<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The 12 players who will seek gold are point guards junior Marcus Williams (Connecticut), sophomore Rajon Rondo (Kentucky) and senior Mardy Collins (Temple); senior shooting guards J.J. Redick (Duke), Justin Gray (Wake Forest), Allan Ray (Villanova) and sophomore Rudy Gay (Connecticut); forwards sophomore Glen Davis (LSU), senior Taj Gray (Oklahoma), senior Curtis Withers (Charlotte), junior Terrence Roberts (Syracuse) and junior Nick Fazekas (Nevada). "I'm drained," Martelli said after meeting with each of the 16 players. USA Basketball cut Michigan State junior guard Shannon Brown last Saturday. Three other players withdrew due to injury: Connecticut junior center Josh Boone (back), Kansas sophomore center C.J. Giles (hip) and Oklahoma State sophomore guard JamesOn Curry (knee).</div> http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/stor...andy&id=2118415
Wow, I'm suprised to see Justin Gray and Nick Fazekas there. I think there was better talent there then them. But anyway I hope they do good.
Good to see Allen Ray in this, I hope he can now prove that he is more then just a shooter. Nice team, it would be better if Shannon Brown were on it though.
Not a bad team... why isn't Shannon Brown on it? He get cut? Injured? Pull out? What about Daniel Gibson.... I didn't really follow the tryouts, so I need to be updated on what happened with some of the big names.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting miamiballa12:</div><div class="quote_post">I wish jameson curry didn't get injured. I was hoping to see him play.</div> To me, these "injuries" are just a bad excuse for being cut. It's like quitting before your boss can fire you. As for the selections, they're horrible. Going into the tryouts, I felt that it was obvious that the four most talented players were Rudy Gay, Shannon Brown, Ronnie Brewer, and Darius Washington. I don't understand how three of those players could have been cut, especially Brown and Brewer. I can somewhat understand why they cut Washington though, seeing how there were more Point Guards invited than any other position. When I asked around about Brown, the way it was explained to me was that the USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee is chaired by Jim Boeheim, who had one of his Syracuse players cut two years back by Tom Izzo (not sure which), and he went out in the press calling out Izzo's selection. Because of that, he opted to take the less talented Terrence Roberts, one of his own players, over Shannon Brown. I also noticed that there were two A-10 players. That's a lot of players for such a small conference, and it looks a little fishy when the head coach of the U21 team is an A-10 coach. All in all, I think this team will win no matter what, but the roster they picked was definitely not the most talented one they could have gone with. And Mr. Wade, I just don't think that Gibson was even invited, nor his teammate LaMarcus Aldridge, but I could be wrong.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post"> When I asked around about Brown, the way it was explained to me was that the USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee is chaired by Jim Boeheim, who had one of his Syracuse players cut two years back by Tom Izzo (not sure which), and he went out in the press calling out Izzo's selection. Because of that, he opted to take the less talented Terrence Roberts, one of his own players, over Shannon Brown. I also noticed that there were two A-10 players. That's a lot of players for such a small conference, and it looks a little fishy when the head coach of the U21 team is an A-10 coach. </div> That would be ridiculous if that were the case for why Shannon Brown got cut. Boeheim shouldn't punish Shannon Brown, if he wasn't even in Michigan State when Tom Izzo cut a Syracuse player. If that is the case, grow up. It's clear Brown was one of the most talented players in the try outs and to cut him because of spit is very immature.
Just take it, he got cut probably because he didn't perform well enough in tryouts... Do you really have to go on about past conflicts and corrupt people. Maybe Brown just didn't play good at all throughout the tryouts. Or didn't work hard enough because he though he was guaranteed.
Degrade from last year PR's team C- Peter John Ramos PF- Ricardo S?nchez PF- Angel Rosa PF- Iv?n L?pez SF- Alex Galindo SF- Gabriel Col?n SF- Angel D. Vasallo SG- Jes?s Verdejo SG- Saddel Ayala PG- Luis Brignoni PG- Dennis Clemente PG- Jos? Juan Barea Notable Abseentees: Luis Colon, Victor Davila, Guillermo Diaz, Fifo Vega, David Huertas, Josue Vega. lol...how do you not invite our two best shooting guards...anyway, our team upgraded Jos? Juan Barea/Dennis Clemente/Luis Brignoni Jes?s Verdejo/Angel D. Vasallo/Saddel Ayala Alex Galindo/Gabriel Col?n Ricky Sanchez/Angel Rosa Peter John Ramos/Iv?n L?pez 2 NBA players, 4 NCAA players...yeh im biassssssssss
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Just take it, he got cut probably because he didn't perform well enough in tryouts... Do you really have to go on about past conflicts and corrupt people. Maybe Brown just didn't play good at all throughout the tryouts. Or didn't work hard enough because he though he was guaranteed.</div> I'm never going to rule that out, but knowing about the conflict between Izzo and Boeheim a few years back, when a mediocre Syracuse player like Roberts makes the team yet a player like Shannon Brown gets cut, you have to wonder about it.
The U21 team won won the Global Games Gold medal as they went 4-0 and defeated Team Texas 104-62 to wrap it up. Wake Forest guard Justin Gray and Lithuania's Arturas Jomantas earned Global Games Co-MVP honors. JJ Redick, Terrence Roberts, and Curtis Withers were named to the All Tourney Team. Joining the four U.S. players on the All-Tourney list were Ahmed Guoye (Texas), Domen Lorbek (Slovenia), Oleksiy Pecherov (Ukraine) and Marcus Williams (Global Games Select). Lets just hope the success continues!
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">U.S. makes record 21 steals in win; Lithuania next MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Lithuania is expected to give the United States its toughest game in the early rounds of the FIBA U21 World Championships. China was supposed to be a primer. So far, everything is going according to plan for the U.S. Charlotte's Curtis Withers led the Americans with 19 points in a 117-50 first-round rout over China on Friday night. Withers was 7-for-7 from the field. Kentucky sophomore point guard Rajon Rondo chipped in with a single-game record eight steals. The team had a record 21 steals, and made 14 threes. "I didn't realize I had that many, but the thing is, that's what I do," said Rondo on the USA Basketball Web site. "That's the reason I'm on the team, because of my defensive ability. That's what I do at the University of Kentucky, so I just try to bring it here. Pressure their point guards as much as I can, get as many steals as I can."</div> Full Story
Box Score I still believe that the only team that can be the USA is Argentina. They take their basketball very seriously and are almost a clone of the team lead by Manu that took gold in the Olympics. The USA will have to bring their A game against Argentina if you ask me.
How about Rajon Rondo? He actually did some scoring(11 pts), dished out 6 assists, and had 8 steals. That's one heck of a game for a guy that played only 16 minutes, in my opinion...I know I didn't think he should make i over the likes of Darius Washington, Shannon Brown, etc...but he is definitely proving me wrong...
Team USA rolls past Puerto Rico <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Allan Ray of Villanova went 5-for-5 from 3-point range and scored 20 points to lead the United States to a 94-79 victory over Puerto Rico on Sunday night in the preliminary round of the men's Under 21 World Championships. Terrence Roberts of Syracuse had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the United States (3-0), which finished 11-for-23 from behind the 3-point arc. Curtis Withers of Charlotte added 12 points and nine rebounds for the U.S. team, which averaged 110 points in its first two games. </div> Source Box Score The U21 team keeps rolling and what a performance by Allen Ray! Rajon Rondo followed up a great game with 8 points and five dimes in 14 minutes of play. I still will keep my word that the only team that has a chance of beating the US is Argentina.
Terrence Roberts has been the biggest surprise by far. I didn't think he should have been on the team, but he is proving me wrong by the stats he's putting up. We can only hope that his performence stays consistent...
U.S. comes from 13-down to beat Slovenia; Plays Canada in quarter finals! <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Curtis Withers of Charlotte scored 15 points and Terrence Roberts of Syracuse added 14 as the United States rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat Slovenia 82-79 on Wednesday in the preliminary round of the men's Under 21 World Championships. The U.S. team (5-0) advanced to Friday's quarterfinals and will play Canada (2-3), which beat Israel 78-66 Wednesday night. Withers and Roberts were effective inside for the United States, which shot 40 percent overall (34-for-84) but was 3-for-22 from 3-point range.</div> Source Box Score Wow it looks like Curtis Withers and Terrence Roberts are really putting this USA team on their back as well as making a name for themselves in the NCAA. Also Allen Ray added 12 points, as Rudy Gay chipped in for 10. Team USA was down by 13 points after the first quarter and as you can see came back to win by a cool three points. Next up Canada
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">USA U21 Men Stung by Canada 93-90 in Overtime Fighting from behind much of the game, the 2005 USA U21 World Championship Team (5-1) was outplayed by Canada (3-3) 93-90 in overtime of the 2005 FIBA U21 World Championship quarterfinals on Friday evening in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The loss, which saw Allan Ray (Villanova / Bronx, N.Y.) finish as the team's top scorer with 16 points, relegates the United States to the consolation round and the best it can finish is in fifth place. The USA will face Puerto Rico (3-3) Aug. 13 at 1:15 p.m. (all times EDT).</div> Full Story
U.S beats Puerto Rico;In battle for fifth place. ^^ Wow tough to see the team lose it's first game, they responded though against Puerto Rico today. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Villanova's Allan Ray scored 17 points to help the United States rout Puerto Rico 99-79 on Saturday at the Under-21 World Championships, a day after Canada spoiled the Americans' title defense. The United States fell to Canada 93-90 in a quarterfinal overtime upset Friday that dashed any U.S. chances of repeating its 2001 championship. Now the U.S. will fight for fifth place Sunday against Argentina, which beat Slovenia 70-43, in the FIBA basketball tournament. Greece (6-1) reached the Under-21 final for the first time by beating Canada 74-61 Saturday night and will play Lithuanian, which topped Australia 96-73. </div> Link
Lithuania wins Championship;USA finished fifth <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina -- Renaldas Seibutis hit two free throws in the final seconds Sunday night to give Lithuania a 65-63 win over Greece in the men's Under 21 World Championship. Lithuania (7-1) becomes the first European team to capture gold at the FIBA tournament showcasing some of the world's best youth basketball talent. Greece (6-2) also making its debut in a U21 championship final, was led by Panagiotis Vasilopoulos as the game's high scorer at 22 points. Seibutis, the MVP, and Steponas Babrausas each scored 14 each for Lithuania in a game that was close from beginning to end. Greece managed to take a 28-24 lead at the half after Loukas Mavrokefalidis hit a 2-pointer and a free throw. By the end of the third quarter, it was Greece's Vasileios Xanthpoulos tied it at 63 with a three-point play with a minute left. But then Seibutis claimed victory for Lithuania by hitting two from the line with seconds running off the clock, his bench erupting into cheers.</div> Link What can I say, it looks like the cuts of Shannon Brown and Mardy Collins would be thought again right now. The only international team that I thought could win this was Argentina but other then that I thought the US had it made. The loss to Canada really killed them.
