Team USA

In the end, for Deon Thompson and his team mates, the World University Games brought a medal, even if it’s probably not the one they wanted. Team USA defeated Israel in the Bronze Medal game by the final tally 90-81. The power forward from Torrance, CA. ended up with seven points and six rebounds in the game, and for all the games Thompson averaged over 9.5 points and just under 6 boards, something that I think the Carolina staff would not mind for the senior in the `09-`10 season. A blogger who follows Carolina as well as anyone, Tar Heel Fan, makes a great point in saying that taking the numbers from this summer international play “has little to no bearing on how he will perform in the ACC”. Going on to talk about the fact of the different rules and how head coach Bo Ryan likes to play it in the 70′s while head coach Roy Williams likes to play in the 90′s (if not higher).

On the other hand, my hopes is that what does translate from this summer experience to the UNC schedule is senior leadership. If Thompson can react to the fact there is no more Hansbrough to go to, and there will be a need for somehow to gel plenty of talented but young players, his contribution for coach Williams might be much more than mere points and boards. As with most things only time will tell, and for now all I can/will say is congratulations to the US Team that did get a medal (even if I am pretty sure they are a bit disappointed they did not bring home the gold). Stay tune to hear more about Deon Thompson (and the rest of the `09-`10 team) when I begin my “Get to know the Heels” pieces about all the basketball (and football) players in the next few days.

After bringing good news from over seas for the last week or so, it’s time to say that Team USA won’t be playing in the Gold Medal game, as it was beaten by the Russian team 69 to 68. And while the score might say it was a tight game, the reality is a lot different. Head coach Bo Ryan’s team was a ahead by double digits entering the last quarter of the game and was outscored 20 to 9 in the last quarter, something that if you ask me, should not have happened. As far as Deon Thompson was concerned he had another good performance, coming out of the game with a double double (12 points and 11 rebounds) and probably gaining more and more experience. And while this is the end of the line as far as a gold medal is concerned, the US team will face off against Israel today to go for the bronze.

I am still very positive that this experience will make the power forward from Torrance, CA. a much better player in his final go around at Chapel Hill. These games, the fact he is going to be back with most of the people from last year (yes, Hansbrough won’t be there but Ed Davis and Tyler Zeller will), and the addition of talented incoming freshmen, that even if they get redshirted or don’t play much, will give the starters all they can handle in practice. And let’s not forget that Thompson will still have a good part of the summer to work out with his team mates. Combine all of this, add a Ginyard ready to get on the court as a fifth year senior, and you could have a very good team, and probably the best front court in the nation. So, while we wait for the last game of this tournament to be played out, let’s start thinking of how much Carolina is going to benefit from another big man ready for the challenge of defending the national title.

In the last game of the first round Team USA didn’t have the same easy path as it did in the first three. Coach Bo Ryan’s squad narrowly escaped with a 68-66 win against Serbia, and Deon Thompson didn’t have the same type of game as he has had up to now, scoring just six points (and 5 boards). Another thing that was not the same was that the senior from Chapel Hill did not start, as he has for the whole tournament, but came off the bench. On the bright side, Team USA does go 4 and 0 and will face Bulgaria today in the Medal Round of the World University Games. Another thing that could truly be a positive for the American squad is that they won a close game where the U.S. highest lead was six points and Serbia’s was five. This game, from what I read on the UNC Athletic web site, was always close, and that means to me that this squad can win big, but can also win the tight ones.

This is what the head coach of Team USA had to say after the game:

“A game comes down to what seems like an eternity that last minute, the last 30 seconds, the last nine seconds,” said USA and University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan. “But it’s all the things that happened before that really are important. In order for us to get accomplished what we want to accomplish, we have to give ourselves a better chance by taking care of the ball and rebounding a little better. They struggled some and we struggled some because both teams were playing so hard against each other. We happened to be two points up, a little more than them, but there are still a lot tougher games ahead.”

The key is that while the game was close Team USA knew that they were going on to the next round. From now on the game will count a lot more, cause it’s win or go home. Will be interesting to see if the added pressure will make this talented team better or if it will make it a shadow of itself. My opinion is that both the coaching staff and the twelve players on the roster know that if they play as they can the gold is their to lose. Today’s challenger for Team USA will be Bulgaria, who has gone 3 and 1 in the tournament, with the winner advancing to the semifinals, which will be played tomorrow.

Team USA

In the third game for Team USA in the World University Games it was once again a very easy road for head coach Bo Ryan and his 12 men squad. But, for us Tar Heels, the great part of the 108 to 77 win over Greece was that Deon Thompson led all scorers with 17 points (8 for 10 shooting). This is once again showing what I been saying all along, the Team USA’s experience can only make the power forward from Torrance, CA. a better player, both in this tournament as well as for his last season in Chapel Hill this winter. There are still more games to come for Team USA, but based on what I have read so far, Thompson is doing his part and that is all we truly want from his, isn’t it?

From the article about the game on the official USA Basketball web site it tells us that with the win Team USA is now guaranteed to be in the Medal round, as they can not come in any lower than second in their group. From the sounds of it, by the quote of the head coach, it seems that the team played 100% in the first half and then were somewhat off rhythm in the second one:

“They gave us their best in the first half,” said USA and University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan. “In the second half, once we made our push, we got them out of any rhythm they could establish. The rest of the game we were pretty much in control, but in the first 20 minutes, they did the things that make them so good. If we didn’t shut that off, we were going to be in trouble. But our guys did what we needed to do, we responded better. We got them in foul trouble in certain positions, and that helped us quite a bit. We got on the glass, and didn’t turn the ball over, so we were getting shots every time down. All the fundamental things that you need to do to beat a team, we did, especially in the last 20 minutes.”

Deon Thompson also had a quote in the post game:

“It definitely feels good to see your team go out there and play well against a high-caliber team and get a good victory,” said Thompson. “It helps us build our confidence as a team.”

And that, getting confidence, is the key for this young man. If he can build on that he is going to be the player that most of the fans at Chapel Hill want him to be. The more I read about these games, the more I check the boxscore, the more I am convinced that Deon Thompson is going to be that senior leader that the front line (full of great but young players) is going to need going into the 2009-10 season. Of course, only time will tell if I am right or not, but I have to say that I am getting excited about seeing the new look that will be this season’s team. But for now, it’s Thompson in the World University Games and Tyler Hansbrough in the Orlando Summer League, both trying to show that they belong and can be what most don’t think they can.

Deon Thompson

In the second game of the World University Games Deon Thompson & Co. had no problem beating South Korea. It was not really even a contest, as Team USA beat down its second opponent of the tournament, this time with a lopsided score of 113 to 76, of which 82 came in the paint. It was a game where all twelve members of the team coached by Bo Ryan scored, and while Thompson only saw 12 minutes of action he ended up with a dozen points on a 5 for 8 performance. With the victory Team USA advanced to the 2nd round of the tournament, where it faced Greece. As I said before the team left for this tournament, they need to exploit the other squad’s height and pound the ball inside. Deon Thompson agreed with me as he said this after the game (from the official web site of USA Basketball):

“We didn’t know that we would be able to dominate the paint, but we looked at their size and saw that it would be dumb for us not to go inside,” said Thompson. “Guys were getting into the paint and finishing. That definitely was a good way to attack them.”

Deon Thompson

If UNC can get 12 points in 12 minutes from Thompson in the upcoming season I believe that head coach Roy Williams (and his staff) would be delighted. However I would also say that coach Williams would love to see his power forward get more than two rebounds against a much small team such as South Korea. In the end, I am more and more confident that this experience is going to help the young man in his last go around in Chapel Hill and that many fans will be surprised of the jump he will make from last year (as a role player) to this year (as a senior leader). Coming up this afternoon (or this evening) on The Fifth Corner a small recap about the next game that Team USA played, so stay tuned for that.

Team USA

In a game that was over, well, as soon as Team USA scored, Deon Thompson started the next stage of their overseas tour by destroying Finland 87 to 40. From what I have read on the official USA Basketball web site, and from the box score of the game, the final score might be closer than the game was. In this game Deon Thompson played 20 minutes, and he (as well as other starters) could have played less in this massacre. The power forward from Chapel Hill ended up with: 8 pts, 7 rebs and 2 blocks. All in all this is what we were hoping for, a dominating game from the squad to make sure they were ready for what waits for them. And while this is definitely not a measuring stick for head coach Bo Ryan and his squad (Finland scored 2 points in the 4th quarter), it’s a way to see the intesity of this team.

Deon Thompson

The question now is, what is going to happen next with this squad? I have to believe they will keep improve, and hopefully will be able to make it to the podium with the gold medal. I keep saying (and believing) that Thompson is going to be a key part of this if Team USA wants to come back home with the top prize. As soon as more information comes out on the World University Games team I will update it here on The Fifth Corner. For now all I can do is to wish the best of luck to Deon Thompson and his team mates.

Team USA

I doubt that a head coach, especially one that works for Division I program, would be listening to a blogger like myself, but it seems that I was pretty dead on when I said in my last post about Deon Thompson and Team USA the squad needed the big man from Chapel Hill on the court more than they got in the lost versus Serbia. In their last game of the Serbia International Tourney Team USA where they faced Russia, Thompson got 12 points and 9 boards in 26 minutes of playing time, which is big time when you consider the final score of 67 to 63 in favor of the US.

The game was definitely what you would expect from coach Ryan, one that is not offensive minded and is based on trying to make the other team play worst than yours. All of that was accomplished, maybe too much if you check out the stats from the game. While the teams were dead locked at 50 with three quarters played, it was Russia who took control of the fourth quarter. The Russians held Thompson and Co. to just one basket in the first half of the last quarter, and with just 4:24 the US was trailing by 5, 61-56. But then it was the turn of the Americans to shut down the Russians, and with a Ryan modeled game when it was all over Team USA would take the win.

From the official site of USA Basketball here are a couple of comments by both the head coach:

“The guys got it done tonight with hustle opportunities,” said USA and University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan. “(Evan) Turner, (Robbie) Hummel and Deon (Thompson), those guys, especially at the end, they were everywhere. Corey (Fisher) and Talor Battle. I just really like the way they stuck their noses in there.”

And from the leading scorer for the game, Corey Fisher:

“Our team defense got better,” said Fisher, who also had three steals. “We came out with a lot of energy. That is one thing we talked about in the locker room before the game – to come out with toughness and play for each other.”

Have to say it’s nice to see that head coach Bo Ryan complimenting the Carolina power forward. This tour, while it’s about winning a gold medal first and foremost (as it should be), for Thompson it should also be about learning to be a leader and not a role player. Even more importantly, it’s about learning to be a leader with a group of above average talent. With some great players around him the senior for head coach Roy Williams needs to be that one player that will bring the the big men at Chapel Hill together. In my mind there is no doubt that the players in the front court donning the carolina blue this season are the best group in college basketball. If there is a leader, who can bond them together, bring them into the team fold, this is going to go a long way into making this season another memorable one for the Tar Heels fans.

As far as Team USA, they now have a couple of days off and then begin the first round of the World University Games. For Thompson, who is averaging just a tad below 10 points and 6 boards per game, the next few games will definitely show how much he has understood what it means to be a leader of talent.

Team USA

In their first game of the exhibition round (aka the round-robin Serbia International) the USA Basketball World University Games team had to come from behind to beat Team Canada. It took a great fourth quarter to do so, where Deon Thompson and company outscored their opponents 28 to 14, but in the end it was USA beating Canada by the final score of 85 to 81. From the article on the official site of UNC Athletics I find out that Thompson & Company was down by 16 points (in the first half), which is probably something that head coach Bo Ryan didn’t think would happen, at least not so early. As far as Thompson is concerned, he scored ten points and added a team high six rebounds. And while the box score tells us a story, the Tar Heel power forward gives another perspective to the game:

“I don’t think we ever panicked,” said Thompson. “I think that was just first game jitters. It was the first time we had actually seen new faces, been a different country; we flew all day on Thursday. It was our first game together, and I think in the first half, we just had to get those first game jitters out.”

Deon Thompson

I would say that this is a comment of someone who is pretty confident of both his skills and of his team mate’s. Of course, I would also think that no player is going to be down too much in the first game, but they have to now show up from the first second in this tournament if they want people to believe that this was just a bump in the road and not something that is going to happen over and over. Unfortunately that did not happen in game two of the round robin, as the team lost by double figures to Serbia, and this one was not close. Thompson had seven points in 18 minutes, while adding 3 rebounds and a block shot as USA went down 98 to 82. Today is the third game of this tourney and then come July 3rd it’s for real, as the squad will play first Finland and then South Korea in the opening round of the World University Games.

I have to say that with the experience gained by the Tar Heel from Torrance, CA. he should be leading this team and the fact that he is not playing more (just 18 minutes in the game against Serbia) is troubling to me. Over at the US Basketball web site there is the recap of the game. The one troubling stat is that the United States squad was outrebounded by double figures on the boards, and that is something that a team like this should not ever have happen.

Another theory about this lost could be the fact that Bo Ryan’s team thought they were going to come back on their opponents, just like they did in game one. Unfortunately for both players and coaching staff, that did not happen and now they have to settle in to the fact that if the US wants to be the team they can be they have to do it from minute one of the game and not after a while. With the next game coming up today we will see if this team can rebound or if it needs to go back to the drawing board for the real tournament that will begin later this week. The World University Games is held every other year. The `09 men’s basketball competition will feature 26 teams vying for the gold from July 2-11. Athletes for the USA team must be currently enrolled in a college or university and have remaining eligibility.

Deon Thompson

As I had talked about a while back, Deon Thompson was trying out for the 2009 Men’s World University Games Team. I am now glad to report that after a three day work out the forward (and only returning starter from a national title team) from Chapel Hill will be among the twelve players team that will reppresent the United States at this year’s games July 2-11 in Belgrade, Serbia. The team will be coached by Bo Ryan (HC at Wisconsin), while the selection committee was headed by Jim Boeheim (HC at Syracuse) and included Carolina’s Roy Williams, as well as other head coaches from Division I. From an article on the official site of USA Basketball I found this quote from coach Boeheim:

“It was one of the most difficult decisions we as a committee have had because the team is so balanced,” Boeheim said. “It’s probably one of the better groups of wing players we have had and all the guys are great players. It looks to be one of our most competitive teams for the World University Games. We have good shooters and athletic wing guys, which gives this team a good chance to compete.”

While head coach Bo Ryan said this of the players:

“First of all, all 16 players at trials are very good players,” Ryan said. “Everybody that competed worked very hard against one another at a very high level. The toughest part was getting down to the 12 players. I don’t want to take anything away from the guys who didn’t make it, but the 12 who are on the final list are the ones that if you look at the overall picture — offense, defense, rebounding, things like that — this was the 12 that stood out. I thought the selection committee did a very good job of evaluating.”

It sound to me that this could be an excellent opportunity for Deon Thompson, one that is going to benefit both him and North Carolina. Next year’s team will need a leader in the paint as the talented freshmen develop. Well, for the power forward next year is now, he is the only player on this team that has any experience playing on a USA Basketball team (2007 USA U19 World Championship Team that finished 8-1 and claimed the silver medal. 10.0 ppg. (3rd), 6.3 rpg. (1st) and 13 blocked shots), so he could definitely take on the role of leader on this team, and then do the same for his squad under head coach Roy Williams.

(On a side note, was I the only one that thought the quote by head coach Bo Ryan was a bit harsh towards the four players that did not make the team? I would not have said what the coach did about the 12 making it standing out, but I guess that is why I blog and he coaches at a Division I school)

I mean, let’s face it, playing at this level of competition, with the pressure that comes from wanting the gold, is only going to help Thompson develop. I am of the opinion, which is probably in the minority, that Thompson has always shied away from becoming the dominant player because in the back of his mind he knew that there was Tyler Hansbrough next to him. Now, in the upcoming season that luxury won’t be there, and I firmly believe that the power forward from Torrance (CA) will step up in a way few thought possible.

Some wondered why Deon didn’t put his name in the hat to “test the waters” this past summer. Now we know why and I think it was an excellent idea. By working out with the pro’s he might have gotten some looks and some individual/group training, by playing on the USA team he is going to get a lot of intense practice and plenty of playing time. In my opinion he definitely made the right (and smart) decision.

The group now will work out a couple of more days and then head to Serbia. As more details and info become available I will definitely post them. And as I do with all the Tar Heels, let me wish Deon (and the rest of the team of course) all the best as they try to bring home the gold.

Deon Thompson

When it was time for the Tar Heels to enter the draft a lot of the fans didn’t understand why Deon Thompson did not go and test the waters to be told what he needs to improve on so that next season he could become an NBA’er. Well, as I found out a couple of days ago (but only posting now due to RL things that has kept me away from this blog) there is a reason why the young man didn’t head to Chicago for the Pre Draft Camp and then to Group or personal workouts. Thompson is part of the fifteen players trying out for this year’s USA Basketball Men’s World University Games (below is the full list). The tournament will be in Serbia from July 2nd to the 12th and the team will be coached by Bo Ryan (Wisconsin HC).

I have to say that this is excellent for Deon Thompson. The competition will help you out tremendously and this could make him into a very, very good inside presence for the Tar Heels. With Tyler Hansbrough heading to the next level Thompson stepping up with a lot of great, but young, talent around him will make the Carolina front line something that very few teams will be able to match up with. For now all I can do is wish Thompson the best in making the team and then wish the coaching staff and team all the best at the Games in Serbia.

Here is the list of the fifteen players trying out for this team:

James Anderson (Oklahoma State / Junction City, Ark.)
Talor Battle (Penn State / Albany, N.Y.)
Trevor Booker (Clemson / Whitmire, S.C.)
Craig Brackins (Iowa State / Palmdale, Calif.)
Da’Sean Butler (West Virginia / Newark, N.J.)
Sherron Collins (Kansas / Chicago, Ill.)
Mike Davis (Illinois / Alexandria, Va.)
Corey Fisher (Villanova / Bronx, N.Y.)
Lazar Hayward (Marquette / Buffalo, N.Y.)
Robbie Hummel (Purdue / Valparaiso, Ind.)
JaJuan Johnson (Purdue / Indianapolis, Ind.)
Quincy Pondexter (Washington / Fresno, Calif.)
Deon Thompson (North Carolina / Torrance, Calif.)
Evan Turner (Ohio State / Chicago, Ill.)
Jarvis Varnado (Mississippi State / Brownsville, Tenn.)