SIXTEENTH WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES -- 1991

The 1991 USA World University Games roster reads like a who's who of collegiate basketball for 1991. Even the coaching staff, headed by Seton Hall's (NJ) P. J. Carlesimo, ranked among the collegiate arena's finest. The top-notch U.S. crew did not disappoint as the USA rolled to the gold with an unblemished 6-0 record, its second consecutive gold and its eighth gold in 12 World University Games tries.

1991 USA Men's World University Games Team 1991 USA RESULTS (6-0) USA 103 Ireland 57 USA 141 Finland 66 USA 116 Czechoslovakia 74 USA   74 Spain 71 USA   89 Israel 59 USA   96 Canada 56 1991 WORLD UNIV. GAMES FINAL STANDINGS 1. USA (6-0) 10. Ireland (3-3) 2. Canada (5-1) 11. Korea (3-3) 3. Soviet Union (5-1) 12. Japan (2-3) 4. Israel (3-3) 13. Sweden (2-3) 5. Turkey (5-2) 14. Hungary (1-4) 6. Czechoslovakia (3-3) 15. Finland (1-4) 7. Spain (3-3) 16. Nigeria (1-4) 8. Mexico (3-4) 17. H. Kong (0-5) 9. Great Britain (4-2)

Opening pool play facing an overmatched team from Ireland, Coach Carlesimo's gang cruised to an easy 103-57 victory. The American offensive attack relied on balance as 10 of the squad's 12 members scored, including six in double digits, led by 6'4' Hubert Davis' 25 points. Facing Finland one night later, the U.S. started slowly but finished strong en route to a convincing 141-66 victory. University of Kansas' standout Adonis Jordan led all scorers with 26 points, hitting three of four three-point field goal tries.

The 2-0 USA squad completed pool play facing 2-0 Czechoslovakia. Relying on its inside strength, the U.S. took control early and sailed to a 116-74 win. 6'11' Ervin Johnson of the University of New Orleans finished the victory with a game high 23 points and 11 rebounds.

The USA's perfect record and objective of capturing the gold almost came to an end as an inspired Spanish team pushed the Americans to the brink of a loss before the U.S. prevailed 74-71. Rodney Rogers of Wake Forest led the U.S. scoring campaign with 14 points on seven of 12 shooting, while Davis added 12 points.

Carrying a 4-0 record into the semifinals, Carlesimo's squad faced once beaten Israel for the right to advance to the gold medal contest. Behind an aggressive defense that frustrated Israel's offense into 31.8 percent (21-66) shooting from the floor and 18 turnovers, the Americans stormed to an 89-59 victory. Davis again paced the USA scoring effort with 19 points.

Cruising to the gold medal game, the expected USA-USSR match-up never materialized after Canada upset the Soviets 74-70 in the semifinals. Facing the 5-0 Canadians, the Americans wasted no time in establishing their offense and the U.S. squad went on to a lopsided 96-56 victory. Calbert Cheaney and Davis tallied 14 points apiece, while Rogers, George Lynch and Eric Anderson added 12, 11, and 10, respectively.

Davis finished the USA's gold medal hunt as the team's leading scorer, averaging 17.8 ppg., while shooting .594 from the field and a sizzling .567 (17-30 3-pt FGs) from three-point range. Rogers and Cheaney also finished the competition with double figure scoring averages of 12.3 ppg. and 11.0 ppg., respectively, while the USA averaged 103.2 ppg., and allowed just 63.8 ppg.