Team USA beat Russia by 67 to 63

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.

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