U-19 Mens World Championship - Canada takes Seventh Place

[quote="knowthegame"]So, where does this leave us now? And coach, was still wondering about the Grade 7&8 Clinic that had started but had to get put on ice for a bit? When will or will it be starting up? I thought it was a great idea, especially for development![/quote]

I answered on the Jordan Hamilton thread. We are planning on a number of clinics starting earlier in the year next season.

I outlined the upcoming games above - next Puerto Rico another good team. We still have a shot at #5.

Gotta finish strong... 5th sounds much better than 8th.

I'm sure it's being preached i.e. how their is so much to gain from the classification games... especially when it's against teams from the Fiba Americas.

Also for future international tournaments... it's very important to get as much experience against the Americas... and to learn how to play and beat teams like Puerto Rico etc.

Now that Canada is gone... gotta go for my home country CROATIA. They might give the USA fits with their draw and kick and lethal shooting behind the arc. I can say this... Croatia will win if they are hot from the 3 point line... which is more often than not. Nothing like living and dying by the 3.

According to the game reports this one went down to the wire. Canada was down by ten going into the fourth but Puerto Rico rallied and pulled it out.

Arop with 20, Thompson with 13 and Olynyk with 12 led Canada.

Cory Joseph played big minutes but his shooting was not at his usual level and he ended with 5 pts.

Canada now plays France for 7th place.

Other Scores:
Egypt 86 Kazakhstan 78 (11th place)
Lithuania 88 Spain 64 (9th place)
Greece 84 Australia 69
USA squeaked by Croatia 81-77
Argentina 92 France 84

I was wondering if T. Thompson was hurt or something, he only played the first 33 seconds of the 4th Quarter? He has been scoring and rebounding well in the last few games (highest scorer vs USA, 2nd vs PR). Marc Trasolini also only had 2 minutes, while the U of Alberta signee (Baker) played the whole 4th quarter? If anyone saw the video feed, they might be able to explain?

Some comments on the Gozaga board, from people who watched the video feed:
Canada loses to Puerto Rico 67-65 for the 5th place spot. Gonzaga signee Manny Arop once again led the team in scoring as he did all tournament with 20 and Texas recruit Tristan Thompson had 13 and 11. Three point shooting was utterly abysmal as the juniors shot 1/17 from long distance, no that wasn't a typo.

Overall, it was a really disappointing tourney as Canada was one of the most talented teams on paper, but shooting and turnovers did them in, hence the 6th place finish.

another comment:
Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of organized play from the Canadian coaching staff. I've only seen a few games this tournament but a lot of the scoring is coming off one on one plays rather than set offenses which is probably why we see some of the terrible shooting performances and inconsistent play lately. 1/17 from three point land and 18 turnovers is terrible.

It's a shame. The team has a starting five that could rival any other team in the tournament. Pretty frustrating really.

[quote="setshot"]Some comments on the Gozaga board, from people who watched the video feed:
Canada loses to Puerto Rico 67-65 for the 5th place spot. Gonzaga signee Manny Arop once again led the team in scoring as he did all tournament with 20 and Texas recruit Tristan Thompson had 13 and 11. Three point shooting was utterly abysmal as the juniors shot 1/17 from long distance, no that wasn't a typo.

Overall, it was a really disappointing tourney as Canada was one of the most talented teams on paper, but shooting and turnovers did them in, hence the 6th place finish.

another comment:
Doesn't seem to be a whole lot of organized play from the Canadian coaching staff. I've only seen a few games this tournament but a lot of the scoring is coming off one on one plays rather than set offenses which is probably why we see some of the terrible shooting performances and inconsistent play lately. 1/17 from three point land and 18 turnovers is terrible.

It's a shame. The team has a starting five that could rival any other team in the tournament. Pretty frustrating really.[/quote]

We are playing for 7/8 vs. France. I always wish the best for our players.

I have felt from the beginning we were hurting in the coaching department. Basketball Canada is not getting it right not by a longshot!

Our players deserve better!

Who are the coaches?

Greg Francis is the head coach.

I know Greg Francis personally and hes a stand-up guy.
I thought he was gaining a reputation as a bright, young, up-and-coming coach. Is this incorrect?

Do you all think this program and coaching staff needs to be heading in another direction? Suggestions??

Canada beat France and ended the tournament in 7th place.

SOlid showing... I think they were expecting for a better result... I'm sure guys like Cory and Tristan are impressed on how good the guys are from Australia, Croatia, Greece.

I don't know Greg personally but everything I hear is extremely positive. He is an outstanding young coach and watch for the Golden Bears to dominate the west and perhaps dethrone Carleton.

Other Scores:

USA 88 Greece 80 (Gold)
Croatia 87 Australia 81 (Bronze)
Argentina 92 Puerto Rico 70 (5th Place)

Coach - Given the resources that Cdn nat'l teams don't have to work with - compared to the resources that the top int'l team do have to work with - this team has done quite well, and I would say that the success for this team over the past 2-3 years is due to a combination of coaching (despite the lack of resources) and the growing quality of young bball players in canada. I follow that gonzaga board and though it is really good that the board has focused on & followed their new recruits arop and olynk this is the type of bball reporting that is so anxious and expecxting the the next great one that these young men make a mistake and the board goes into a big uh-oh.... comments about the turnovers arop & olynk made is a good example. these are young kids who will learn & improve...sometimes, or many times, the USA bball machine gets too frantic for its own good... these young men will do just fine and make us proud...

Bernie

a couiple of comments, first to petro, the problem with society and escpecially these types of boards is people believe too much of what they hear! 2nd, the golden bears will NEVER dethrone carleton as long as smart is there, please dont ever compare francis with smart.
coach clement, who then should be coaching the nat.jr team is francis is not the person for the job? who would be the best person and how would you better the program?

I'm not comparing Francis to Smart... there is no comparison... right now.

But don't underestimate the strong hold Francis has in terms of his relationships with many of the top HS coaches in the western provinces... and with that... recruiting the top players from BC, ALberta and Sask will be his - before most.

Smart's, shall we call it... "territorial rights" are Kingston north to the Ottawa Valley. He doesn't stretch very far out... and if he has a kid on his roster from outside that tangent then they came to him. Smart, if he is smart (and we know he is - no doubt), better expand his search lines.

I love and respect Smart a tonne... I just think in a couple of years Francis will be the main rival to Smart and very well might take over the reign.

As quick as you say "the golden bears will NEVER dethrone carleton as long as smart is there"... just remember... as Scarface once said... "don't ever under estimate the other guy's greed".

BTW... gnote... your 13 posts in... go do some research on my posts... and you will find that I won't spew just for the sake of spewing!

1. ive seen them both running practice, no comparison, i dont care how much talent the golden bears get, they aint beating carleton.
2. 6/7 cis championships, i guess smart " better expand his search lines" so his teams are more successful
3. so im now 14 posts in, WHO CARES, just means i dont have the time to waste with 2000 posts like others, congrats on your 280 posts, you must be proud

4. i find it very intersting how coach clement will come on here and post "i have felt from the beginning we were hurting in the coaching department. Canada has not gotten it right by a longshot. The players deserve better" but has yet to come on an answer mine and realballs questions about who should be the coach and how he would fix things? coach clement?