The Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games is on Friday, July 27, 2012. One of the most watched competitions of the games is Men’s Basketball and Women’s Basketball.
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The 12-member USA Men’s National Team that will compete against Brazil in the July 16 exhibition doubleheader will be announced July 7 and will be selected from a list of 2012 finalists identified by USA Basketball. Finalists under consideration for the U.S. men’s roster include: Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Anthony Davis (University of Kentucky); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder); and Deron Williams (New Jersey Nets).
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The USA Basketball Men’s National Team program is headed by Jerry Colangelo, who has served as managing director of the USA Men’s National Team since 2005 and is the chairman of USA Basketball. Mike Krzyzewski, USA and Duke University head coach, will be assisted by Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, and former NBA head coaches Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan.
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Since Colangelo and Krzyzewski became involved in the USA National Team, the U.S. has compiled a sterling 49-1 record (.980 winning percentage) and just as importantly reestablished the USA national team and its members as positive ambassadors for the United States and the sport.
Fielding a USA Basketball team of legendary NBA stars for the first time in 1992, USA Basketball National Teams comprised of NBA players have claimed gold medals in 11 of 14 major international basketball competitions, while compiling an impressive 109-7 overall record in those competitions and a record of 37-1 in exhibition games.
The USA men last met Brazil in preliminary round play at the 2010 World Championship where the U.S. earned a narrow 70-68 victory. Since NBA players became eligible to participate in FIBA competitions, the USA has compiled an 8-0 overall record versus Brazil in official FIBA/FIBA Americas competitions. The two national squads have also met twice in exhibition contests and the USA recorded wins in both games. The 12-member USA Women’s National Team that will compete against Brazil in the July 16 exhibition doubleheader includes standouts Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Chicago Sky), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx).
Geno Auriemma, USA and University of Connecticut head coach, will be assisted by DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno, 1988 Olympic gold medalist and Washington Mystics assistant coach Jennifer Gillom and Atlanta Dream head coach Marynell Meadors.
The U.S. has faced Brazil twice in exhibition games and official FIBA events over the last decade. The United States earned a 99-59 win against Brazil in the 2006 FIBA World Championship bronze medal game and also defeated the South Americans 73-60 in 2002 in pre-World Championship play. Overall, encompassing all official events (non-exhibition games) dating to 1953, the U.S. owns an overall 43-16 win-loss record over Brazil.
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Here is some music to match your mood as we head to Olympics 2012:
Look Who Is In the Running To Join Team USA’s Basketball Dream Team! was originally published on elev8.com
