of the nine FIBA Under-19 World Championships, hadn’t won the tournament since finishing 8-0 in 1991, capturing seventh (4-4) in 1995, silver (7-1) in 1999, fifth in 2003 and silver in 2007 in Novi Sad, Serbia.
A panel of accredited media representatives covering the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship selected the MVP and the All-Star Five of the Tournament. The All-Star Five of the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship featured Taylor and Gordon Hayward (Butler / Brownsburg, Ind.) of the USA, Toni Prostran (Croatia), Nikos Pappas (Greece), and Mario Delas (Croatia), who was also selected MVP of the championship.
Against Greece, Ashton Gibbs finished off a stellar overall performance in the tournament with 13 points in 22 minutes. Over the nine-game FIBA World Championship schedule, Gibbs averaged 9.8 points, dished out 20 assists and led the squad in minutes (202) and minutes played per game (22.4). He also made six starts, hit 12 3-pointers and hit 82.4 percent (14-17) of his free throw attempts.
Neither team led by more than two points in the first quarter as the first 10 minutes played out even at 19-19. The USA opened some breathing room after running off a 16-1 offensive onslaught over the course of the second quarter’s first five minutes. Gibbs (Pittsburgh / Scotch Plains, N.J.) started the run and accounted for six of the team’s first eight points in the spurt, then Terrico White (Mississippi / Memphis, Tenn.) finished it off with a fastbreak basket and a 3-pointer that left the USA holding a 35-20 lead with 5:07 to play before half.
Arnett Moultire (UTEP / Memphis, Tenn.), four points, and Taylor, seven points, accounted for all of the USA points over the remainder of the quarter and the red, white and blue headed to the locker room at halftime leading 46-30.
Greece, which made just 7-of 27 shots(.259 percent) in the first half and made only two field goals in the second quarter, managed to keep within striking range thanks to 14-of-16 shooting (6-of-8 in the second quarter) from the foul line.
With the U.S. leading 50-34 with 7:13 to play in the third quarter, Greece ripped off eight straight points and the once comfortable USA lead was down to 50-42 with 5:38 still left in the third stanza. John Shurna (Northwestern / Glen Ellyn, Ill.) connected on the second of two free throws to halt the run and White added a jumper to push the U.S. back ahead 53-42. Greece scored six straight to make the score 53-48, but thanks to 7-of-8 clutch free throw shooting in the third quarter’s final 2:24, the USA lead was back to nine, 60-51, at the end of the third period.
The U.S. opened the final quarter with five points, the last two coming off of a Darius Miller (Kentucky / Lexington, Ky.) steal, and a Moultrie slam off the feed from Taylor, and had pushed its led to 65-51. Greece nailed back to back 3-pointers to reduce the American advantage to 65-57 with 7:52 to play, but Gibbs made a pair of free throws and Klay Thompson (Washington State / Ladera Ranch, Calif.) dropped a three to re-up the USA lead to 70-57.
Although Greece would not go away, they never again got closer than eight points.
In a foul heavy contest, Greece shot 26-of-36 from the charity stripe, while the USA, after making 8-of-8 free throws in the final 1:22, was 26-of-32 from the line. The USA hit 28 of its 57 shots, including 6-15 from 3-point. The American defense forced Greece into 41.4 percent shooting overall.
Taylor added six assists and five steals to his 18 points, Gibbs recorded 13 points, Thompson tossed in 10 points and swatted three shots, and Moultrie finished with 10 points while grabbing a team best nine rebounds. White and Seth Curry (Duke / Charlotte, N.C.) contributed nine points each, and Miller was credited with eight points.
Dixon was assisted on the USA sidelines by collegiate head coaches Chris Lowery of Southern Illinois University and Matt Painter of Purdue University.
In other finals play Sunday, Croatia (7-2) bounced back from its disappointing semifinals loss to the U.S. and held off Australia (7-2) 87-81 in the bronze medal thriller; Argentina (5-4) slammed Puerto Rico (5-4) 92-70 to claim fifth place; and Canada (4-5) put down France (3-6) 84-72 to capture seventh place.
FIBA UNDER-19 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
FINAL FOUR/MEDAL ROUND PAIRINGS
Saturday, July 11, Auckland, New Zealand
Greece 84, Australia 69
USA 81, Croatia 77
Sunday, July 12, Auckland, New Zealand
Bronze Medal Game: Croatia 87, Australia 81
Gold Medal Game: USA 88, Greece 80
FINAL STANDINGS
1. USA (9-0)
2. Greece (6-3)
3. Croatia (7-2)
4. Australia (7-2)
5. Argentina (5-4)
6. Puerto Rico (5-4)
7. Canada (4-5)
8. France (3-6)
9. Lithuania (5-3)
10. Spain (4-4)
11. Egypt (2-6)
12. Kazakhstan (1-7)
13. New Zealand (2-3)
14. Angola (1-4)
15. Iran (1-4)
16. Syria (0-5)
AUCKLAND, New Zealand—The 18-year draught between FIBA Under-19 World Championships is over for the United States men. Behind 18 points from Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas / Jersey City, N.J.) and another balanced scoring effort that featured seven players contributing eight or more points, the USA fended off a determined Greek team to post an 88-80 victory Sunday night in the FIBA World Championship gold medal game in Auckland, New Zealand.
The USA squad, led by University of Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon, finished with a spotless 9-0 record and recorded a 22.2 margin of victory in the championship. The team-oriented Americans also limited opponents to 66.0 points per game and 38.2 percent (219-573) field goal shooting and outrebounded opponents by a plus-7.4 margin. All 12 players started at least one game and saw action in at least 13 minutes per game.
The USA, medal winners now in seven of the nine FIBA Under-19 World Championships, hadn’t won the tournament since finishing 8-0 in 1991, capturing seventh (4-4) in 1995, silver (7-1) in 1999, fifth in 2003 and silver in 2007 in Novi Sad, Serbia.
A panel of accredited media representatives covering the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship selected the MVP and the All-Star Five of the Tournament. The All-Star Five of the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship featured Taylor and Gordon Hayward (Butler / Brownsburg, Ind.) of the USA, Toni Prostran (Croatia), Nikos Pappas (Greece), and Mario Delas (Croatia), who was also selected MVP of the championship.
Against Greece, Ashton Gibbs finished off a stellar overall performance in the tournament with 13 points in 22 minutes. Over the nine-game FIBA World Championship schedule, Gibbs averaged 9.8 points, dished out 20 assists and led the squad in minutes (202) and minutes played per game (22.4). He also made six starts, hit 12 3-pointers and hit 82.4 percent (14-17) of his free throw attempts.
Neither team led by more than two points in the first quarter as the first 10 minutes played out even at 19-19. The USA opened some breathing room after running off a 16-1 offensive onslaught over the course of the second quarter’s first five minutes. Gibbs (Pittsburgh / Scotch Plains, N.J.) started the run and accounted for six of the team’s first eight points in the spurt, then Terrico White (Mississippi / Memphis, Tenn.) finished it off with a fastbreak basket and a 3-pointer that left the USA holding a 35-20 lead with 5:07 to play before half.
Arnett Moultire (UTEP / Memphis, Tenn.), four points, and Taylor, seven points, accounted for all of the USA points over the remainder of the quarter and the red, white and blue headed to the locker room at halftime leading 46-30.
Greece, which made just 7-of 27 shots(.259 percent) in the first half and made only two field goals in the second quarter, managed to keep within striking range thanks to 14-of-16 shooting (6-of-8 in the second quarter) from the foul line.
With the U.S. leading 50-34 with 7:13 to play in the third quarter, Greece ripped off eight straight points and the once comfortable USA lead was down to 50-42 with 5:38 still left in the third stanza. John Shurna (Northwestern / Glen Ellyn, Ill.) connected on the second of two free throws to halt the run and White added a jumper to push the U.S. back ahead 53-42. Greece scored six straight to make the score 53-48, but thanks to 7-of-8 clutch free throw shooting in the third quarter’s final 2:24, the USA lead was back to nine, 60-51, at the end of the third period.
The U.S. opened the final quarter with five points, the last two coming off of a Darius Miller (Kentucky / Lexington, Ky.) steal, and a Moultrie slam off the feed from Taylor, and had pushed its led to 65-51. Greece nailed back to back 3-pointers to reduce the American advantage to 65-57 with 7:52 to play, but Gibbs made a pair of free throws and Klay Thompson (Washington State / Ladera Ranch, Calif.) dropped a three to re-up the USA lead to 70-57.
Although Greece would not go away, they never again got closer than eight points.
In a foul heavy contest, Greece shot 26-of-36 from the charity stripe, while the USA, after making 8-of-8 free throws in the final 1:22, was 26-of-32 from the line. The USA hit 28 of its 57 shots, including 6-15 from 3-point. The American defense forced Greece into 41.4 percent shooting overall.
Taylor added six assists and five steals to his 18 points, Gibbs recorded 13 points, Thompson tossed in 10 points and swatted three shots, and Moultrie finished with 10 points while grabbing a team best nine rebounds. White and Seth Curry (Duke / Charlotte, N.C.) contributed nine points each, and Miller was credited with eight points.
Dixon was assisted on the USA sidelines by collegiate head coaches Chris Lowery of Southern Illinois University and Matt Painter of Purdue University.
In other finals play Sunday, Croatia (7-2) bounced back from its disappointing semifinals loss to the U.S. and held off Australia (7-2) 87-81 in the bronze medal thriller; Argentina (5-4) slammed Puerto Rico (5-4) 92-70 to claim fifth place; and Canada (4-5) put down France (3-6) 84-72 to capture seventh place.
FIBA UNDER-19 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
FINAL FOUR/MEDAL ROUND PAIRINGS
Saturday, July 11, Auckland, New Zealand
Greece 84, Australia 69
USA 81, Croatia 77
Sunday, July 12, Auckland, New Zealand
Bronze Medal Game: Croatia 87, Australia 81
Gold Medal Game: USA 88, Greece 80
FINAL STANDINGS
1. USA (9-0)
2. Greece (6-3)
3. Croatia (7-2)
4. Australia (7-2)
5. Argentina (5-4)
6. Puerto Rico (5-4)
7. Canada (4-5)
8. France (3-6)
9. Lithuania (5-3)
10. Spain (4-4)
11. Egypt (2-6)
12. Kazakhstan (1-7)
13. New Zealand (2-3)
14. Angola (1-4)
15. Iran (1-4)
16. Syria (0-5)
Saturday, July 11, 2009
News From New Zealand
ASHTON GIBBS, JAMIE DIXON LEAD USA UNDER-19 NATIONAL TEAM INTO GOLD MEDAL GAME WITH 81-77 SEMIFINAL WIN OVER CROATIA
AUCKLAND, New Zealand—It was a perfectly fittingly ending for a team that has been proving with each and every victory that it is truly a team. Because in the end it was a collection of critical plays by the USA team that earned them a hard fought 81-77 semifinals win over Croatia (6-2) and a berth in Sunday’s FIBA U19 World Championship gold medal game in Auckland, New Zealand.
The USA, which last won gold in this event in 1991, will meet Greece (6-2) in the gold medal game on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. (Auckland, New Zealand time). Greece advanced to the gold medal contest after posting the upset of the tournament, an 84-69 shocker over previously undefeated Australia (7-1). The gold medal game will be a rematch between the two teams with the USA having claimed an 85-69 victory over the Greeks in second round play on July 6.
Pitt’s Ashton Gibbs started his fourth consecutive game and contributed 11 points in 23 minutes of action. In Team USA’s eight games, Gibbs is averaging 9.4 points, 2.4 assists and a team-leading 22.6 minutes per game. He has made five starts and hit 11 3-pointers.
Head Coach Jamie Dixon has guided the squad to an undefeated 8-0 record. Similar to the way his Pitt teams win games, the Americans have outrebounded opponents by a 7.6 rebounds per game margin (41.4-33.8) and limited opponents to 37.9 percent (195-515) shooting.
All 11 healthy USA players scored in the game, Gordan Hayward (Butler / Brownsburg, Ind.) led the way with a USA best 15 points and added eight rebounds. Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh / Scotch Plains, N.J.) scored 11 points, and Seth Curry (Duke / Charlotte, N.C.) and Terrico White (Mississippi / Memphis, Tenn.) each tossed in 10 points. Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas / Jersey City, N.J.) added nine points, while USA big men, Howard Thompkins (Georgia / Lithonia, Ga.) and Arnett Moultrie (UTEP / Memphis, Tenn.), each scored eight points, with Thompkins grabbing a U.S. best eight rebounds and Moultrie snagging six.
Despite leading by as many as 16 points in the first half, the USA trailed 59-57 heading into the fourth quarter after Croatia outscored them 26-11 in the third period. The two squads battled for control and with 3:14 remaining the scored was knotted at 70 all.
With the game up for grabs, the U.S. made the plays it had to in order to pull out the win. Hayward started the string of game deciding plays when he drove baseline and slammed home two to give the USA a 72-70 lead with 3:14 remaining. It was a lead the U.S. never relinquished. Hayward’s Butler University teammate Shelvin Mack (Butler / Lexington, Ky.) cushioned the USA’s lead to 74-70 after he hit a 14 foot jumper, his only make from the field on the evening, with 2:31 to play.
Fouls were called on the next three possessions and while Croatia was only able to convert on 2-of-4 free throws, Taylor made 1-of-2 free throws and with 1:45 on the clock the U.S. was clinging to a 75-72 advantage.
Hayward was fouled with 57 seconds to go and calmly converted on both to make it 77-72. But Croatia rushed down court and guard Dino Butorac drilled his fifth 3-pointer of the game to make the score 79-77 with 42 seconds remaining.
The U.S. worked the clock down and White’s rushed shot was wide of the rim and as it bounced over the endline, Hayward jumped, grabbed the ball, and flung it back to Taylor who was standing behind the 3-point line. With the shot clock about to expire, Taylor heaved a long three that hit rim just a fraction before shot clock was to expire, and USA forward John Shurna (Northwestern / Glen Ellyn, Ill.) came up with the huge offensive board in the scramble. Shurna managed to pass the ball to Hayward, who was fouled as he looked to score.
Shooting two free throws with 14.6 seconds on the clock, Hayward again sank both to push the USA’s ahead 79-75. Croatia’s Toni Prostran sprinted the length of the court for a layup, and with 10.1 seconds to play the score stood at 79-77.
Inbounding the ball to Gibbs, he was immediately fouled. Going to the line for two free throws with 9.4 seconds to go, Gibbs made both to up the USA lead to 81-77, and after Croatia missed a pair of threes in the closing seconds, the USA had the win.
It took the Americans almost four minutes and eight shots before they put points on the scoreboard. Croatia jumped out 6-0 as the USA missed its first seven shots, four of those threes.
Following a USA called timeout, the U.S. went inside and Moultrie finally got the USA on the scoreboard at the 6:14 mark.
The red, white and blue kept it going and with 4:09 left in the opening stanza had moved out to an 11-6 advantage. Finding its shooting eye, the USA closed the quarter with White hitting a pair of threes, Curry added another, and when Thompkins deposited a miss with a second showing, the USA owned a 22-16 lead after one quarter.
Scoring the first seven points of the second quarter, the lead was exanded to 29-16. The two teams traded baskets and slowly Croatia worked the lead down and following a hoop by Toni Prostran the led was down to nine, 39-30.
Curry, who finished the first half with 10 points, scored five points in a 7-0 USA run that the U.S. up 46-30, and when Croatia’s Tomislav Zubcic made a 3-point shot with three second to go before half, the USA went to its locker room leading 46-33.
FIBA UNDER-19 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
FINAL FOUR/MEDAL ROUND PAIRINGS
Saturday, July 11, Auckland, New Zealand
Greece 84, Australia 69
USA 81, Croatia 77
Sunday, July 12, Auckland, New Zealand
Bronze Medal Game: Australia (7-1) vs. Croatia (6-2), 5 p.m.
Gold Medal Game: USA (8-0) vs. Greece (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand—It was a perfectly fittingly ending for a team that has been proving with each and every victory that it is truly a team. Because in the end it was a collection of critical plays by the USA team that earned them a hard fought 81-77 semifinals win over Croatia (6-2) and a berth in Sunday’s FIBA U19 World Championship gold medal game in Auckland, New Zealand.
The USA, which last won gold in this event in 1991, will meet Greece (6-2) in the gold medal game on Sunday, 7:30 p.m. (Auckland, New Zealand time). Greece advanced to the gold medal contest after posting the upset of the tournament, an 84-69 shocker over previously undefeated Australia (7-1). The gold medal game will be a rematch between the two teams with the USA having claimed an 85-69 victory over the Greeks in second round play on July 6.
Pitt’s Ashton Gibbs started his fourth consecutive game and contributed 11 points in 23 minutes of action. In Team USA’s eight games, Gibbs is averaging 9.4 points, 2.4 assists and a team-leading 22.6 minutes per game. He has made five starts and hit 11 3-pointers.
Head Coach Jamie Dixon has guided the squad to an undefeated 8-0 record. Similar to the way his Pitt teams win games, the Americans have outrebounded opponents by a 7.6 rebounds per game margin (41.4-33.8) and limited opponents to 37.9 percent (195-515) shooting.
All 11 healthy USA players scored in the game, Gordan Hayward (Butler / Brownsburg, Ind.) led the way with a USA best 15 points and added eight rebounds. Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh / Scotch Plains, N.J.) scored 11 points, and Seth Curry (Duke / Charlotte, N.C.) and Terrico White (Mississippi / Memphis, Tenn.) each tossed in 10 points. Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas / Jersey City, N.J.) added nine points, while USA big men, Howard Thompkins (Georgia / Lithonia, Ga.) and Arnett Moultrie (UTEP / Memphis, Tenn.), each scored eight points, with Thompkins grabbing a U.S. best eight rebounds and Moultrie snagging six.
Despite leading by as many as 16 points in the first half, the USA trailed 59-57 heading into the fourth quarter after Croatia outscored them 26-11 in the third period. The two squads battled for control and with 3:14 remaining the scored was knotted at 70 all.
With the game up for grabs, the U.S. made the plays it had to in order to pull out the win. Hayward started the string of game deciding plays when he drove baseline and slammed home two to give the USA a 72-70 lead with 3:14 remaining. It was a lead the U.S. never relinquished. Hayward’s Butler University teammate Shelvin Mack (Butler / Lexington, Ky.) cushioned the USA’s lead to 74-70 after he hit a 14 foot jumper, his only make from the field on the evening, with 2:31 to play.
Fouls were called on the next three possessions and while Croatia was only able to convert on 2-of-4 free throws, Taylor made 1-of-2 free throws and with 1:45 on the clock the U.S. was clinging to a 75-72 advantage.
Hayward was fouled with 57 seconds to go and calmly converted on both to make it 77-72. But Croatia rushed down court and guard Dino Butorac drilled his fifth 3-pointer of the game to make the score 79-77 with 42 seconds remaining.
The U.S. worked the clock down and White’s rushed shot was wide of the rim and as it bounced over the endline, Hayward jumped, grabbed the ball, and flung it back to Taylor who was standing behind the 3-point line. With the shot clock about to expire, Taylor heaved a long three that hit rim just a fraction before shot clock was to expire, and USA forward John Shurna (Northwestern / Glen Ellyn, Ill.) came up with the huge offensive board in the scramble. Shurna managed to pass the ball to Hayward, who was fouled as he looked to score.
Shooting two free throws with 14.6 seconds on the clock, Hayward again sank both to push the USA’s ahead 79-75. Croatia’s Toni Prostran sprinted the length of the court for a layup, and with 10.1 seconds to play the score stood at 79-77.
Inbounding the ball to Gibbs, he was immediately fouled. Going to the line for two free throws with 9.4 seconds to go, Gibbs made both to up the USA lead to 81-77, and after Croatia missed a pair of threes in the closing seconds, the USA had the win.
It took the Americans almost four minutes and eight shots before they put points on the scoreboard. Croatia jumped out 6-0 as the USA missed its first seven shots, four of those threes.
Following a USA called timeout, the U.S. went inside and Moultrie finally got the USA on the scoreboard at the 6:14 mark.
The red, white and blue kept it going and with 4:09 left in the opening stanza had moved out to an 11-6 advantage. Finding its shooting eye, the USA closed the quarter with White hitting a pair of threes, Curry added another, and when Thompkins deposited a miss with a second showing, the USA owned a 22-16 lead after one quarter.
Scoring the first seven points of the second quarter, the lead was exanded to 29-16. The two teams traded baskets and slowly Croatia worked the lead down and following a hoop by Toni Prostran the led was down to nine, 39-30.
Curry, who finished the first half with 10 points, scored five points in a 7-0 USA run that the U.S. up 46-30, and when Croatia’s Tomislav Zubcic made a 3-point shot with three second to go before half, the USA went to its locker room leading 46-33.
FIBA UNDER-19 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
FINAL FOUR/MEDAL ROUND PAIRINGS
Saturday, July 11, Auckland, New Zealand
Greece 84, Australia 69
USA 81, Croatia 77
Sunday, July 12, Auckland, New Zealand
Bronze Medal Game: Australia (7-1) vs. Croatia (6-2), 5 p.m.
Gold Medal Game: USA (8-0) vs. Greece (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Lebron James Skills Academy 2009 (College scrimmage)
This is the only footage--I know of--that has leaked onto the web from the LBJS Academy college scrimmage earlier this week, in which Lebron ran with the college campers, including Jordan Crawford, Devin Ebanks and Patrick Christopher. As you may have heard, the others filming had their tapes confiscated, making Nike look even more ridiculous.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
We're Back and Running
Now that the site is back together and up and running again, expect a triumphant Jordan-esque return, with plenty of posts a day to sink your teeth into.
This week I'll be breaking down the NBA Playoffs for you. This may be a predominant college basketball site, but I, as well as all of you know that a basketball fan can't just ignore the greatest show on earth, the NBA Playoffs!
I have a fantastic piece on the Rockets coming up later today, and a few notes on, what should be two thrilling game seven showdowns with LA/Houston and Boston/Orlando.
Next week we'll get back into college basketball a little bit with a few player profiles of upcoming freshmen and a little browsing in Isaiah's new shop, the FIU Panthers.
Also, catch the what was he thinking segment of the week tomorrow. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this one.
Sorry for the hiatus, kids!
This week I'll be breaking down the NBA Playoffs for you. This may be a predominant college basketball site, but I, as well as all of you know that a basketball fan can't just ignore the greatest show on earth, the NBA Playoffs!
I have a fantastic piece on the Rockets coming up later today, and a few notes on, what should be two thrilling game seven showdowns with LA/Houston and Boston/Orlando.
Next week we'll get back into college basketball a little bit with a few player profiles of upcoming freshmen and a little browsing in Isaiah's new shop, the FIU Panthers.
Also, catch the what was he thinking segment of the week tomorrow. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of this one.
Sorry for the hiatus, kids!
The Early Top 25
We're months away from tipoff, and yet, the addiction of more college basketball pounds on the door, begging for the first edition of the preseason top 25.
But don't chew my head off just yet! This is just putting the teams in order as how they look NOW. Things will certainly change--at gigantic proportions--once we actually know who will and who will not be returning to school next year.
Here's the first 25 projection of the year
No explanations right now, just the list. Part two (after the agent signing period is up) will have brief paragraphs listed for each team, including who will be returning/leaving.
Also, there will be no stock report on the teams as well, since this is the first edition. As we see who has left, what coaching moves have been made, transfers, suspensions etc. we'll start that segment.
Team
1. Michigan State
2. Kansas
3. Purdue
4. West Virginia
5. North Carolina
6. Michigan
7. Texas
8. Villanova
9. Clemson
10. California
11. Duke
12. Washington
13. Dayton
14. Oklahoma
15. Ohio State
16. Tennessee
17. Minnesota
18. Illinois
19. Butler
20. Georgetown
21. Kentucky
22. Gonzaga
23. Pittsburgh
24. Siena
25. Memphis
But don't chew my head off just yet! This is just putting the teams in order as how they look NOW. Things will certainly change--at gigantic proportions--once we actually know who will and who will not be returning to school next year.
Here's the first 25 projection of the year
No explanations right now, just the list. Part two (after the agent signing period is up) will have brief paragraphs listed for each team, including who will be returning/leaving.
Also, there will be no stock report on the teams as well, since this is the first edition. As we see who has left, what coaching moves have been made, transfers, suspensions etc. we'll start that segment.
Team
1. Michigan State
2. Kansas
3. Purdue
4. West Virginia
5. North Carolina
6. Michigan
7. Texas
8. Villanova
9. Clemson
10. California
11. Duke
12. Washington
13. Dayton
14. Oklahoma
15. Ohio State
16. Tennessee
17. Minnesota
18. Illinois
19. Butler
20. Georgetown
21. Kentucky
22. Gonzaga
23. Pittsburgh
24. Siena
25. Memphis
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