Quest For Gold Begins Sunday
8/9/2008 4:44:06 PM | Men's Basketball
The USA Senior Men's Basketball Team begins its quest for the gold medal when it plays host China on Sunday, August 10, at 10:15 a.m. E.S.T. The contest will be televised by NBC.
Head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke) and his staff, which includes Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, Mike D'Antoni (Knicks) and Nate McMillan (Trail Blazers). has to prepare his staff to go up against China's 7-6 Yao Ming (Rockets) and 7-0 Yi Jianlian (Nets). The twin towers both have significant NBA experience.
Team USA will counter with Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets), the former SU standout who led the Americans in scoring average (15.4) during a five-game exhibition schedule prior to the Olympics. The lineup also includes LeBron James (Cavaliers), who averaged 15.3 points, and Kobe Bryant (Lakers), who posted 13.4 during the pre-tournament slate.
The United States is 4-0 against China in the Olympics.
The Americans are scheduled to face Angola (Aug. 12), Greece (Aug. 14), Spain (Aug. 16) and Germany (Aug. 18) in pool play.
The United States has won the men's basketball gold medal in 12 of the 15 Olympics it has competed in. The Americans have a 114-5 record in Olympic action. NBA players were allowed to participate in 1992 for the first time.
