Basketball at the Olympics is a sport the US has traditionally dominated and still does in many ways. The US men have medaled at every Olympics they have been to and only missed out on gold three times (one of those the controversial 1972 loss to the Soviets). The women have a similar dominant history having won six of the nine golds since it started in 1976. The US lost the original competition to the Soviet Union, didn’t compete in 1980 at the boycotted Moscow games, and lost to the Unified Team in 1992 where they got bronze.
The Team:
The US team is made up of twelve men and twelve women. Each team has five returning players from Beijing and the men have two returners from Athens while the women have four returners.
Links are to twitter accounts for the athletes.
USA Basketball
Men:
Carmelo Anthony**
Kobe Bryant*
Tyson Chandler
Anthony Davis
Kevin Durant
James Harden
Andre Iguodala
LeBron James**
Kevin Love
Chris Paul*
Russell Westbrook
Deron Williams*
Coach – Mike Krzyzewski*
Women:
Seimone Augustus*
Sue Bird**
Swin Cash&
Tamika Catchings**
Tina Charles
Sylvia Fowles*
Asjha Jones
Angel McCoughtry
Maya Moore
Candace Parker*
Diana Taurasi**
Lindsay Whalen
Coach – Geno Auriemma
* – Was on team in Beijing
& – Was on team in Athens
** – Was on team in Beijing and Athens
Schedule:
In the Olympics the basketball competitions take the form of a six-team group stage followed by an eight team tournament. The top four teams in each group will advance.
All Times ET
Saturday July 28th
11:45 AM – USA Women’s Basketball vs. Croatia
Sunday July 29th
9:30 AM – USA Men’s Basketball vs. France
Monday July 30th
5:15 PM – USA Women’s Basketball vs. Angola
Tuesday July 31st
5:15 PM – USA Men’s Basketball vs. Tunisia
Wednesday August 1st
5:15 PM – USA Women’s Basketball vs. Turkey
Thursday August 2nd
5:15 PM – USA Men’s Basketball vs. Nigeria
Friday August 3rd
5:15 PM – USA Women’s Basketball vs. Czech Republic
Saturday August 4th
9:30 AM – USA Men’s Basketball vs. Lithuania
Sunday August 5th
11:45 AM – USA Women’s Basketball vs. China
Monday August 6th
5:15 PM – USA Men’s Basketball vs. Argentina
Tuesday August 7th
9 AM – 5:15 PM – USA Women’s Basketball – Quarterfinals
Wednesday August 8th
9 AM – 5:15 PM – USA Men’s Basketball – Quarterfinals
Thursday August 9th
12 PM – 4 PM – USA Women’s Basketball – Semifinals
Friday August 10th
12 PM – 4 PM – USA Men’s Basketball – Semifinals
Saturday August 11th
6 AM – 10 AM – USA Women’s Basketball – Medal Round
Sunday August 12th
6 AM – 10 AM – USA Men’s Basketball – Medal Round
Past Results:
The US men won gold in Beijing after silver in Athens and gold in Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney. The US women have won gold at the last four Olympics. The men won gold in the 2010 FIBA World Championship after winning bronze in 2006. The women had the same result winning the gold in 2010 and bronze in 2006.
The best Olympic finishes from teams in the tournament are:
Men:
Argentina-1st (2004)
Australia-4th (1988, 1996)
Brazil-3rd (1948, 1960, 1964)
China-8th (1996, 2004, 2008)
France-2nd (1948, 2000)
Great Britain-20th (1948)
Lithuania-3rd (1992, 1996, 2000)
Nigeria-1st Olympics
Russia-8th (2000)
Spain-2nd (1984, 2008)
Tunisia-1st Olympics
United States-1st (13 times, most recently 2008)
Women:
Angola-1st Olympics
Australia-2nd (2000, 2004, 2008)
Brazil-2nd (1996)
Canada-4th (1984)
China-2nd (1992)
Croatia-1st Olympics
Czech Republic-5th (2004)
France-5th (2000)
Great Britain-1st Olympics
Russia-3rd (2004, 2008)
Turkey-1st Olympics
United States-1st (6 times, most recently 2008)
