FIBA Announces World Championship Preliminary Round Game Schedule And Playing Times

March 5, 2010 - Istanbul, Turkey

With less than six months to go before the tournament gets underway, FIBA (International Basketball Federation) today announced that the preliminary round game schedule with times for the 2010 FIBA World Championship has been established. The 2010 FIBA World Championship for Men will be held Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey.

FIBA conducted the draw for the 2010 World Championship for Men on Dec, 15. The USA was drawn into preliminary round Group B and was joined by Brazil (FIBA Americas Zone champion and ranked #14), Croatia (FIBA Europe Zone sixth place finisher and ranked tied for #15), Iran (FIBA Asia Zone champion and ranked #21), Slovenia (FIBA Europe Zone fourth place finisher and ranked #20) and Tunisia (Africa Zone third place finisher and ranked #42). Group B will play its preliminary round games Aug. 28-Sept. 2 in Istanbul, Turkey.  

Of the five teams the USA men will face in Group B preliminary play, the USA has played Brazil and Slovenia in prior World Championship action.

The U.S. will open the ‘10 Worlds on Aug. 28, 7 p.m. (all times listed are local times, EET is +7 hours from EST ) against Croatia, a team it has never faced in World Championship play, but a squad the USA is 3-0 versus in Olympic action. Facing its second European team in as many days, the Americans at 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 29 will meet Slovenia, a team it defeated 114-95 in 2006 World Championship preliminary play in their only World Championship meeting. FIBA Americas Zone champion Brazil will challenge the U.S. at 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 29. The USA-Brazil World Championship series stands at 6-5 in favor of the United States with the two teams last meeting in the 1998 World Championship.

Following a day off on Aug. 31, the USA resumes play Sept. 1, 7 p.m. against Asia Zone champ Iran, then closes out preliminary play with a contest versus Tunisia on Sept. 2 at 4:30 p.m., another team that the Americans have not faced before in the World Championships.

Composition of the other preliminary round groups are: Group A, which will play in Kayseri, consists of Argentina (2008 Olympic bronze medalist and ranked #1); Serbia (FIBA Europe Zone runner-up and ranked #5); Australia (FIBA Oceania Zone runner-up and ranked #11); Germany (FIBA wild card qualifier and ranked #7); Angola (FIBA Africa Zone champion and ranked #12); and Jordan (FIBA Asia Zone third place finisher and ranked #37). Group C will play in Ankara and features Greece (FIBA European Zone third place finisher and ranked #4); host Turkey (FIBA Europe Zone eighth place finisher and ranked #18); Puerto Rico (FIBA Americas Zone runner-up and ranked #10); Russia (FIBA wild card and ranked #17); China (FIBA Asia runner-up and ranked #9); and Ivory Coast (African Zone runner-up and ranked #40). Group D games will be held in Izmir and that group includes defending World Champion Spain (European Zone champion and ranked #3); France (FIBA Europe Zone fifth place finisher and ranked tied for #15); Canada (FIBA Americas Zone fourth place finisher and ranked #19); Lithuania (FIBA wild card qualifier and ranked #6); New Zealand (Oceania Zone champion and ranked #13); and Lebanon (FIBA wild card qualifier and ranked #24).

Each team at the 2010 World Championship will play the other teams in its preliminary group and the top four finishing teams from each preliminary group will then qualify for the Eighth-Finals. Winners of the Eighth-Finals games will advance to the quarterfinals, while losers are eliminated from the competition. Winners of the quarterfinals games will advance to the medal round semifinals, while the quarterfinals losers will play in the consolation round semifinals and play out for fifth-eighth places. Winners of the medal round semifinals will advance to the gold medal game, while medal round semifinals losers will meet in the bronze medal game. All games from the Eighth-Finals to the Finals will be played on a one-game elimination basis for the gold medal. The games from the Eighth-Finals to the Finals will be played in Istanbul.

Held every four years, the U.S. has had mixed results in World Championship play. Claiming the bronze medal with an 8-1 record in 2006 when the championship was held in Japan, the U.S. last claimed gold at the 1994 World Championship in Toronto, Canada, with a team comprised of NBA all-stars.

All told, the USA has won 10 medals in World Championship play - three gold medals (1954, 1986 and 1994), three silver medals (1950, 1959 and 1982) and four bronze medals (1974, 1990, 1998 and 2006). USA teams have compiled an overall 105-27 win-loss record in the World Championships for a 79.5 winning percentage.

2010-2012 USA Basketball Men's National Team
Over the course of 2010-2012, USA Men's National Teams will compete in the 2010 FIBA World Championship (Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey); if necessary the 2011 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament (dates and site TBD); and if the USA qualifies, the 2012 Summer Olympic Games (July 26-Aug. 12 in London, England).

The USA Basketball Men's National Team Program is headed by Phoenix Suns and USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo, who served as Managing Director of the USA Men's National Team for 2005-2008.

Returning in 2010-2012 for a second run with the USA Basketball Men's National Team is the entire 2006-08 USA Basketball Men's National Team coaching staff. Led by head coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University), and assistants Jim Boeheim (Syracuse University), Mike D'Antoni (New York Knicks) and Nate McMillan (Portland Trail Blazers), a staff that led the American men to gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a three-year record of 36-1, the coaching staff will return intact to lead the USA Basketball Men's National Team program in 2010-2012.

On Feb. 10, 2010, USA Basketball announced 27 players had been selected to be part of the 2010-12 USA Basketball Men's National Team.

Returning to the USA National Team for 2010-12 are 2008 Olympic gold medalists Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz). Rounding out the list of Olympians on the national squad roster are 2004 Olympic bronze medalists Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers) and Amar'e Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns).

Completing the list of National Team players are LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Andrew Bynum (Los Angeles Lakers); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers); Danny Granger (Indiana Pacers); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); Al Jefferson (Minnesota Timberwolves); David Lee (New York Knicks); Rashard Lewis (Orlando Magic); Brook Lopez (New Jersey Nets); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); O.J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies); Kendrick Perkins (Boston Celtics); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Gerald Wallace (Charlotte Bobcats) and Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder).

USA Basketball initiated its historic men's national team program in 2005 and capped the 2005-2008 quad competitions with a magnificent gold medal run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

USA Basketball's National Team program during the three-year period between 2006 and 2008 compiled a striking 36-1 overall win-loss record and just as importantly reestablished the USA team and its members as positive ambassadors for the United States and the sport.

The USA squad culminated the quadrennium by finishing 8-0 to reclaim the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the USA's first gold in a major international competition since 2000. The USA National Team also won gold at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship with a 10-0 record to qualify the U.S. men for the 2008 Olympic Games. In the program's first year, the U.S. captured the bronze medal with an 8-1 record at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan.

Since first fielding a USA Basketball team of legendary NBA stars in 1992, USA Basketball senior national teams comprised of NBA players have claimed gold medals in 10 of 13 major international basketball competitions, while compiling an impressive 100-7 overall record (.935 winning percentage) in those international competitions and a record of 33-1 (.971 winning percentage) in exhibition games.