USA (UNI) vs. Lithuania

[UNIAlum95]

BTW - Isn't it great to be discussing Panther athletics in August! This should help kill the time until football season kicks off...

[Chitown Panther]

Ouch!!!!!

[Newsbreaker]

Ouch!!!!!

Wow, that's ugly boys and girls. I'll go on record as saying I'm more then a little concerned about how we're going to look on this trip. Still, extra practice and game time should be invaluable headed into next winter.

[UNIAlum95]

Wow, that's ugly boys and girls. I'll go on record as saying I'm more then a little concerned about how we're going to look on this trip. Still, extra practice and game time should be invaluable headed into next winter.

Angola should be a team we can beat although I can't find roster information on them yet. I'd like to see us make it out of the opening round...

[TMERF]

The competition UNI is playing in this tournament will more likely than not be much beyond the normal competition they will see in the MVC. The teams UNI will be playing are made up of the best of the players in the given country. Whereas UNI has several players playing that have had no significant college experience yet or at most one year. Therefore, when matched up against a number of the other countries, there will be talent and experience wise at a deficit, not to mention every team there has a chip on their shoulder wanting to beat the U.S.A.

The person questioning why there was not an all-star team playing doesn't understand the logistics of fielding all-star teams in all of the international competitions and the number of times the NCAA allows teams or players to play outside of the U.S. during a given year or during a four year period. USA Basketball, which has the final say on who plays where and when in the international competitions, made the choice on sending a full college team. Based on all of the variables in play, UNI was one of the teams that qualified to play under USA Basketball's requirements. I am proud that they picked UNI to represent the U.S.

The opportunity that this provides UNI is extremely beneficial for the next year. Grant Stout and Brooks McKowen definitely needed to be on the team for this competition, as the experience and physical and mental maturity that they have is a definite level above the abilities incoming freshman have.

As a former player and lifelong fan, I am saddened by the size of the difference in the score, but I am still proud of the UNI Panthers, what they are accomplishing in making this trip, and will cheer for them even harder for the next game. This includes every one of the players and coaches.

[UNIAlum95]

Angola's lineup should play well with us. Not only are they a lot smaller (tallest is 6'5") but lighter. Let's hope we see some fire out of the game right away. We can't get down like that in the Valley much less on an international stage.

Name Birth Date Height
m/ft in Weight
AGOSTINHO Gerson - 22/06/1984 - 1.87/6'1'' - 80/176
BAZA Adilson - 25/04/1986 - 1.85/6'0'' - 70/154
BONIFACIO Domingos - 28/10/1984 - 1.80/5'10'' - 80/180
DANIEL Almeida - 28/07/1987 - 1.80/5'10'' - 75/165
GONCALO Andre - 01/08/1987 - 1.97/6'5'' - 102/225
GUIMARAES Vannick - 22/04/1983 - 1.87/6'1'' -82/181
JOAO Wilson - 10/11/1987 - 1.80/5'10'' - 70/154
LOPES Silvio - 21/06/1986 - 1.85/6'0'' - 77/170
MARTINS Wlademiro - 31/10/1987 - 1.82/5'11'' - 75/165
MATIAS Carlos - 11/12/1985 - 1.84/6'0'' - 75/165
MIGUEL Jose - 20/08/1985 - 1.85/6'0'' - 75/165
PINHEIRO Felix - 10/01/1983 - 1.98/6'5'' - 88/194
PONTES Vladimir - 09/11/1984 - 1.90/6'2'' - 75/165
SUINGUE Joao - 05/05/1983 - 1.85/6'0'' - 100/210
VIEGAS Kessio - 06/12/1988 - 1.96/6'5'' - 78/172

[Matboz]

yeah ... they will have another few days to get accustomed to the jet lag as well and that should help ... it will also be interesting to see how Angola does against Lithuania tomorrow, may give us a preview of what to expect

[UNIPNTHR]

Does only one team advance from each pool?

[Panther-Sheik]

Wow...don't we push the panic button in a hurry?! Come on...Did anyone really expect UNI to win this tourney? They have had a total of 10 practices together, just lost their point guard after a long trip to a foreign country 12 hours difference in time and are playing against a bunch of national teams in a format that they aren't familiar with. I would question the success of any single college team from the USA in this tourney. Remember how our college "all-star" teams started to take it on the chin in world play so we allowed NBA'ers to suit up for the Olympics? The strength of the world players has changed significantly over the years and we have to understand and respect that. The NCAA has put handcuffs on this tournament for the USA and specifically on UNI, so the fact that they got beat and will more than likely get beat again before the tourney is over is not a "shock". I am proud of having our guys wearing the colors over there and I think whatever the outcome of the games, they will be much ahead of many D1 schools come November. The last thing we need to impress on them is that by losing games they somehow should never have even gone. This whole tournament has to be put in perspective and I think if our players take with them a better understanding of playing physical, or playing under pressure, or playing in a hostile environment or whatever it is from this tourney, they will be winners in the long run. Let's just give them a chance to play this out and judge the results once the NCAA season starts.

[UNIAlum95]

Does only one team advance from each pool?

My understanding is that if we beat Angola, we will advance to the next round.

[DrewDog]

Wow...don't we push the panic button in a hurry?!

I agree completely. The sky is not falling. This is a great opportunity for the men's team to get some valuable experience and to play against some very good national teams. They will get several games under their belt, bond as a team and then come home with a good idea of what they need to focus on between now (the middle of August!) and November. More importantly, this a wonderful learning experience for some UNI students! I am guessing that most of the players have not outside of the U.S. This will be an experience that they will remember the rest of their lives.

[Matt Trump]

This loss will hurt the image of UNI in this state. Most people won't know the setup for the tourney so will just see that we got smoked and aren't any good.

I also don't think its selfish that people don't want the former players on the team. Its a new group of guys that aren't getting better with done players in front of them. If we're going to get crushed at the tourney, might as well do it with the guys who will benefit most from it.

[Panther-Sheik]

This loss will hurt the image of UNI in this state. Most people won't know the setup for the tourney so will just see that we got smoked and aren't any good.

I also don't think its selfish that people don't want the former players on the team. Its a new group of guys that aren't getting better with done players in front of them. If we're going to get crushed at the tourney, might as well do it with the guys who will benefit most from it.

Does it hurt our image?? Maybe, maybe not. If we won the whole thing it would definitely drastically improve our image, but losing to world teams I don't think hurst our image to the extent that you paint the picture. There are people that don't understand the dynamic of a "world tournament" and they will have a very negative opinion of UNI's performance, but I really would expect more from you and the others on this board that tout yourselves as being "insiders" or "well-informed" fans. I question that.
Also, the merrit of Brooks and Grant on the team is getting ridiculous. Is the summer league a learning experience for our players? It must not be because there are former players playing. Brooks and Grant are playing because the NCAA won't call this tournament what it is...an exhibition. To not allow kids to participate without removing the red-shirt is ridiculous. To allow only 10 practices is ridiculous. UNI needs Brooks and Grant on the team to allow them to not be handicapped in the NCAA season because of the rules imposed on them by the NCAA. Their experience is also a good thing for our younger players. Folks, this "exhibition" does not count against UNI's record this season, so let it be a learning experience... and I believe that playing along side guys with 4 - 6 years of experience is good for our guys...just like the summer league has been GREAT for the development of younger players. Two seasoned veterans playing along side our core of players will not retard their growth...it will enhance it.

[Matt Trump]

I never have been "well-informed" or an "insider". You can question me all you want. I'm just here to make sure no naughty words are used

[Panther-Sheik]

My last post sounded a little harsh at you Trump...I didn't mean it to be an attack on you and I apologize. I just don't understand how the people (many of the previous posts) that obviously care so much about UNI to spend hours commenting on this site are also the ones to cut it down with such vigor at every opportunity. I get frustrated, too, but we need to be cautious with our criticizms.