Great Britain National Team

[inaminute23]

According to his twitter staus it sounds like Pops is on his way to join up.

@BennyBonsu good getting ready 2 come back 2 my city
about 2 hours ago from twidroid in reply to BennyBonsu


Never let another person put ya bag in the overhead compartment. This fool was slamming the door on my bag like it wasn't there. Trick
about 6 hours ago from twidroid

Some not so good news is that Achara has a groin injury & is now a doubt for Poland.

[HIGHLANDER]

Great news that Pops might play.
He would be a big plus to the team.
I would be sad if Achara didn't play- one of the sole representitives flying the Saltire!

[inaminute23]

Great news that Pops might play.
He would be a big plus to the team.
I would be sad if Achara didn't play- one of the sole representitives flying the Saltire!

what about Archibald?

[HIGHLANDER]

True.
Archibald played last night against Latvia and had 17 points in a 2 point loss.
Achara didn't play though.

It will be interesting to see who the final 12 will be.
Seems to be alot of big guys-especially if Pops plays.
I can't see him picking 5 players over 6'10"

[HIGHLANDER]

Anyone know the final team?
I notice Pops will play!

[inaminute23]

http://www.gameongb.com/news/1491.php

BBC to cover games live too! 2 major stations covering Eurobasket in the UK is a huge step forward!

[auris1]

http://www.gameongb.com/news/1491.php

BBC to cover games live too! 2 major stations covering Eurobasket in the UK is a huge step forward!

BBC is a major station, all right – but red button and iplayer translations wouldn’t necessarily get me that excited. Just try to answer this simple question - when the next bb game will be showed on BBC after euro 2009? 2012?

[FilWelsh]

Chris Finch has named his 12-man roster and admitted it was a tough decision when making cuts.


The Standard Life GB men have been riddled with injuries, illnesses and player availability; however, with the first EuroBasket game in two day's time Finch has been able to train with a fully fit squad for the first time this summer, which made his decision to cut Justin Robinson and Jermaine Forbes even harder.

A fully fit Kieron Achara and Flinder Boyd will travel to Poland, alongside Houston Rocket Pops Mensah-Bonsu and Malaga pair Rob Archibald and Joel Freeland, while former GB under 20 Dan Clark will have the chance to make his senior debut in a competitive game.

"It's an interesting roster, we have a lot of depth up front in the big guys and that will be the strength we need to play to," said Finch.

"But I also want to acknowledge the guys who didn't make the roster. Justin did a great job playing at this level and I'm sure he learnt a lot.

"This was probably the highest level he has played at in his life. He is definitely one for the future as he gives us some things we just don't have at the moment.

"I'm looking forward him making a big step between now and next summer.

"It was the first chance to see what Jermaine could do. He was extremely solid and I will be interested to see what happens with him over the next year. It was a difficult decision to leave him off but we went for youth in there instead, even though it's a little unbalanced.

"For the first time yesterday we had a chance to have our full squad train together. Everyone is in the right frame of mind to compete.

"Over the last couple of days there has been a good spirit in the team and I think everyone is looking forward to arriving in Poland.

"The key to competing internationally is understanding that you can't control your environment. When it comes to the national team you can't control certain aspects so you have to make the best of it and stay flexible.

"This year was a good example of that and we have had to demonstrate how we've had to be creative, but I'm confident we have it right."

Britain open their European campaign against Slovenia on Monday.

The final roster:

Kieron Achara
Rob Archibald
Andy Betts
Flinder Boyd
Dan Clark
Joel Freeland
Nick George
Jarrett Hart
Mike Lenzly
Pops Mensah-Bonsu
Nate Reinking
Andrew Sullivan

[FilWelsh]

tough match for Team GB tomorrow. . . i am looking forward for Flinder Floyd and Joel Freeland to deliver. . . go go go Team GB! ! !

[Dtown]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/basketball/6147084/British-basketball-faces-its-biggest-test.html

another nice article, though I wish they'd stop with the now or never cliche, there's always 2011 before the Olympics.

[g.g]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oth...gest-test.html

another nice article, though I wish they'd stop with the now or never cliche, there's always 2011 before the Olympics.

I would support UK as a second team but I think too high expectations can do real damage to the team as well as the future of British bb.
BB is not cycling that you can build 5 pro arenas, hire 10 top trainers and managers and in 2-3 years you have olympic medals. The GB bb team enters a club of nations that on each tiny village, on each school there are 2-3 bb grounds and they are full of kids playing the game from 4-5 years old. Quite similar as we have in UK with football. In 2004 Olympics, the US bb NT had to travel by coach through Athens. When they arrived, a team manager said: "god...I thought New York is full of bb grounds"
I don't really believe that GB team would anything special this year. I doubt they would even make a win to qualify. I do believe however that by 2011 they can even make it to last 8. In 2012 even better. It would take decades to see a major medal, not just years.

[Dtown]

I would support UK as a second team but I think too high expectations can do real damage to the team as well as the future of British bb.
BB is not cycling that you can build 5 pro arenas, hire 10 top trainers and managers and in 2-3 years you have olympic medals. The GB bb team enters a club of nations that on each tiny village, on each school there are 2-3 bb grounds and they are full of kids playing the game from 4-5 years old. Quite similar as we have in UK with football. In 2004 Olympics, the US bb NT had to travel by coach through Athens. When they arrived, a team manager said: "god...I thought New York is full of bb grounds"
I don't really believe that GB team would anything special this year. I doubt they would even make a win to qualify. I do believe however that by 2011 they can even make it to last 8. In 2012 even better. It would take decades to see a major medal, not just years.

The thing I wonder about with Great Britain, is what are they going to do post 2012. They seem really dedicated to making a competitive team for the Olympics, but will they have the same drive to continue when they don't have an event upcoming on their shores?

[Dtown]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/basketball/6161131/FIBA-must-allow-Great-Britain-to-play-in-2012-basketball-event.html

Great article about FIBA sitting on their hands, and what GB showed in Eurobasket. Though one wonders who these 'enemies' are. The description made me think Lithuania though I suppose it could be several of the former Yugoslavian countries as well.

[ArkadiosV2]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/oth...all-event.html

Great article about FIBA sitting on their hands, and what GB showed in Eurobasket. Though one wonders who these 'enemies' are. The description made me think Lithuania though I suppose it could be several of the former Yugoslavian countries as well.

This article is ridiculous. What will the ask for next? Allowing GB football in the Olympics too? Some things are there and have not changed for 120 years for a reason...

Greece marches 1st, Olympic flame starts in Greece, GB doesn't compete in basketball and football, American sprinters are all on dope, Isinbayeva will hold the world record for eternity... little traditions that make the Olympics so special...

[Dtown]

This article is ridiculous. What will the ask for next? Allowing GB football in the Olympics too? Some things are there and have not changed for 120 years for a reason...

Greece marches 1st, Olympic flame starts in Greece, GB doesn't compete in basketball and football, American sprinters are all on dope, Isinbayeva will hold the world record for eternity... little traditions that make the Olympics so special...

hmm this post does kind of back up the theory of eastern European hostility toward Britain the article proposed