[ad_1]
While Team USA is well on their way to earning a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games, going 3-0 in group play with wins over Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico, the 3×3 squad is already eliminated.
Led by former BYU star Jimmer Fredette, Team USA went just 2-5 and finished with nine points, tied with Poland and only ahead of China. The team’s last chance was against the Netherlands on Sunday, and with Fredette sidelined with a hip injury the squad sputtered to a 21-6 loss.
It’s devastating for Fredette, who could miss six months, but many wondered why USA basketball didn’t field a team of NBA players to secure a gold medal, or even college stars.
Fielding a team of NBA players doesn’t really work, as the process to qualify for the olympics involves events that take place during the NBA season, although it could work in a college setting.
It’s too late now, but could a 3×3 team of college basketball teammates win gold? We picked five programs and compiled a four-man roster of current teammates to see who might be able to compete for a medal in 3×3.
All players are eligible to represent the United States, which eliminated many potential stars like VJ Edgecombe, Khaman Malauch, Ryan Nembhard, and Norchad Omier.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Lineup: Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Proctor, Caleb Foster (Kon Knueppel)
The question for this lineup is if they are big enough to contend with some of the posts they’d face in an olympic setting.
Flagg isn’t a traditional center, but his athleticism and shot blocking ability more than makes up for his lack of size, and the offensive firepower this Duke squad possesses could be enough to take home a gold, or at least a medal, in this event.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Lineup: Hunter Dickinson, AJ Storr, Dajuan Harris (KJ Adams)
This lineup is about as balanced as you’ll see, with a traditional center, a pure passing point guard, and a high level two-way wing.
Defense is probably the biggest concern here, as 3×3 can expose anyone who isn’t a strong on-ball defender, although having KJ Adams as the fourth option gives you an offense/defense tradeoff with Dickinson.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Lineup: Cliff Omoruyi, Chris Youngblood, Mark Sears (Grant Nelson)
Similar to Kansas, an Alabama team has a traditional center in Omoruyi, a sharpshooting two-way wing in Youngblood, and a star point guard in Sears.
The trio doesn’t have as much experience playing together, with Omoruyi and Youngblood transferring into Nate Oats program this offseason, but with Grant Nelson as the fourth there are plenty of mix-and-match lineups here that would cause all sorts of problems for opposing teams.
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Lineup: Johnell Davis, Trevon Brazile, Jonas Aidoo (Adou Thiero)
John Calipari added a bunch of high level transfers to his first Arkansas roster, including FAU star Johnell Davis, Tennessee big man Jonas Aidoo, and his former wing at Kentucky, Adou Thiero.
The three of them alongside returner Trevon Brazile would be a dynamic, versatile, balanced squad that could compete with anyone in a 3×3 setting. Outside shooting is probably the biggest concern on this roster, as it often is with Calipari teams, but the athleticism and length should make up for that.
Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Lineup: Khalif Battle, Michael Ajayi, Graham Ike (Steele Venters)
Continuity is an issue for this team, as none of them have actually played together with Battle and Ajayi joining this offseason and Venters missing all of last season with an ACL injury.
Not getting Ryan Nembhard, who like his brother is Canadian, hurts this squad, but the high level scoring from Battle and Ike on the block, two-way skill from Ajayi, and sharpshooting from Venters would make this team a tough out in any 3×3 setting.
[ad_2]
Source link
Fitnessnacks – #college #basketball #teams #win #gold #medal #olympics
Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/lists/college-basketball-team-usa-3×3-duke-kansas-olympics/