Great Britain National Team

[HIGHLANDER2]

GB 2009 Euro Qualifiers

GB 2009 Euro Qualifiers

European draw offers GB men hope
Chris Finch
Chris Finch's team avoided top-ranked France and Italy in the draw
Great Britain men's team have been handed a real hope of qualifying for the 2009 European Championship after the draw was made in Venice.

Chris Finch's team were drawn with Israel, Bosnia and the Czech Republic, avoiding top-ranked Italy and France.

In contrast, the women were handed a tough draw against Lithuania, Germany, Israel and Ukraine in Group A with only the top two teams sure to advance.

The qualifying matches will take place in August and September.

The winners of the four men's qualifying groups, plus the three best second-placed teams, will qualify for the European finals, with one more place available next year.

Both teams are looking to secure a hosts' spot in the 2012 Olympics.

"We managed to stay clear of the some of the traditional powerhouses," said GB men's coach Chris Finch.

"But the most important thing for us, and for the other teams, is to get our best players together.

Finch's team benefited from adding top-flight European-based players and Chicago Bulls star Luol Deng last season.

"There's still a lot of excitement and momentum out there (among the players) for the programme."


We have to respect everyone and fear no-one

GB women's coach Mark Clark

GB women's coach Mark Clark admitted the draw was a tough one. "There's never an easy draw in the A Division," he said. "Every one of these teams has a pedigree.

"Last year we focused on doing what we're good at. This time we're going to have to play at high level every game and make sure we get some wins at home."

Both teams won promotion from Division B at in September 2007 after recovering from difficult starts in their respective qualifying groups and staying unbeaten.

"It's similar to Chris' position - if we have all our players and the team stays healthy, we'll be competitive," said Clark. "We have to respect everyone and fear no-one."




I don't think there are any easy games but if they have all there players available (Mens that is) they can qualify..

 

[mvblair2]

Some expected news:

National pride -- Chicago Tribune, April 1, 2008, by KC Johnson

Ben Gordon, who was born in London, has joined Luol Deng on Britain's roster for this summer's European Championship qualifiers. Britain will play six games in late August/early September trying to qualify for 2009 EuroBasket in Poland and an eventual berth as London plays host to the 2012 Olympic Games.

There's no guarantee Gordon will play, but he's now eligible...

 

[damelo2]

Denng only brought them instant punch, I think they went unbeaten last summer with him, after losing all without him?

Maybe Azubuike could join too... He is listed as British by nba.com

I'm happy France is not in their qualification group( i think tey're not).

 

[Neozyrus2]

Some of the players of the final roster for the pre-olympic could be maybe here:

Great Britain:

POINT GUARD

F. Boyd (Rosalia) - 1.80 - 1980
M. Lenzly (Mons) - 1.89 - 1981
N. Reinking (Mons) - 1.83 - 1973
R. Midgley (Newcastle) 1.98 - 1983
A. Virgil (Sheffield) - 1.88 - 1982

SHOOTING GUARD

B. Gordon (Chicago) - 1.88 - 1983
K. Azubuike (Golden State) - 1.96 - 1983
T. Hansell (Apoel Nicosia) - 1.92 - 1975
T. Johnson (L´Hospitalet) - 1.92 - 1981

SMALL FOWARDS

L. Deng (Chicago) - 2.01 - 1985
A. Sullivan (Mons) - 2.03 - 1980
N. George (Alicante) - 1.98 - 1982
J. Mccord (Strasbourg) - 2.01 - 1973
C. Sanders (Gothia) - 2.02 - 1982
R. Richards (G. Canaria) - 2.05 - 1991
M. Martin (Guilford) - 2.00 - 1974

POWER FOWARDS

P. Archibald (Azovmash) - 2.11 - 1980
J. Freeland (G. Canaria) - 2.08 - 1987
D. Phillip (CAI zaragoza) - 2.01 - 1978
P. Mensah-Bonsu (Benetton) - 2.06 - 1983
M. Bernard (Napoli) - 2.05 - 1978

CENTER

A. Betts (Sevilla) - 2.16 - 1977
w. Helliwell (Rieti) - 2.12 - 1979
c. Haslam (Everton) - 2.08 - 1974
D. Clark (Breogan) - 2.01 - 1988
Boateng (Arizona St) - 2.08 - 1985

 

[jugoplastika2]

Ben Gordon has already played several games for USA NT.
So, as I know, he cannot play for Great Britain NT.

 

[FilWelsh2]

Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon called up to British basketball squad

LONDON (AP)—Chicago Bulls guard Ben Gordon is the latest NBA player to be
selected to the fledgling British basketball team that’s trying to qualify
for the 2012 Olympics.

Gordon, who turns 25 on April 4, moved to the United States shortly after he
was born in London.

The former Connecticut star was drafted by the Bulls in the first round in
2004. He was one of two Bulls players to appear in all 82 games last season,
averaging 21.4 points.

British Basketball named Gordon and Bulls teammate Luol Deng to its 33-man
squad Tuesday to play in Eurobasket qualifiers.

“He has been very positive about playing and we are going to meet with him
again in Chicago within the next two weeks,” British Basketball performance
manager Ron Wuotila said of Gordon.

“The prospects are bright for our senior teams this summer due to the talent
included on these squad lists. There are a number of younger players on the
list who can contribute in the near term and are embarking on a
10-to-15-year career that will ideally include years of British
representation.”

Deng made his competitive debut for Britain in August 2007. The 22-year-old
Sudanese native moved to London as a child to escape the conflict in his
homeland.

Between 15 and 20 British players will be invited to a training camp in May
or June to prepare for September’s EuroBasket qualifiers against Israel,
Czech Republic and Bosnia.

The winner of that group will qualify for the 2009 European Championship in
Poland. Basketball’s world governing body, FIBA, has ruled that a British
team must qualify for the 2009 or 2011 Europeans in order to play at the
2012 Olympics.

England, Wales and Scotland compete individually at world championships and
Commonwealth Games, but are part of a combined Britain team for the
Olympics.

Other American-based players on the roster are forward Kieron Achara from
Duquesne; center Andy Betts from Arizona State; forward Matthew
Bryan-Amaning from Washington; forward Dante Cunningham from Villanova;
forward Ben Eaves from Rhode Island; guard Paul Guede from Tallahasse
Community College; guard Matt Guymon from Oklahoma City University; guard
Justin Robinson from Rider; and forward Shane Walker from Maryland.

The British women’s 27-player squad includes former WNBA player Megan Moody
and eight players who are playing for U.S. colleges.

 

[FilWelsh2]

Gordon is named in Britain squad

By Rob Dugdale


Gordon is a team-mate of Luol Deng at Chicago Bulls in the NBA

Ben Gordon, a team-mate of Luol Deng at the Chicago Bulls, has been shortlisted for Great Britain's summer programme.

Gordon, who represented USA in 2003, is still eligible to play for GB because he was born in London.

Chris Finch's squad, which contains all but one of the players that won promotion to European Division A last summer, contains few surprises.

Great Britain's men's and women's teams will both be attempting to qualify for next year's European Championships.

British Basketball officials will meet Gordon in Chicago in the next two weeks after receiving encouraging signs that he was interested in the programme.

Men's coach Finch hailed the 33-man squad, which will be cut down in May or June to 15-20 for a training camp in August, as "our best-ever group".

"Our challenge now is to identify the best 12-14 players who will give us a shot at winning through to Poland 2009," he added.

"As ever, our success will be largely influenced by the commitment these outstanding players make to the programme."

The women's squad also contains new and younger faces as well as the players that helped secure promotion last season.

"The depth of available talent is clearly moving in the right direction," commented women's coach Mark Clark, whose son Daniel is named in the men's squad.

"This initial squad has a balance of experienced and young players with great potential. The players on this list are aware that to compete, we will need to step up our level of performance."

The men's team will play Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel and the Czech Republic in this summer's qualifying matches, while the women face Israel, Lithuania, Germany and Ukraine.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Men's squad: Kieron Achara (Duquesne - US), Robert Archibald (Mariupol - Ukr), Mike Bernard (Eldo - Ita), Andy Betts (Seville - Spa), Eric Boateng (Arizona St - US), Flinder Boyd (Rosalia - Spa), Matthew Bryan-Amaning (Washington Uni - US), Daniel Clark (Estudiantes - Spa), Dante Cunningham (Villanova - US), Luol Deng, Ben Gordon (both Chicago Bulls - US), Ben Eaves (Connecticut - US), Germayne Forbes (Boulazac - Fra), Nick George (Alicante - Spa), Paul Guede (Valparaiso - US), Matt Guymon Oklahoma City - US), Joel Freeland, Ashley Hamilton, Ryan Richards (all Gran Canaria - Spa), Steve Hansell (Apoel Nicosia - Cyp), Jarrett Hart (Keravnos Nicosia - Cyp), Chris Haslam, Richard Midgley (both Everton), James Jones (Guildford), Pops Mensah-Bonsu (Treviso - Ita), Mike Lenzly, Nate Reinking, Andrew Sullivan (all Mons - Bel), Justin Robinson (Rider - US), Chris Sanders (Gothia - Swe), Shane Walker (Maryland - US), Yorick Williams (Milton Keynes).

Women's squad: Kim Butler (Kosit - Slo), Kate Butters, Siobhan Prior (both Nottingham), Joanna Claydon, Georgia Jones, Kristy Lavin (all Manchester), Laura Calder (Northumbria), Stef Collins (UWIC), Josette Campbell, Azania Stewart (both Notre Dame Acad - US), Arek Deng (Solent), Louise Gamman (San Bonifacio - Ita), Chantelle Handy (Marshall - US), Meagan Hoffman (Alvargomez - Spa), Lucy Hutchinson, Helen Naylor, Sarah Naylor (all Sheffield), Sally Kaznica, Harriett Yea (both Rhondda), Johannah Leedham (Franklin Pierce ¿ US), Nikki Luckhurst (Tulane - US), Rosalee Mason (Chieti - Ita), Sarah McKay, Megan Moody (both Cadi La Seu - Spa), Toni Newman (Cal Poly - US), Julie Page (Saarlouis - Ger), Lauren Johnson-Thomas (Kirkwood).

Source : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/basketball/7324570.stm

 

[rikhardur2]

Archibald out for Great Britain

Great Britain have suffered a huge blow ahead of their EuroBasket 2009 qualifying campaign with center Robert Archibald ruled out due to injury.

The Brits are to take on the Czech Republic, Israel and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Division A this year.

"We will certainly miss Robert during our upcoming qualifying games," Great Britain coach Chris Finch said.

"He was a large part of our success last summer and a key player in the building of our program. We wish him the best in his recovery."

Luol Deng, meanwhile, has signed a new deal with the Chicago Bulls and that means that he can firmly focus on Britain's games.

The 23-year-old Londoner agreed a new six-year deal with the Bulls.

"I'm pleased to have signed a new contract with the Bulls prior to the GB training camp so I can fully focus on the job ahead this summer," said Deng.

"I wanted to have this finalised before the British games ..."

Deng is excited to be joining his British teammates.

"I hope now that the focus will return to our performance on the court," he said.

"I'm looking forward to gathering with the rest of the team and stepping out at The O2 for my first game in London."

http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_KNce8...id_f3zY3x35J56aEep6gIiph2.articleMode_on.html

 

[Kings2]

Great Britain NT 2008

Great Britain NT 2008

Roster

No.4 Jarrett Hart - England

No.5 Richard Midgley - England

No.6 Nick George - England

No.7 Pops Mensah Bonsu - England

No.8 Andrew Sullivan - England

No.9 Luol Deng - Sudan

No.10 Dzaflo Larkai - England

No.11 Joel Freeland - England

No.12 Nate Reinking - USA

No.13 Steve Leven - Australia

No.14 Flinder Boyd - USA

No.15 Eric Boateng - England

2008.08.28 Great Britain 58 - Turkey 82
2008.08.29 Great Britain 100 - Bosnia Herzigovina 98
2008.08.30 Great Britain 80 - Portugal 79

Qualifying Round
2008.09.03 Israel 102 - Great Britain 92
2008.09.06 Great Britain 87 - Czech Republic 68
2008.09.10 Great Britain 82 - Bosnia & Herzegovina 74
2008.09.13 Great Britain 96 - Israel 86
2008.09.17 Czech Republic 63 - Great Britain 67
2008.09.20 Bosnia & Herzegovina 89 - Great Britain 80

 

[bigyellow2]

luol deng is gonna play?

 

[Picek2]

luol deng is gonna play?

I'm quite sure I've read somewhere he won't play in this qualies..

 

[Dtown2]

I thought it was Ben Gorden who wasn't going to play.

 

[JGX2]

Deng is out as of now, the insurance company is refusing to cover his NBA contract in the case of any back injuries...

 

[Dtown2]

Great Britain needs to qualify for Eurobasket, to have a team in the Olympics correct? Either this year or 2011?

 

[hotjam_22]

Great Britain needs to qualify for Eurobasket, to have a team in the Olympics correct? Either this year or 2011?

The host country automaticly qualifies for the Olympics

 

[C2Hamm2]

i hope gordon joins in by the time London 2012 comes around.

 

[reignman2]

I am almost sure that Gordon has played for the US... so he cant play for the GB.

 

[zwbgr2]

I am almost sure that Gordon has played for the US... so he cant play for the GB.

You're wrong

 

[Joško Poljak Fan2]

They'll make some noise if they get their both NBAers, but they won't be anything special, more of one of 13-14 strong teams (out of 16) competing in the EC.
I'd bet on Montenegro to make better results in front of them...

moved to the More european discussion forum as it doesn't have anything to do with euroleague.

 

[Dtown2]

The host country automaticly qualifies for the Olympics

Yes but I've heard there are regulations to make Britain at least competitive in the olympic competition and that in turn meant qualifying for one of the Eurobaskets. I could be wrong of course.