USA to Face Germany for Gold
The only two undefeated teams remaining in the men’s basketball World University Games (WUG) will meet for the gold medal as the USA National Team (7-0), consisting mainly of the Kansas men’s basketball student-athletes and staff, will face Germany (6-0) on Monday, July 13, at 9 p.m. local time which is 7 a.m. in Kansas, at Yeomju Gymnasium in Gwangju, Korea. The USA-Germany contest will be televised on ESPNU and the Watch ESPN app.
The USA advanced to the gold medal game with a 78-68 win against Russia in the semifinal contest on July 12. After going 5-0 in Pool D, the USA defeated Lithuania, 70-48, in the medal bracket quarterfinals on July 11. Germany went 4-0 in the five-team Pool B and beat Canada, 79-73, in its quarterfinal contest and then Brazil, 59-49, to advance Monday’s matchup.
This is the 17th time USA will play for the gold medal in the World University Games, which began in 1965. USA is 13-3 in gold medal contests. Having won an all-time most 19 medals (13 gold, three silver and three bronze), the USA is guaranteed its first medal in the last three World University Games. USA finished ninth in the 2013 WUG and fifth in 2011. The last medal won by the American men’s basketball team was bronze in 2009. The previous USA medal was gold in 2005. Germany began participating in men’s basketball at the World University Games in 2001 with its highest finish being fourth in 2001.
Historically, the USA is 4-0 against Germany in the World University Games. USA defeated Germany 80-78 in 2001, 72-62 in 2005, 86-83 in 2011 and 92-70 in 2013.
USA Update
Guard Wayne Selden, Jr., is second in the World University Games (WUG) with 18.9 points per game average. He leads the Games in field goal percentage at 59.8 percent, including a Games best 72.0 percent in 2-point field goal percentage. He has made a team-best 16 three-pointers, four more than guard Nic Moore who has 12. Selden also leads USA in rebounding with 6.1 boards per game, just ahead of forward Perry Ellis who is at 6.0 rpg. Ellis is third on the team with 12.4 points per contest. Frank Mason III is second on the team with a 14.0 ppg, which is sixth in the WUG, and leads the squad with 29 assists. He leads the WUG with 5.9 fouls drawn per game and his 4.2 assists per contest are second in the WUG. Mason also leads the USA team with 16 steals and his 2.6 steals per game are tied for third in the WUG. Forward Hunter Mickelson is fourth the WUG in two-point field goal percentage at 61.4 percent. He has a team-best seven blocked shots and is averaging 8.6 points and 4.9 rebounds. Moore scores 6.7 points per contest and is second on the team with 12 three-pointers and 12 steals. Guard Lagerald Vick averages 4.9 points per game, while guard Julian DeBose is scoring 4.6 points per contest. Forwards Jamari Traylor (3.1 ppg), Landen Lucas (3.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and Carlton Bragg (3.1 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and also main contributors for the USA.
Under head coach Bill Self, as a team, USA leads the World University Games with an 80.4 scoring average. The Americans are giving up 58.3 points per game. USA also leads the WUG in three-point field goal percentage at 35.7 percent and its 46.1 overall field goal percentage is second in the 24-team field. USA is outrebounding foes 44.2 to 34.4 and averages 18.2 assists and 13.3 steals per contest. In scoring by quarters, the USA has 122 points in the first (17.4 average), 153 in the second (21.9), 145 in the third (20.7) and 143 in the fourth (20.4) in its seven games.
About Germany
Germany is currently 6-0 overall, having won Pool A with a 4-0 record. The Germans defeated China, 91-64, in its opening game on July 4, then Estonia, 70-40, the following day. Germany then beat host Korea, 67-58, on July 8 and pummeled Mozambique, 99-37, heading into medal bracket play. Germany defeated Canada, 79-73, in the quarterfinals on July 11 and Brazil, 59-49, July 12 to advance to the gold medal contest. In common battles, the USA team won a friendly scrimmage against China, 93-56, on July 2 and defeated Canada twice – 91-83 on June 23 and 87-76 on June 26 – in exhibition games in Kansas City before heading to Korea for the World University Games.
Germany leads the World University Games (WUG) in rebounding averaging 50.5 boards per game and have a +17.0 rebound margin. Its 77.4 scoring average is fourth among the 24 WUG teams and the Germans allow 53.3 points, which is second in the WUG. Germany is shooting 52 percent from the field and average 11.0 steals per contest.
No. 30 Hans Brase leads Germany in scoring at 11.8 points per game. He is tied for the team high in rebounds with 7.7 per game and shoots 53 percent from the field. No. 15 Bogdan Radosavljevic also averages 7.7 boards per contest and is fourth on the team with an 8.7 scoring average. Radosavljevic leads Germany with 17 steals in the WUG. No. 12 Maodo Lo is second on the team in scoring at 11.0 points per game. He has a team-best 16 assists. No. 7 Mathis Moenninghoff scores 9.2 points per contest and he leads Germany with 10 steals. No. 32 Johannes Thiemann (6.8 ppg) leads Germany with six blocked shots, while Brase is next with five.
USA World Games Records Lists
SCORING – 1. David Thompson (168, 21.0, 1973), 2. Jim McDaniels (161, 17.9, 1970), 3. Juan Dixon (154, 19.3, 2001), 4. George McGinnis (149, 16.6, 1970), 5. Lou Hudson (138, 17.3, 1965). WAYNE SELDEN, JR. (132, 18.9, 2015)
3-POINT FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE (Min. 1 attempt per game) – 1. Matt Bullard (.733, 11-15, 1989), 2. Mark Randall (.667, 4-6, 1989), 3. LAGERALD VICK (.571, 4-7, 2015), 4. Hubert Davis (.567, 17-30, 1991), 5. Staey Augmon (.556, 5-9, 1989), 5. Da’Sean Butler (.545, 12-22, 2009).
ASSISTS – 1. Sid Lowe (59, 7.4, 1981), 2. Spencer Dinwiddie (44, 5.5, 2013), 3. Allen Iverson (43, 6.1, 1995), 4. Damon Stoudamire (42, 6.0, 1993), 5. John Bagley (38, 4.8, 1981), 6. Jay Humphries (33, 4.7, 1983). FRANK MASON III (29, 9.7, 2015)
STEALS – 1. Vincent Grier (26, 3.3, 2005), 2. Juan Dixon (24, 3.0, 2001), 3. Shelden Williams (21, 2.6, 2005), 4. Randy Foye (20, 2.5, 2005), 4. Allen Iverson (20, 2.9, 1995). FRANK MASON III (18, 2.6, 2015)
USA Semifinal Recap
Guard Wayne Selden, Jr., scored 22 points and his last seven came at the most crucial juncture in USA’s 78-68 win against Russia in the semifinals of the 2015 World at Dongkang College Gymnasium July 12.
With the USA up 12 at 61-49, Russia went on a 13-0 run to take a 62-61 lead with 6:40 to play. Included was a half court three-pointer by Ivan Strebkov as time expired, giving the Russians momentum heading into the final period. Russia would score the first six points of the fourth quarter to take the 62-61 lead, then Selden took over. The Roxbury, Massachusetts, native first made a three-pointer over Russian 7-3 center Andrei Desiatnikov to give lead back to the Americans. Selden then made a layup on a fast break to put USA up four and regain the mojo.
Guard Nic Moore finished a 6-0 USA run with a jumper in the lane. Following a Russian basket, forward Perry Ellis did one of his patented spin moves to give the USA a 70-64 with 4:50 to play. With Desiatnikov switching to guard Selden again at the three-point line, the 6-5 guard found room on the baseline and blew past the Russian for a monster dunk and the USA never looked back.
Ellis found his groove and led all scorers with 23 points to go along with four rebounds. Selden’s 22 points marked his fourth 20-point effort in the seven USA contests at the World University Games. Moore ended the night with five points and four rebounds, while point guard Frank Mason III had 10 points, six rebounds four assists and three steals. He also drew six fouls for the game. Forward Landen Lucas ended the game with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting with five rebounds and two assists. Strebkov led Russia with 20 points.
USA Quarterfinal Recap
The USA went on a 25-2 run from the final minute of the third quarter to just over five minutes of the fourth period to outdistance Lithuania, 70-48, and advance to the semifinals against Russia.
With the score 43-42 with 1:04 left in the third quarter, USA guard Julian DeBose’s free throws started what would be an incredible run by the Americans. Guard Nic Moore made four of the first six points with two steals, resulting in a layup and a jumper. Guard Frank Mason III sandwiched in a traditional three-point play, forcing a Lithuania timeout with 8:38 to play and the USA up 52-42. Not two minutes later, Wayne Selden, Jr., drained a three-pointer off a forward Landen Lucas assist, forcing a second Lithuania timeout. Rolling, forward Perry Ellis dunked from another Lucas assist and Lucas then made a free throw to give USA a 58-42 lead at the 5:07 mark and Lithuania had yet to score in the period. Following a Lithuania basket by Paulis Dambrauskas at 4:44, the USA went on a 10-0 run en route to the victory.
Mason led USA with 18 points and four assists to go along with four steals. Selden, the Games leading scorer entering the day, poured in 13 points. Moore had six steals to add to his nine points, while Lucas pulled down a team-high nine rebounds in scoring seven points. Ellis scored 11 points with six boards.
USA Goes Undefeated in Pool D
With its 96-57 win against Switzerland on July 9, the USA posted a 5-0 record in winning Pool D. USA opened the Games with two nine-point victories against Turkey (66-57) on July 4, and Brazil (81-72) on July 5. Following a 106-41 blowout win versus Chile on July 7, the USA team won a 66-65 nail biter against Serbia on July 8. The Americans closed out pool play with the win versus Switzerland.
How this Happened
In April 2014, the Kansas basketball team was selected by the United States International University Sports Federation (US-IUSF) to represent the United States in the World University Games. Kansas was selected as the team to represent the U.S. from the schools that expressed interest.
With more than 150 countries competing in 21 sports, the World University Games are held every two years and are governed by the International University Sports Federation. Only current university student-athletes or recent graduates, born between Jan. 1, 1990, and Dec. 31, 1997, are eligible for the 2015 Games. For Kansas’ participation, only U.S. citizens can compete and incoming freshmen and transfers qualify. The Kansas travel party, consisting of 12 competitors and 11 staff (23 total), will leave Lawrence June 28 and live in the athlete village throughout the Games.
This is the second time a college team will compete in the World University Games. In 2007, the University of Northern Iowa participated and finished ninth in Bangkok, Thailand.
Historically
The World University Games are held every other year and are organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The World University Games is a multi-sport competition open to men and women who are between the ages of 17 and 24, and are or have been within the past year, a student at a college or university.
The World University Games began in 1965 in Budapest, Hungary, with the United States men’s basketball team posting a 9-0 record in winning the gold medal. The USA has won 13 gold medals with its last in 2005 and its 19 total medals are more than any other country.
Eighteen players who have represented the USA in the World University Games have gone on to compete in the Olympic Games, including KU’s Jo Jo White, who won gold for the USA at the 1967 World University Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Seven other Jayhawks besides White have competed in the World University Games, the last being Jerod Haase, who won gold for the USA in 1995. Other KU players who have competed for the U.S. in the World University Games include: Dave Robisch in 1970 (silver), Greg Dreiling and Ron Kellogg in 1985 (silver), Mark Randall in 1989 (gold), Adonis Jordan in 1991 (gold) and Richard Scott in 1993 (gold). Additionally, former KU coach Roy Williams was an assistant coach in the 1991 World University Games, and KU Head Team Physician, Dr. Larry Magee, was the USA physician in 1995 and is with the USA squad this trip.
About the National Team
The USA National Team for the upcoming World University Games (WUG), July 3-14 in Gwangju, Korea, continued preparation for the event when the student-athletes returned to Lawrence for summer school June 7. The national team is coached by Bill Self, who has guided Kansas to an unprecedented 11-straight Big 12 Conference regular-season titles (2005-15) and two Final Fours as the Jayhawks are the winningest program in NCAA Division I since the 2006-07 season, averaging 31.1 wins in that span with an 83.8 winning percentage. In 12 seasons at Kansas, Self is 352-78 (81.9 percent), averaging 29.3 wins per year. Overall, Self has a 559-183 (75.3 percent) record in his 22nd seasons as a head coach.
Forward Perry Ellis is one of four returning all-conference performers from 2014-15 and headlines the USA National Team roster. A Wichita, Kansas native, Ellis was an All-Big 12 First Team selection last season, leading Kansas in scoring (13.8 ppg) and rebounding (6.9 rpg). He was also named to the 2015 Academic All-Big 12 First Team and the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Guard Frank Mason III, from Petersburg, Virginia, was an All-Big 12 Second Team honoree who was second on the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game and led Kansas with 142 assists and 50 steals in 2014-15. Mason’s 42.9 percent shooting from three-point range was best on the KU team last season. Guard Wayne Selden, Jr., from Roxbury, Massachusetts, was a 2015 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection who led Kansas with 46 three-pointers made last year as he averaged 9.4 points per contest.
The only non-Jayhawks on the roster are SMU guard Nic Moore and Florida Gulf Coast guard Julian DeBose, who replaced Kansas guard Devonte’ Graham who suffered an injury which will not allow him to compete in the games. Moore was the 2015 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and led SMU in scoring (14.5 ppg), assists (5.1 apg) and steals (1.3 spg) last season. The Winona Lake, Indiana all-conference first-team selection led the Mustangs to their first conference regular-season title since 1993. DeBose, who joined the team June 20, averaged 11.9 points and 3.9 rebounds for FGCU last year under former KU assistant coach Joe Dooley.
Ellis, forwards Jamari Traylor (4.8 points, 3.7 rebounds in 2014-15) and Landen Lucas (3.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and guards Evan Manning and Tyler Self have international experience heading to Gwangju as they competed in Kansas’ four exhibition games in Switzerland and France in August 2012. Lucas and forward Hunter Mickelson (2.4 ppg, 19 blocked shots in 2014-15) spent August 2014 playing internationally as Lucas played for the Athletes in Action touring Estonia and Latvia and Mickelson was a member of Guy Rancourt’s USA East Coast Basketball Team in the 2014 Four Nations Cup in Estonia and Finland.
Expect newcomers Carlton Bragg, Jr. and Lagerald Vick to be key contributors for the World University Games. Bragg, who broke his nose in USA’s second practice in Gwangju and may play in the WUG, is a power forward who was a McDonald’s All-American last year, while Vick is an explosive guard with great range shooting.
Timing Format for FIBA
- Timeouts (source: FIBA Rule Chart):
- 2 x 60 seconds in the first 2 quarters
- 3 x 60 seconds in the last 2 quarters – can only use 2 in the last 2 minutes of the 2nd half.
- Cannot buy an extra time out.
- Requested at score table by Coach or Assistant.
- If your team is scored upon, T.O. may be called.
- After successful free throw, either team may call T.O.
- Teams stay in huddle for 50 seconds.
- Not allowed between free throws.
- They do not carry over from one half to the next.
- 1 x 60 second time out allotted for an overtime period.
- Opportunity ends when the ball is in the thrower in’s hands.
- No time out for scoring team when the clock is under 2:00 of the 4th quarter unless an official has stopped the game.
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