Road to the 2018 FIBA World Cup

[UConnCat]

Kia Nurse will be joining Team Canada in a couple of weeks to begin the final phase of training in preparation for the 2017 Americup qualifying tournament in Argentina in early August. The top 3 teams will qualify for the World Cup in Spain next year and I expect Canada to be among them. I think the break has helped Kia and I expect to hear great things about her play in Buenos Aires.

Meanwhile, the 2017 Eurobasket tournament ended last week with Spain finishing on top. France finished 2nd and, surprisingly, Belgium finished in 3rd place. The other countries that qualified for the World Cup are Greece, Turkey and Latvia. So, no Serbia, no Czech Republic and again no Russia. The Mystics's Emma Meesseman played for Belgium. Of note to fans of WCBB, Eleanna Christinaki (transferred from Florida to Maryland) and Mariella Fasoula (transferred from BC to Vanderbilt) played for Greece, while Kitija Laksa (USF), Kate Kreslina (Fordham) and Anna Driemane (Colo State) played for Latvia. Spain is the host nation and will present the biggest challenge to the US.

The 2017 Asia Cup will take place in 2 weeks and will send 4 teams to the World Cup. Australia, Japan and China are the favorites. The Opals just completed their final selection camp in Phoenix (Sandy Brondello is the coach so the team travelled to her). Liz Cambage did not take part in the training camp, while college players Kristy Wallace (Baylor) and Alanna Smith (Stanford) did. The final Opals squad should be announced soon.

The AfroBasket tournament will take place in mid-August.

I expect Team USA to hold a mini-camp near the time of the WNBA finals (late September/early October).

 

[UcMiami]

Thanks for all the info.
This is one year where actually sending a team to the Americup competition would have been useful - the last time USA had to do the off year qualification was 2007 after winning the Bronze in the WC. Having that competition for what was a team in pretty serious transition was beneficial.

 

[UConnCat]

Thanks for all the info.
This is one year where actually sending a team to the Americup competition would have been useful - the last time USA had to do the off year qualification was 2007 after winning the Bronze in the WC. Having that competition for what was a team in pretty serious transition was beneficial.

True, though I do wonder how serious the transition will be heading in to the World Cup.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Meesemann is a player. When I read that Belgium had qualified, she was the first reason I could think of.

So, there is some overlap from past years, but some new blood as well. Latvia has some players.

Playing Spain in Spain will be a bigger challenge than most Americans think. We'll need our best effort and lineup. Dawn's legacy will be tarnished by a loss.

Do you know which cities in Spain? Barcelona is more expensive than Istanbul--but much safer.

 

[UConnCat]

Meesemann is a player. When I read that Belgium had qualified, she was the first reason I could think of.

So, there is some overlap from past years, but some new blood as well. Latvia has some players.

Playing Spain in Spain will be a bigger challenge than most Americans think. We'll need our best effort and lineup. Dawn's legacy will be tarnished by a loss.

Do you know which cities in Spain? Barcelona is more expensive than Istanbul--but much safer.

I agree on Spain. Remember the 2010 final against the Czech Republic before a raucous crowd in Prague? Team USA was only up by 5 at halftime and the Czechs cut the lead to 3 early in the 3rd quarter before going on a run and winning the game by 20. Spain is a much better team than the CR was in 2010. Spain's Alba Torrens was the MVP of the Eurobasket tournament.

Meeseman made the All Tournament team, as did Italy's Cecilia Zandalasini who flirted with the idea of playing WCBB as part of the class of 2015. Hoopgurlz ranked Zandalasini 4th behind Katie Lou, Asia Durr and Jessica Shepard.

I don't know where the games will be played in Spain. There was supposed to be an announcement in June but it didn't happen as far as I can tell. I expect Barcelona to be one of the host cities and perhaps the venue for the final.

 

[MilfordHusky]

I agree on Spain. Remember the 2010 final against the Czech Republic before a raucous crowd in Prague? Team USA was only up by 5 at halftime and the Czechs cut the lead to 3 early in the 3rd quarter before going on a run and winning the game by 20. Spain is a much better team than the CR was in 2010. Spain's Alba Torrens was the MVP of the Eurobasket tournament.

Meeseman made the All Tournament team, as did Italy's Cecilia Zandalasini who flirted with the idea of playing WCBB as part of the class of 2015. Hoopgurlz ranked Zandalasini 4th behind Katie Lou, Asia Durr and Jessica Shepard.

I don't know where the games will be played in Spain. There was supposed to be an announcement in June but it didn't happen as far as I can tell. I expect Barcelona to be one of the host cities and perhaps the venue for the final.

Thanks! I figure the final rounds will be in Barcelona or Madrid, though there are other possibilities.

I have a vague recollection of Prague, but I clearly remember the deafening high-pitched noise in Istanbul when the Turks played. It was not like a WNBA away game at all. It was more like playing the Soviets in Red Square during the heart of the Cold War. Annoying and intimidating.

 

[UConnCat]

The Opals named their squad for the Asia Cup. Some of the usual suspects -- Belinda Snell must be 50 years old, though I'm sure some say that about Sue Bird. The college players -- Wallace of Baylor and Smith of Stanford -- did not make the team. Again, no Cambage for this tournament though I still expect Australia to come out on top. Penny Taylor will be an assistant coach while Sandy Brondello will remain with the Mercury.

 

[UConnCat]

The Asia Cup just ended with Japan beating Australia 74-73. The game ended with Aussie's Belinda Snell missing a jumper. The 4 qualifiers for the World Cup are Japan, Australia, China and Korea.

The last pieces for the World Cup will be the AmeriCup which starts next week in Argentina. Go Kia! Go Canada!

BTW, the leading scorer and rebounder for Australia was none other than former Nebraska Cornhusker and former Connecticut Sun Kelsey Griffin. She now has Australian citizenship. Today she led the Opals with 30 points and 15 rebounds. She led Australia in scoring. I was wrong earlier when I said that Stanford's Alanna Smith didn't make the Opals; she did and had a nice tournament (11 pp.).

 

[UConnCat]

The AmeriCup (formerly Fiba Americas) started today and Canada won big over Cuba 81-35. Former UCLA Bruin Nirra Fields led Canada with 18 points while Ruth Hamblin chipped in with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Kia Nurse scored 6 points and grabbed a couple rebounds.

Canada's next game is tomorrow night against Puerto Rico at 8 pm and the games are available on youtube.

 

[UConnCat]

Canada defeated Puerto Rico 75-59 to go 2-0 at the Fiba Americup. Kia Nurse led Canada with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Canada plays Mexico tomorrow at 3pm (espn3) and then Paraguay on Thursday. The semis are on Saturday and the championship game on Sunday. Canada and Brazil seem destined for the championship game. The top 3 teams will qualify for the World Cup next year.

 

[UConnCat]

Canada defeated Mexico 65-39. While Kia Nurse had nice stats (points, rebounds and steals) last night, only 4 points today as she struggled with her shot (1-8). Still, Kia was second in +/- (+16) so Team Canada does better when she's on the court. Nirra Fields led Canada with 13 points and former Oregon State guard Jamie (Weisner) Scott scored 8 points in the 1st half. Canada is off tomorrow and plays Paraguay on Thursday in what should be an easy win.

 

[Wbbfan1]

Kia needs to find away to have more consistent games, with the occasional big scoring night when necessary. Canada and UConn should be able to count on Kia to score 10-12 points and 4-6 assists every game. I picked 10-12 points a game, maybe it should be a little lower or higher, but what ever PPG average is, she should get that in every game she plays. She has too many games where she's ineffective on offense and most times she's not looking to score.

 

[UConnCat]

Kia needs to find away to have more consistent games, with the occasional big scoring night when necessary. Canada and UConn should be able to count on Kia to score 10-12 points and 4-6 assists every game. I picked 10-12 points a game, maybe it should be a little lower or higher, but what ever PPG average is, she should get that in every game she plays. She has too many games where she's ineffective on offense and most times she's not looking to score.

The things you say you want to see from Nurse is exactly what she gave UConn last season. She was 4th on the team in scoring at 12.7 ppg which is exactly where you would want her to be given the surrounding offensive talent. Kia led the team in 3pt % (46) after a slow start. She also had the occasional big scoring games against DePaul (33), Albany (24) and Syracuse (29). Kia had 128 assists with only 50 turnovers.

Kia's scoring numbers will likely go down with the addition of Stevens and others. She'll often be the 5th scoring option on the court. That won't mean she isn't playing her role and doing exactly what Geno wants and expects from her.

 

[cordarone]

Canada beat Brazil 84-45 to advance to the finals.
With the win, the team also qualified for the World Cup next year in Spain.
Fields and Nurse led the scoring with 16 points apiece
(FIBA Americas link)

 

[UConnCat]

Team Canada plays host Argentina for the AmeriCup championship tonight at 8:30 on ESPN3. Argentina edged Puerto Rico in the semis 48-44, a team Canada defeated convincingly. Canada should win tonight's game though the home crowd should give Argentina a boost. In any event, as noted above, Canada (and Kia Nurse) have already qualified for the World Cup and will be playing in Spain next year.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Canada looks out of sorts and trails the home team by 7 at the half.

 

[BigBird]

Maples up 2, 45-44 @ 2:48 3rd

 

[BigBird]

Random thoughts: Nurse is active, looking sharp. Ruth Hamblin isn't going to run the floor all night, but she is one large Canadian person. I had not realized she was so strong to go with her height.

54-45 Canada, 46.5 sec 3rd

 

[BigBird]

End of three quarters: 56-47. Argies are lucky to be that close. They play a frantic style...a kind of playground style, but less disciplined than that.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Canada played better and smarter in the 3rd, going from down 7 to up 9. They stopped Argentina and took the ball to the hoop on offense.

This looks like a top-25 college game, maybe.

 

[BigBird]

Argentina seems to take the first (nearly) open shot. They seem to think that high tempo is to their benefit. I am not so sure.

 

[BigBird]

62-50. 8:00 to go...

 

[BigBird]

6:44 10 point lead.

 

[BigBird]

Canada having a wobbly spell. TO's etc.

 

[BigBird]

Seven point lead