ducks
03-14-2006, 10:46 AM
United States to face Lithuania in world championship tuneup
United States to face Lithuania in world championship tuneup
March 13, 2006
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The United States will play Lithuania in a rematch of the 2004 Olympics bronze-medal basketball game as part of its preparation for this summer's world championship.
The game will take place Aug. 13 in Seoul, South Korea, as part of the five-team World Basketball Challenge. The Americans will also play a game against the Koreans two days later.
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Turkey and Italy are the other teams in the event, which will serve as a tuneup for the world championship that begins in Japan on Aug. 19. The Americans will not play those teams.
"This is an excellent competitive opportunity and a critical piece of our team's pre-world championship training," USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said in a statement Monday. "We look forward to bringing the USA team to Seoul and we are excited to face experienced national teams from Korea and Lithuania."
The Americans and Lithuanians met twice in Athens. Lithuania won 94-90 during preliminary-round play, but the U.S. avenged that loss with a 104-96 victory to win the bronze medal.
Colangelo announced the 23 members of the national team earlier this month. They will gather in July for training camp in Las Vegas, where they will also play an exhibition game. The roster will then be reduced to 12-15 players before the team leaves for Asia, and the Americans will train in South Korea before departing for Sapporo, Japan on Aug. 17.
United States to face Lithuania in world championship tuneup
March 13, 2006
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The United States will play Lithuania in a rematch of the 2004 Olympics bronze-medal basketball game as part of its preparation for this summer's world championship.
The game will take place Aug. 13 in Seoul, South Korea, as part of the five-team World Basketball Challenge. The Americans will also play a game against the Koreans two days later.
ADVERTISEMENT
Turkey and Italy are the other teams in the event, which will serve as a tuneup for the world championship that begins in Japan on Aug. 19. The Americans will not play those teams.
"This is an excellent competitive opportunity and a critical piece of our team's pre-world championship training," USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo said in a statement Monday. "We look forward to bringing the USA team to Seoul and we are excited to face experienced national teams from Korea and Lithuania."
The Americans and Lithuanians met twice in Athens. Lithuania won 94-90 during preliminary-round play, but the U.S. avenged that loss with a 104-96 victory to win the bronze medal.
Colangelo announced the 23 members of the national team earlier this month. They will gather in July for training camp in Las Vegas, where they will also play an exhibition game. The roster will then be reduced to 12-15 players before the team leaves for Asia, and the Americans will train in South Korea before departing for Sapporo, Japan on Aug. 17.