Roberts Earns Spot On USA Basketball Team
7/28/2005 8:57:44 AM | Men's Basketball
DALLAS, TX -- Syracuse's Terrence Roberts has passed the USA Basketball tryout test and earned a roster spot on the Under-21 club that will compete2005 FIBA U21 World Championships, scheduled for August 5-14 in Cordoba and Mar del Plata, Argentina.
USA Basketball announced its final 12-man roster following a 119-64 victory against Ukraine in the Global Games, a tuneup for the World Championship. Roberts tallied five points and four steals in the triumph.
The Under-21 squad has Global Games outings against Slovenia (July 28), Lithuania (July 29) and then the tournament finals (July 30).
St. Joseph's (Pa.) coach Phil Martelli, who is heading the Under-21 team with assistant's Bruiser flint (Drexel) and Dennis Felton (Georgia), selected the final roster along with USA Basketball committee chair Jim Boeheim (Syracuse). Earning spots were guards Mardy Collins (Temple), Rudy Gay (Connecticut), Justin Gray (Wake Forest), Allan Ray (Villanova), J.J. Redick (Duke), Rajon Rondo (Kentucky) and Marcus Williams (Connecticut). Joining Roberts in the frontcourt slots were Glen Davis (LSU), Nick Fazekas (Nevada), Taj Gray (Oklahoma) and Curtis Withers (Charlotte).
"I'm really amazed at the humility of the group and the class they bring," said Coach Martelli, "They've been well schooled by their college coaches, and I think they've all been raised properly because they all talk about being very appreciative of the opportunity of being able to represent their country, to represent their schools, their programs and their families. I think those are good values and it's a good core to have to start with on any team."
Coach Martelli is optimistic about this year's team. "I'm really anxious because when we first got together we told them the goal was to win the gold medal." Martelli continued, " The gold medal is not attainable on the first day. Seven, eighht or nine days in, that doesn't change. The gold medal is not attainable unless we maximize every day along the path to the gold medal. I like our chances with this group though."
The team will continue training in Frisco, Texas on Sunday, July 31 and Monday, August 1 before they head to Argentina for competition.
