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Some reflections on reasons behind USA failure (and in respect to the triumph in the boys tournament).
- Confirming the same losing coaching staff of 2015 proved to be a mistake by USAB, as already mentioned earlier in this thread. Coach game plan and decisions on players rotation and playing time were again an issue this year.
- Team selection process: same coach but a new team. With only two players remaining from 2015, the U17 was a new team to build up quickly. And very young indeed, as well as unexperienced on international play. I've read that one of the best U17 finalists at the trials (fw Rellah Boothe) was diverted to the U18 team. Why? U16 2015 leading scorer, guard Alexis Morris earned a spot among the 18 finalists but was surprisingly left out from the final 12.
- The driver for men's U16/17 selection is the youth program through the developmental team under experienced coach Showalter. Girls are chosen from a huge group of players attending the trials, a very difficult task for the selection staff to be performed in 2-3 days.
- Preparation time really too short. Aussie team trained for at least one month and played several tournaments, usually with older and more experienced teams. USA team trained one week, then played one exhibition with France and scrimmaged Australia (with the satisfaction of winning…)
Hopefully USAB will take some steps from next year's U16, starting from new coaches?
- Confirming the same losing coaching staff of 2015 proved to be a mistake by USAB, as already mentioned earlier in this thread. Coach game plan and decisions on players rotation and playing time were again an issue this year.
- Team selection process: same coach but a new team. With only two players remaining from 2015, the U17 was a new team to build up quickly. And very young indeed, as well as unexperienced on international play. I've read that one of the best U17 finalists at the trials (fw Rellah Boothe) was diverted to the U18 team. Why? U16 2015 leading scorer, guard Alexis Morris earned a spot among the 18 finalists but was surprisingly left out from the final 12.
- The driver for men's U16/17 selection is the youth program through the developmental team under experienced coach Showalter. Girls are chosen from a huge group of players attending the trials, a very difficult task for the selection staff to be performed in 2-3 days.
- Preparation time really too short. Aussie team trained for at least one month and played several tournaments, usually with older and more experienced teams. USA team trained one week, then played one exhibition with France and scrimmaged Australia (with the satisfaction of winning…)
Hopefully USAB will take some steps from next year's U16, starting from new coaches?
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