Basketball Olympic Field Complete Following Qualifying Tournament
7/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Moraga, CA - Upon completion of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens, Greece this past weekend, the field of the 12 teams for the upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is now finalized. The final three teams to qualify the Olympic tournament are Croatia, Germany and Greece. Patrick Mills and the Australian Boomers now know their opening round opponent in the 2008 Olympics, and will open against Croatia on Sunday, August 10.
In addition to Croatia, Australia's four other opponents in pool play include defending Olympic champions Argentina, European powerhouses Russia and Lithuania, and Iran. Australia does avoid playing the United States in pool play, but could meet them in the quarterfinals of medal play, which begins on August 20. Group B consists of Angola, China, Spain, USA, Germany, and Greece.
In order to advance to the medal round, Australia will need to finish in the top four in Group A following pool play. With six teams in each group, Australia will play five preliminary round games, one game against each team in its group, to qualify for the medal round. Once in medal round, the teams will be cross-matched based on the group finish from preliminary round play.
Prior to the start of the Olympic games, Australia will play an exhibition game against the United States on August 5 in Shanghai, China, as Mills will have a chance to play against the top players in the world. The game between Australia and the USA will tip-off at 5:00 am Pacific Time and will be televised on ESPN2.
OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR MEN (August 10-24, 2008)
1. Composition of groups
Group A: Argentina, Australia, Iran, Lithuania, Russia, and Croatia
Group B: Angola, China, Germany, Greece, Spain, and USA
2. Preliminary Rounds (all times listed are local times in Beijing, China)
August 10, 2008
Russia vs. Iran - 9:00 am
Germany vs. Angola - 11:15 am
Spain vs. Greece - 2:30 pm
Lithuania vs. Argentina - 4:45 pm
Australia vs. Croatia - 8:00 pm
USA vs. China - 10:15 pm
August 12, 2008
Iran vs. Lithuania - 9:00 am
Croatia vs. Russia - 11:15 am
Greece vs. Germany - 2:30 pm
China vs. Spain - 4:45 pm
Angola vs. USA - 8:00 pm
Argentina vs. Australia - 10:15 pm
August 14, 2008
Germany vs. Spain - 9:00 am
Australia vs. Iran - 11:15 am
Angola vs. China - 2:30 pm
Lithuania vs. Russia - 4:45 pm
USA vs. Greece - 8:00 pm
Argentina vs. Croatia - 10:15 pm
August 16, 2008
Greece vs. Angola - 9:00 am
Russia vs. Australia - 11:15 am
Croatia vs. Lithuania - 2:30 pm
Iran vs. Argentina - 4:45 pm
China vs. Germany - 8:00 pm
Spain vs. USA - 10:15 pm
August 18, 2008
Iran vs. Croatia - 9:00 am
Australia vs. Lithuania - 11:15 am
Greece vs. China - 2:30 pm
Angola vs. Spain - 4:45 pm
USA vs. Germany - 8:00 pm
Argentina vs. Russia - 10:15 pm
3. Quarter-Finals:
The information below shows only who will be playing whom in accordance with the final standings after the Preliminary Round.
August 20, 2008
Game 65 Group B Two Seed vs. Group A Three Seed - 2:30 pm
Game 66 Group A One Seed vs. Group B Four Seed - 4:45 pm
Game 67 Group A Two Seed vs. Group B Three Seed - 8:00 pm
Game 68 Group B One Seed vs. Group A Four Seed - 10:15 pm
4. Semi-Finals:
August 22, 2008
Game 71 Winner 65 vs. Winner 66 - 8:00 pm
Game 72 Winner 67 vs. Winner 68 - 10:15 pm
The exact game number and time for the two Semi-Finals will be known at the latest on the evening of August 20. The games of the Semi-Finals will be played at 20:00 hours and 22:15 hours.
5. Finals
August 24, 2008
Bronze Medal Game: Game 75 Loser 71 vs. Loser 72 - 12:00 pm
Gold Medal Game: Game 76 Winner 71 vs. Winner 72 - 2:30 pm
In addition to Croatia, Australia's four other opponents in pool play include defending Olympic champions Argentina, European powerhouses Russia and Lithuania, and Iran. Australia does avoid playing the United States in pool play, but could meet them in the quarterfinals of medal play, which begins on August 20. Group B consists of Angola, China, Spain, USA, Germany, and Greece.
In order to advance to the medal round, Australia will need to finish in the top four in Group A following pool play. With six teams in each group, Australia will play five preliminary round games, one game against each team in its group, to qualify for the medal round. Once in medal round, the teams will be cross-matched based on the group finish from preliminary round play.
Prior to the start of the Olympic games, Australia will play an exhibition game against the United States on August 5 in Shanghai, China, as Mills will have a chance to play against the top players in the world. The game between Australia and the USA will tip-off at 5:00 am Pacific Time and will be televised on ESPN2.
OLYMPIC BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR MEN (August 10-24, 2008)
1. Composition of groups
Group A: Argentina, Australia, Iran, Lithuania, Russia, and Croatia
Group B: Angola, China, Germany, Greece, Spain, and USA
2. Preliminary Rounds (all times listed are local times in Beijing, China)
August 10, 2008
Russia vs. Iran - 9:00 am
Germany vs. Angola - 11:15 am
Spain vs. Greece - 2:30 pm
Lithuania vs. Argentina - 4:45 pm
Australia vs. Croatia - 8:00 pm
USA vs. China - 10:15 pm
August 12, 2008
Iran vs. Lithuania - 9:00 am
Croatia vs. Russia - 11:15 am
Greece vs. Germany - 2:30 pm
China vs. Spain - 4:45 pm
Angola vs. USA - 8:00 pm
Argentina vs. Australia - 10:15 pm
August 14, 2008
Germany vs. Spain - 9:00 am
Australia vs. Iran - 11:15 am
Angola vs. China - 2:30 pm
Lithuania vs. Russia - 4:45 pm
USA vs. Greece - 8:00 pm
Argentina vs. Croatia - 10:15 pm
August 16, 2008
Greece vs. Angola - 9:00 am
Russia vs. Australia - 11:15 am
Croatia vs. Lithuania - 2:30 pm
Iran vs. Argentina - 4:45 pm
China vs. Germany - 8:00 pm
Spain vs. USA - 10:15 pm
August 18, 2008
Iran vs. Croatia - 9:00 am
Australia vs. Lithuania - 11:15 am
Greece vs. China - 2:30 pm
Angola vs. Spain - 4:45 pm
USA vs. Germany - 8:00 pm
Argentina vs. Russia - 10:15 pm
3. Quarter-Finals:
The information below shows only who will be playing whom in accordance with the final standings after the Preliminary Round.
August 20, 2008
Game 65 Group B Two Seed vs. Group A Three Seed - 2:30 pm
Game 66 Group A One Seed vs. Group B Four Seed - 4:45 pm
Game 67 Group A Two Seed vs. Group B Three Seed - 8:00 pm
Game 68 Group B One Seed vs. Group A Four Seed - 10:15 pm
4. Semi-Finals:
August 22, 2008
Game 71 Winner 65 vs. Winner 66 - 8:00 pm
Game 72 Winner 67 vs. Winner 68 - 10:15 pm
The exact game number and time for the two Semi-Finals will be known at the latest on the evening of August 20. The games of the Semi-Finals will be played at 20:00 hours and 22:15 hours.
5. Finals
August 24, 2008
Bronze Medal Game: Game 75 Loser 71 vs. Loser 72 - 12:00 pm
Gold Medal Game: Game 76 Winner 71 vs. Winner 72 - 2:30 pm
MBB | Highlights from Mickey McConnell's Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, March 25
MBB | Mickey McConnell Introductory Press Conference, 3-25-26
Wednesday, March 25
MBB | Liam Campbell, Joshua Dent and Randy Bennett Postgame Interview vs Texas A&M, 3-19-26, presented by University Credit Union
Thursday, March 19
MBB | Harry Wessels, Joshua Dent and Rory Hawke Featured on ESPN Australia
Wednesday, March 18
