With preliminary play concluded, the USA is leading the field in 12 of 19 statistical categories, including assists (102) and steals (69). (Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE / Getty Images)

Aug. 19, 2008 • Beijing, China

USA (5-0)
Australia (3-2)

TV: Live at 8 a.m. on Aug. 20 on USA, USA HD
*All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time.

In the 2008 Olympics
Australia emerged from Group A with the No. 4 seed after rebounding from early losses to Croatia (97-82) and Argentina (85-68) and recording wins over Iran (106-68), Russia (95-80) and Lithuania (106-75). Matt Nielsen led Australia with 13 points in the opening loss to Croatia, Patrick Mills was the team's high scorer against Australia with 22 points, Brad Newley tallied 24 points against Iran, Andrew Bogut and CJ Bruton scored 22 points apiece against Russia and Bogut recorded 23 points versus Lithuania. Overall, Bogut is averaging 14.4 ppg., Newley 13.2 ppg. and Mills 13.0 ppg. Australia enters the game shooting 50.9 percent from the field, 44.4 percent from 3-point and 78.3 percent from the free throw line. After shooting 16-of-25 from 3-point against Lithuania, Australia leads the tournament in 3-point field goals made through five games with 48, and Bruton is a perfect 10-of-10 from the charity stripe to lead the tournament in free throw percentage.

Aug. 10: Croatia 97, Australia 82 • Stats
Aug. 12: Argentina 85, Australia 68 • Stats
Aug. 14: Australia 106, Iran 68 • Stats
Aug. 16: Australia 95, Russia 80 • Stats
Aug. 18: Australia 106, Lithuania 75 • Stats

A Little History
Most recently, the USA faced Australia in an exhibition contest on Aug. 5 in Shanghai, China, earning an 87-76 win over a determined Australian squad that was playing without NBA star Andrew Bogut (Milwaukee Bucks). Dwyane Wade led four U.S. scorers in double figures with 22 points, followed by 16 points from LeBron James, 13 points from Kobe Bryant and a 12-point, 10-rebound performance from Carmelo Anthony. Patrick Mills and Chris Anstey tallied 13 points apiece for the Aussies.

Australia qualified for the 2008 Olympics as the FIBA Oceania Champion, winning the first two games of a best-of-three series against New Zealand. Australia has appeared in a total of 11 Olympic men's basketball competitions, and has three times finished fourth (1988, 1996 and 2000). The USA has earned wins in all five Olympic games between the two teams, most recently an 89-79 victory in 2004, as well as wins in 1964 (78-45), 1972 (81-55), 1988 (78-49) and 1996 (101-73). The USA also played Australia in the 2006 FIBA World Championship, with the red, white and blue recording a 113-73 blowout.

The Scouting Report
USA Director of International Player Personnel Tony Ronzone
We played them recently in Shanghai, and you've seen all five of their games here, what should we expect from Australia?
When we played them in Shanghai, I thought they played us as well as anybody in those friendly matches. They competed hard. It was a great match for us because we gambled a lot defensively, and it helped teach us that against these international teams you can't gamble because they all make shots. We have came a long way since that game. That was a learning game for us, and I think we have really progressed since then.

In their final preliminary game against Lithuania, Australia was 16-of-25 from 3-point. Our guys wil take note of that, and I think we will be very prepared for them. They run their offensive sets very hard and crisp, and Bogut has been huge for them. He didn't play against us last time, and he will this time. He's been playing very well. It seems like he has his energy and his wind back. It's interesting because they are the fouth place team in their group, but right now, they could beat anybody.

Who besides Andrew Bogut on their team can hurt you?
The point guard, CJ Brutton is just an automatic 3-point shooter. If we don't guard him, he will kill us from the 3-point line. And Patti Mills, their back-up point guard who plays at St. Mary's College, he's as quick as anybody we've ever seen. Australian rules football is trying to sign him to a big contract as a running back, he's that athletic. We had a hard time guarding him last game. We had our guards, even Chris Paul, on him, and he was getting by us. But again, we were undisciplined. We are more disciplined now defensively. They have Brad Newley, who the Houston Rockets drafted in the second round. He's their two guard. He had 16 against Lithuania, just one of those guys who runs off picks, high energy, he's athletic and he just makes plays for them. He's a tough competitor, and we have to respect him. Then Matty Neilsen is the four-man for them. He kind of muddies the game. He'll lock you, push you from behind and frustrates players with hard fouls.

What should we expect from Australia defensively, and how do we attack them?
I think what they will do defensively is beg us to shoot. We shot well last game, but teams don't still believe it. They know that they can't pressure us, so what they will do is try to keep us in front and slow the tempo of the game. As soon as we come into halfcourt, they are going to just pack it in, like a zone but it will be a soft man-to-man. They will try to limit us from getting to the basket, limit us from getting inside and beg us to shoot outside, so we have to make our shots.

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