Boeheim, Melo, Reunited On USA Basketball Squad
3/6/2006 1:13:26 PM | Men's Basketball
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO -- Syracuse men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim and former SU standout Carmelo Anthony will be reunited when the 2006-08 USA Senior National Team begins preparations for the 2006 FIBA World Championship. Boeheim is an assistant coach on the squad and Anthony is one of 23 players named to the 2006-08 USA Men's Senior National Team program.
Boeheim is an assistant coach on the staff of Mike Krzyzewski along with Phoenix Suns head coach Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan. Rudy Tomjanovich, coach of the gold-medal winning 2000 USA Olympic team and a two time NBA champion as coach of the Houston Rockets, is director of scouting. Anthony, who helped Syracuse win the NCAA Championship in 2003 is a member of the Denver Nuggets.
"It's an exciting day to finally announce this great group of players and to have the ability to work with them," said Krzyzewski during a March 6 teleconference. "The staff that has been assembled to me is an incredible staff in Jim Boehein, Mike D'Antoni and Nate McMillian joining me. We have international experience, NBA experience, guys who are specialists. Jim (Boeheim) with the zone, is one of the best people in attacking and setting up a zone, and so we have versatility on the staff and we also have that versatility with team members."
The USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team will report to training camp in mid-July. The squad will compete in the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Saitama, Japan, from August 19-September 3. If necessary, the club will participate in the 2007 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament. If the USA qualifies, the final step will be the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China, from August 8-24.
"I love Carmelo,"said Krzyzewski. "This year you have seen him elevate his game and have an even higher level of professional maturity about his total game. He has put up great number, and of course I've gotten to know him even better because Jim Boeheim is on our staff and we've talked about how he might be used. I like his versatility. He can be a three, he can be a four, and can score inside and outside. I think he's maturing into one of the better players in the NBA."
The 23 players selected included: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards); Shane Battier (Memphis Grizzlies); Chauncey Billups (Detroit Pistons); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Bruce Bowen (San Antonio Spurs); Elton Brand (Los Angeles Clippers); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Antawn Jamison (Washington Wizards); Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks); Shawn Marion (Phoenix Suns); Brad Miller (Sacramento Kings); Adam Morrison (Gonzaga University); Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers); Chris Paul (New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets); Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics); J.J. Redick (Duke University); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); Luke Ridnour (Seattle SuperSonics); Amaré Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns); and Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat).
