Boomers draw the 'group of death' and difficult crossovers for World Cup

Boomers draw the ‘group of death’ and difficult crossovers for World Cup

Google Advertisements

Australia has drawn the ‘group of death’ for this year’s FIBA world cup, and will have to beat at least two of Canada, Lithuania and Senegal to advance to the round of 16.

Australia, ranked 11th in the world, will be the second highest ranking team in group H after the sixth ranked Lithuania, however Canada (23rd) looms as perhaps their biggest threat if they field a team featuring NBA stars Corey Joseph, Andrew Wiggins and Tristan Thompson.

Should Australia be fortunate enough to escape the group of death they will be thrust into another unforgiving group comprised of the two best teams from groups G and H, where they would likely have to beat at least one of France and Germany to progress through to the top eight.  Nevertheless, Australia will want to win both matches and avoid second place in that group  as second place will almost guarantee the Boomers cop the ultimate booby-prize in the sudden-death quarter-finals – Team USA.

A first placed finish, however, will yield a tough yet more favorable encounter with the second placed team to emerge from the amalgamation of groups E and F, including Greece, Brazil, Turkey, USA and New Zealand.

Escaping both groups could prove a mammoth task for the Boomers, who are likely to be without Ben Simmons and Dante Exum due to contract negotiations and injury respectively. Australia, however, will feature their greatest lineup ever, adding Thon Maker and Jonah Bolden to the team that came agonizingly close to the Bronze medal in Rio 2016.

 

The draw for Australia may seem unfair – and it is! Australia has the misfortune of being the zone champions of the region that world cup hosts China are from, relegating Australia to second seed in Asia behind them. And as such, Australia are pitted against the champions of another region (Canada – champion of the Americas) earlier than they would otherwise be.

China, however, have drawn the safest group in the competition, group A, and will be favored to emerge from their group, comprised of Cote D’Ivoire, Poland and Venezuela. Their crossovers will likely be the tough, but by no means insurmountable, Russians and Argentinians from group B. If the host nation should complete a surprising dream run into the later rounds, the soonest they could face a certain death at the hands of the Americans is in the semi finals.

Our friends across the ditch in New Zealand will have their own problems, pitted against Brazil, Montenegro and the Antetokounmpo-led Greece in group F. If they should advance from that group their likely crossovers are Turkey and the USA of group E. A quarter finals match up against ‘big brother’ Australia is a possibility if New Zealand should punch above their weight. The Tall Blacks will have to hope their underdog status catches their more fancied foes unaware if they’re to make it into the round of 16 and beyond.

Australia’s world cup campaign begins on August 31st against Canada.

 

For the full rundown of the competition system Click Here 

Sign and share this petition for Ben Simmons to play at the world cup. 

 

Jarrad Hurley (79 Posts)

Jarrad Hurley's professional basketball aspirations led him to the dizzying heights of the Adelaide social league circuit. After an epiphany that his hoop dreams would go unrealised, he put the ball down and picked up a pen. Jarrad lives vicariously through the successes of Australian basketball, is a mad 36ers fanatic, and might just cry if the Boomers ever medal.


Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Luke Kendall on developing basketball in India, 2006 FIBA World Champs & Sydney’s 2005 NBL Title

    Former NBL player and current Casey Cavaliers head coach Luke Kendall joins the podcast to share his journey—from his junior basketball days to professional success and now a rising coaching career. Kendall developed under legendary coach Mike Dunlap at Metro State, where he won a national championship before moving to the NBL. He played for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coast Blaze, winning a championship with the Kings before injuries forced an early retirement. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of…

    READ MORE
  • Larry Kestelman Says Geelong Deserves an NBL Team But Is Missing a Real Estate Component

    The possibility of an NBL expansion team in Geelong has gained momentum, with league owner Larry Kestelman confirming the city is a strong candidate—provided it can secure a suitable venue. However, much like we outlined in an article a number of years ago, How the Geelong Supercats could return to the NBL within 3 years, the missing piece isn’t just a stadium, but a real estate-backed development plan to make the project financially viable. Kestelman recently acknowledged Geelong’s growing basketball scene, citing record participation numbers…

    READ MORE
  • The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise

    There have been championship runs in the NBL defined by dominance and the sheer weight of talent that could overwhelm opponents before the ball was tipped. The dynasties of Perth, the star-studded reign of Melbourne, and the rise of Sydney’s financial muscle all tell tales of powerhouses that knew how to stay at the top. But there has only ever been one championship like Wollongong’s in 2001—a title won through sheer resilience, a team that had no business being there until they forced their way…

    READ MORE
  • If Dyson Daniels Doesn’t Win Defensive Player of the Year, It’s a Disgrace

    The Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award is supposed to recognise the most dominant defender in the NBA. If that’s the case, then Dyson Daniels should already have his name engraved on the trophy. But as the season winds down, there’s a growing concern that Daniels might get overlooked simply because he’s a guard. If that happens, it won’t just be unfair—it will be a disgrace. Daniels is Leading the NBA in Every Key Defensive Stat There’s no argument against Daniels’ defensive dominance this…

    READ MORE
  • Sydney Kings’ Xavier Cooks Faces Further Consequences After Positive Cocaine Test

    Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks has served most of his one-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine but may still face additional disciplinary action from his club. He was provisionally suspended in early February after returning an adverse analytical finding just two days before the Kings’ sudden-death clash against Adelaide. Basketball Australia later confirmed the ban, though the club initially cited “personal leave” as the reason for his absence. Despite the violation, Sydney Kings officials reportedly want to retain Cooks, who remains under contract for…

    READ MORE
  • NBL Free Agent Tracker

    Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…

    READ MORE
  • How Aussie Hoops Is Vital For Asia Basketball

    The recent FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Traralgon showcased not just Australia's dominance in the region but also why Australian basketball is becoming an invaluable asset for Asian nations looking to grow their game. The Boomers' commanding victories over Indonesia (109-58) and Thailand (114-64) were not just displays of superior talent but reflections of an elite system that consistently produces world-class players. For Asian basketball federations seeking a model to learn from, Australia offers an ideal blueprint—one that balances elite player development, a thriving professional…

    READ MORE
  • New Sydney NBL Team: A Next Stars Hub in the Making?

    A second Sydney NBL team is expected to be the league’s next expansion franchise, with Gold Coast, Darwin, and Canberra all encountering significant roadblocks in recent months. It’s believed the Harbour City Stars is the leading candidate for the team name, following a branding strategy similar to how San Francisco’s Golden State Warriors use a regional moniker rather than the city’s name. This broader identity would emphasize the team’s connection to Sydney’s iconic harbor while avoiding geographical constraints within the city. In addition to Harbour…

    READ MORE
sekolahtoto SEKOLAHTOTO SEKOLAHTOTO sekolahtoto http://178.128.104.2/ sekolahtoto sekolahtoto sekolahtoto sekolahtoto

SEKOLAHTOTO

SITUS TOGEL

depo 5k

https://www.instalikes.org/

sekolahtoto

situs toto

slot deposit 5000

sekolahtoto

situs togel

situs togel