The United States looked to defend the world title as the tournament started in Spain, knowing that winning the gold medal would also qualify them for the Olympics without needing to play in 2015. As expected, being one of the top four teams in the preliminary stage to move on was no issue. Out of five games, the only real challenge came from Turkey, who had a halftime lead before being blown away in the second half. The team moved from Basque Country to Barcelona, where they started the elimination phase with a solid win over Mexico. The next two games were tougher and close in the first half, but the team again used strong second halves to beat Slovenia in the quarterfinal and Lithuania in the semifinal. That set up the final, against Serbia instead of the hosts, who were upset before they could reach their expected level. Serbia had a solid start in the game, but just could not keep up with the firepower of the American team. Having particularly strong tournaments, Kenneth Faried and Kyrie Irving were both named to the all-tournament team with the former Duke guard grabbing MVP honors.
In addition to the honor of winning this tournament, the United States is the second team to qualify for the 2016 Olympics alongside hosts Brazil. Given all of the concerns expressed this summer about tiring out players, that frees both the main players and coaching staff from large commitments next summer. There is likely to still be some kind of event, but it will likely be an opportunity for some younger players to impress in a brief training camp or scrimmage format. Some of the players who took advantage of player absences to grab bigger roles in this tournament made their best case to be included in the Olympic squad with the veterans hoping to still have their own shot to return.
Two of the twelve spots have been taken for the Olympics, but how will the other spots be decided? Continental tournaments will be played next summer with seven total spots to be awarded. A number of teams that do not qualify directly will get one final chance in the summer of 2016 right before the Olympics to grab the final three spots. Assuming the format stays the same as last Olympic cycle, twelve teams will compete with one of those teams hosting the tournament. The Oceania region has not determined their format or hosting procedure, but Australia and New Zealand will compete for one automatic bid with the runners up joining that extra qualifying tournament.
American success in Spain benefited the rest of the teams in the Americas as they will not be competing for one of the two automatic bids from the continent for the Olympics or any of the three spots in the additional qualifying tournaments. The United States will not participate in the tournament in Mexico next summer, allowing Panama to take their place. Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba earned their spots for that competition by being the top four finishers in this summer's Centrobasket. From South America, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay took the four spots from their performances this summer. Canada is automatically qualified.
Next summer will also award one Olympic spot for Africa as their continental championships will be played in Tunisia. The second and third place teams will also have one final chance to grab an Olympic berth. Teams will qualify for that tournament over the course of the next year, with the continent divided into regional zones with a fixed number of berths. The same number of berths are available in Asia, where China will look to restore their place on the international stage as they host sixteen teams. Defending champions Iran have already secured a place in that competition after winning the ten team mini-tournament this summer. The other countries must qualify regionally in the next year. One spot is up from grabs in both South Asia and Central Asia, which is usually only contested by two team, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Four spots will be available in East Asia, three in Southeast Asia, three in West Asia, and two from the Gulf States.
The tough action will be in Europe, where only two teams will be able to clinch berths in the Olympics, with the next four teams needing to navigate the additional tournament. Because, Ukraine is not safe enough to host the tournament, the tournament will be split up as France, Germany, Latvia, and Croatia will each host one of the four groups of six. Defending champions France will then host the final round. Teams have been qualifying both through the last Eurobasket and additional qualifying rounds. The twenty four teams are as follows: Spain, Ukraine, France, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Turkey, Latvia, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Georgia, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Macedonia, Russia, and Iceland.
The United States will have the summer off next year, but there will be plenty of international basketball between now and the next time they take the court.
In addition to the honor of winning this tournament, the United States is the second team to qualify for the 2016 Olympics alongside hosts Brazil. Given all of the concerns expressed this summer about tiring out players, that frees both the main players and coaching staff from large commitments next summer. There is likely to still be some kind of event, but it will likely be an opportunity for some younger players to impress in a brief training camp or scrimmage format. Some of the players who took advantage of player absences to grab bigger roles in this tournament made their best case to be included in the Olympic squad with the veterans hoping to still have their own shot to return.
Two of the twelve spots have been taken for the Olympics, but how will the other spots be decided? Continental tournaments will be played next summer with seven total spots to be awarded. A number of teams that do not qualify directly will get one final chance in the summer of 2016 right before the Olympics to grab the final three spots. Assuming the format stays the same as last Olympic cycle, twelve teams will compete with one of those teams hosting the tournament. The Oceania region has not determined their format or hosting procedure, but Australia and New Zealand will compete for one automatic bid with the runners up joining that extra qualifying tournament.
American success in Spain benefited the rest of the teams in the Americas as they will not be competing for one of the two automatic bids from the continent for the Olympics or any of the three spots in the additional qualifying tournaments. The United States will not participate in the tournament in Mexico next summer, allowing Panama to take their place. Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba earned their spots for that competition by being the top four finishers in this summer's Centrobasket. From South America, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay took the four spots from their performances this summer. Canada is automatically qualified.
Next summer will also award one Olympic spot for Africa as their continental championships will be played in Tunisia. The second and third place teams will also have one final chance to grab an Olympic berth. Teams will qualify for that tournament over the course of the next year, with the continent divided into regional zones with a fixed number of berths. The same number of berths are available in Asia, where China will look to restore their place on the international stage as they host sixteen teams. Defending champions Iran have already secured a place in that competition after winning the ten team mini-tournament this summer. The other countries must qualify regionally in the next year. One spot is up from grabs in both South Asia and Central Asia, which is usually only contested by two team, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Four spots will be available in East Asia, three in Southeast Asia, three in West Asia, and two from the Gulf States.
The tough action will be in Europe, where only two teams will be able to clinch berths in the Olympics, with the next four teams needing to navigate the additional tournament. Because, Ukraine is not safe enough to host the tournament, the tournament will be split up as France, Germany, Latvia, and Croatia will each host one of the four groups of six. Defending champions France will then host the final round. Teams have been qualifying both through the last Eurobasket and additional qualifying rounds. The twenty four teams are as follows: Spain, Ukraine, France, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Turkey, Latvia, Israel, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belgium, Georgia, Poland, Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Macedonia, Russia, and Iceland.
The United States will have the summer off next year, but there will be plenty of international basketball between now and the next time they take the court.
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