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.

After a break from practicing, the United States returned to action in Chicago.  After an eventful first training camp that resulted in a number of forced roster moves, 16 players started the exhibition period still in contention.  While some players were closer to securing their spots on the roster before others, all the remaining players were expected to be given a fair chance in a competitive setting before decision were to be made.  A few lingering injury issues affected who was available for each game, but the picture got a little clearer.

The first exhibition was in Chicago against Brazil, a solid choice for a first opponent against the team that gave them the closest game four years ago.  A team with some veteran NBA names in addition to players more familiar to those who keep in touch with the basketball scene around the world, Brazil managed to put together a nearly full strength team for the tournament this summer after a less experienced team had a disastrous tournament last summer in Venezuela.  Given the vast difference in experience in the international setting, Brazil was a preview for the kind of team that has tested the Americans in recent tournaments.  They showed some of those traits in this game, using solid passing and movement to create some easy basket inside while showing shooting ability from all five positions in spots all around the floor.  As a result, the margin was close on several occasions, but the American team ended up winning 95-78.

The scene shifted to New York following the first game as things started with a practice at West Point.  The second exhibition came against the Dominican Republic.  With a weaker opponent than in the first game, the United States won easily as expected, by a 105-62 margin.  The players who were already projected to make the final roster were ruthlessly efficient in their minutes, allowing the team to give a number of minutes to the players who did not appear in the previous game.  DeMarcus Cousins was healthy, so he along with Andre Drummond, Gordon Hayward, and DeMar DeRozan were finally able to make an appearance with Damian Lillard also getting far more minutes than his first appearance. Derrick Rose, Mason Plumlee, Chandler Parsons, and Kyle Korver were the four players from the first game who were held out of the second one.

The second exhibition in New York was against another established team in the Americas, Puerto Rico.  The experience of the visitors meant that they did not back down from the challenging, hanging tough with Americans for the entire first half before falling further behind as the game progressed and ultimately losing 112-86.  The closeness of the game early helped test the final rotation players, but it also gave players still fighting for their spots a good chance to showcase what they could do in critical situations when called upon.  After this game, the team was ready to fly to Spain, so roster decisions were finally made.  As a result, Damian Lillard, Gordon Hayward, Kyle Korver, and Chandler Parsons were not making the trip with the team.  The performance of Derrick Rose meant that another point guard was not needed, leaving Lillard at home.  Hayward and Parsons showed their all around skills, but there were other players who could offer those particular skills in greater abundance on the final roster.  Korver would have given the team an additional shooter among other skills, but the shooting ability shown by the players projected to be in the rotation meant that there was less of a place for a player deemed to be a specialist.

After a long trip, the team arrived in Spain on the island of Gran Canaria.  There the final roster played their last exhibition against Slovenia.  While they are also a possible future opponent in a competitive game, this was a good choice to prepare for the tournament.  Their offensive system tested the American defense, but the level of the opponent still allowed the team to win and give all of the players some more time on the court as the final margin was 101-71.  The team then got ready to make their next trip, going to the mainland to the location of their preliminary round games in the heart of Basque Country.

With the exhibitions over, the team can sneak in a bit of rest before a taxing preliminary round schedule that will see them play five games in six days.  The fortune of the group draw means that the team is unlikely to be significantly challenged, but it does leave the team less tested than the other top teams once elimination is on the line with the final sixteen teams.  The team has a favorable path to the final game, but will obviously be looking to establish chemistry as quickly as possible to peak by the end of the tournament.  After the tournament is over, we will examine the effect that it has on the next stage of Olympic qualification.

Team USA training camp in Las Vegas recently concluded, with the events of the final day overshadowing the entire week.  Team decision makers put a hold on all activity in the aftermath of Paul George's injury, but they did make choices for the next phase of the team's preparations.  In addition to George's unavailability, John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Paul Millsap were cut.  Two of those players were late additions to the training camp roster.  With the health of Derrick Rose up in the air prior to training camp, Wall had an opportunity to be a part of the team, but he did not outshine the tough competition for the point guard position.  Bradley Beal was one of the younger players selected and he certainly seems to factor into the team in the future, but against a number of other strong shooters, he might not have been ready to fulfill the needs of this particular roster.  Paul Millsap volunteered to join the team after other post players made themselves unavailable, but was unable to crack the group, which also now includes Mason Plumlee, who played his way into consideration after good work as a member of the Select Team brought in to test the team in practices.

With 16 players, the team is in the middle of a period of rest before the next set of practices.  The team reconvenes in Chicago in the middle of the month for two days of training before they play their first game against another team on August 16th against Brazil.  From there on, the team will be kept busy daily through the conclusion of the tournament in Spain.  All of the players are likely to have at least some chances in the three exhibitions in the United States and the team will likely to keep more than the final 12 players around to make sure that they have the ability to make quick last minute changes if necessary.

After the first set of practices in Las Vegas, the roster is beginning to take shape and some ideas of how the final rotation may look are starting to be seen with a few key positional battles still to come.  The current roster still has four players who play point guard for their NBA teams.  Typical international rosters have at least three players who can run the offense, but size and shooting ability of the players available mean that Stephen Curry in particular can slide over to the shooting guard position.  Paul George, who was presumably the starting small forward before his injury, will need to be replaced on both the offensive and defensive ends.  DeMar DeRozan, the late roster addition who is still in contention, seems to have played his way into consideration.  Players like Klay Thompson and Kyle Korver will be looking for a key offensive role, especially from a bench spot.  As has been the case in recent editions of the team, positional versatility is coveted, with players like Chandler Parsons and Gordon Hayward having the ability to play up a position internationally compared to their NBA roles.  If Kevin Durant starts as a power forward, it cuts into potential roles for the four remaining big men behind Durant and Anthony Davis.  Each of them bring different skill sets to the position and ultimately it will be their ability to fit into specific roles that will allow them to make the final roster.

Injuries, of course, have become the main storyline of the international basketball season in this country.  The entire international basketball situation is more complicated than can be addressed in some of the brief formats that key figures have been using to put forth their beliefs.  There are many aspects to the United States participating as a member of the international basketball community and the NBA is involved on a number of different levels.  It is worth noting that the NBA has already extracted more concessions from FIBA than other leagues for the participation of their players.  While most international coaches would like to have long training camps, NBA players are limited in when they can join a team before a tournament and they are exempted from the longer practices and two a day workouts that most of their countrymen endure.  In deference to the NBA and the players, USA Basketball already has the least amount of preparation of any of the teams that they will be facing, both in practice time and in exhibition games.  With the team's recent success in world tournaments, they have only had to play competitive games every other year instead of every summer like most of the other elite teams in the world.  In fact, Mexico will have two NBA players play in two competitive tournaments this summer, one of them just to qualify for a tournament next summer to keep their Olympic hopes alive.

After the United States had several poor showings relative to talent level in the early 2000s, they made a concerted effort to reclaim the top spot in international play, which it did in 2008, defending their throne in 2010 and 2012.  The fact is that the United States needs their NBA players to ensure that they win these games.  Even though other teams may not have the same degree of raw talent, their tactical advantages, familiarity with rules differences, and greater experience in playing as a team have allowed several other teams to test the United States.  Further specific restrictions on the United States team make it more difficult for the team to win tournaments.  It is no longer possible for any assembled group of American players to beat their peers from other countries.  If winning continues to be important to the stakeholders of American basketball, the team will continue to need the time and player availability to accomplish those goals.

The United States national team is not the only one relying on NBA players.  With the continued international influence on the NBA, several star players regularly play for their national teams during the summer.  While owners might be able to find ways to restrict USA Basketball participation further, it will be much more difficult for the league to do with international players, especially since their countries rely on them so heavily.  Hurting the reputation of the NBA overseas seems to be the exact opposite of their goals with the NBA realizing how important their international appeal is, and harming international basketball is likely to remove some of the goodwill built up over time.  Only restricting American players from participating while allowing international players to do so would cause another set of public relations issues.  Some players might then also take options that they have for representing another country.  For example, Kyrie Irving could have represented Australia and Klay Thompson could have represented the Bahamas.  Although international basketball is not currently perfect, the NBA alone is not capable of fixing all of the issues.  Working to resolve those issues without removing the existing tradition and negatively affecting countries all across the talent spectrum should be the goal.

On Monday, the United States announced a roster of players expected to participate in a training camp in Las Vegas at the end of the month in order to select players for the upcoming tournament:
http://www.usab.com/mens/national/2014_mnt_roster.html

Now that we know which players are included and which players will be absent, we can begin to see how the roster may shape up as we head into tryouts.  Here is some information on all of the players selected.

Stephen Curry: The prototypical fifth guard in the international game, Curry looks set to have a far bigger role than that as he is highly likely to be back on the team.  His ability to shoot the ball from the point guard position will allow the other star players to handle the ball during a share of the possessions and will also open up the possibility of two point guards sets which are widespread in international play.


Derrick Rose: Rose's latest comeback from a long injury layoff looks set to happen in Las Vegas.  Without knowing how rusty he will look and how ready he will be to contribute in key competitive games, it is not clear what his chances are.  Rose obviously is a tremendous player when healthy, although he may not have the specific traits that might make him an ideal backup point guard in international play.


Kyrie Irving: The lone Duke player on the list, Irving seems to be set to play some part in this team based on how he has been handled in USA Basketball circles.  If he displays an ability to contribute with shooting while not always playing as the primary ball handler, Irving will have more of an opportunity to play alongside some of the stars.


Damian Lillard: One of a number of exciting young point guards to emerge recently, Lillard has risen from relative obscurity to prominence in a short period of time.  Depending on how the other point guards are used and the overall balance of the roster, there is a good chance that Lillard will make the final roster, although it will likely come off the bench to lead a second unit offense.


James Harden: Harden is a returnee from the previous Olympic team who will hope that a strong performance this summer will keep him in position to stay with the team during future tournaments.  Given a different role in the international game than in the NBA, Harden is a valuable offensive contributor.  Whether he fills that position in the starting lineup or as a key bench option will be determined over the course of the summer although the number of other good young guards will challenge him to continue to stick with the team concept.


Klay Thompson: An accurate shooter who has been asked to contribute much more in the NBA, Thompson has had a couple of chances to fight his way into consideration for this tournament.  The work he has done to improve on defense in the NBA may give him a helping hand in making this roster as he looks to show that he can add more than shooting to the team.

Bradley Beal: A premier young shooter, Beal looks set to be a key asset to the international game for years to come.  Whether he is ready to fill that role this summer is still up for debate with the strength of the competition for his role.  His ability to show other aspects of his game besides shooting may be what decides whether he makes this team or not.


DeMar DeRozan: A late addition to the national team pool, DeRozan has impressed in past events.  While his NBA career may seem a little less notable than other players on the list, his wing versatility covers some of the team's needs.  He may have one of the longest shots to make the final roster, but he was added to this list for a reason and he will have the opportunity to prove himself, especially on the defensive end.


Paul George: An emerging star in the NBA, George is one of the players who can become more famous worldwide with a strong tournament.  On this roster, he will be the key defensive player on the perimeter and he will not be forced to carry as much of the offensive load as he does in the NBA.  His offensive skillset fits into the general mold of successful wings at the international level and he figures to be a key part of this team.


Gordon Hayward: One of the players most likely to be under the radar of international opponents, Hayward's versatility and skillset would give the team some lineup flexibility in the second unit.  This tournament may be a little too soon for him to emerge, but given the increasing role he will be asked to play in the NBA, he may continue to develop into a solid option for the program in the near future.


Kyle Korver: If anything has been learned in recent years of international play for the United States, it is that shooting ability is valuable and it is not possible to have too much of it.  Korver certainly has that ability and offers the opportunity to bring instant offense off the bench.  He is also the oldest player on this list by nearly seven years, and the American team has always had a veteran presence to help navigate the long tournament process so he may have an increased chance of making the team for that reason.  With so many prolific shooters on the list, it may come down to what else Korver can add compared to other shooters that will decide if he makes the team.


Chandler Parsons: The other late addition to the list, Parsons has emerged recently as a solid option.  His positional versatility can be valuable to the team as he brings shooting ability that can be used at both forward positions.  With two players added late in the process, it will be interesting to see if they have a better than expected chance of making the team.


Kevin Durant: The United States victory in this tournament in 2010 helped propel Kevin Durant to worldwide recognition as he grew into the team's leading star over the course of that summer.  With Durant being one of the first stars to announce his attention to compete in this tournament, is is likely that he will be called upon to lead the team again as his scoring ability and his ability to be a mismatch against pretty much any team.

Blake Griffin: A player slated to play for the last Olympic team before an injury, Griffin gets his chance to fight for a spot on the team again.  While Griffin does not offer the same degree of shooting range displayed by many international power forwards, he does have enough size to spend time in the center position, where he will have the opportunity to crash the boards at both ends and to pick up easy baskets.  Griffin will have a good chance of making the team as his athleticism is likely to cause trouble for opponents even though his skill set is not quite prototypical for the international game.


Kenneth Faried: Every team needs a player who will practice and play with energy at all times and Faried is definitely a player who can fill that role.  As a rebounding wizard and dynamic defensive player, Faried can contribute to the team without needing touches on the offensive end.  Faried's main obstacle will be the fact that he is pretty much exclusively a power forward at this level, not helping the team from a versatility perspective while also not possessing the range of the typical international power forward.


Kevin Love: Another established player in the program who committed to this team early, Love is valuable because of his range.  Given the size comparison with other teams, Love is often able to slide over to the center position, creating more versatility on the court.

Anthony Davis: The last player to make the Olympic squad before even playing in the NBA, Davis has continued to show the intriguing set of skills that were first on display two years ago.  Davis figures to be a part of the final roster due to his defensive prowess in the post.  His offensive skillset complements the other stars on the roster and he seems likely to be a key contributor to the team and in a position to increase awareness of his ability around the world.


DeMarcus Cousins: Cousins nearly wrecked his chances of every being a part of the USA Basketball setup after his unprofessional behavior when he was called in to practice.  He has been given another chance and looks to make the most of it.  The main obstacle to Cousins making the team may be whether he offers enough to the team besides offensive ability given that he is not likely to be considered one of the top offensive options for the team.  His ability to consistently play defense, grab rebounds, and fit within the context of the offense will be what determine whether he makes the team.


Andre Drummond:  Drummond has emerged as a rebounding machine as he has developed in the NBA.  His size and defensive contributions will give him a chance to grab one of the last spots on the roster.  While he may still be developing all facets of his game, he is certainly in position to contribute now in a manner that will help the other players on the team display their best.

Last Friday, Kathleen Scheer and the Hobart Chargers continued their winning streak with a strong 79-71 performance over the Bendigo Braves.  Kathleen had 20 points in 37 minutes.  Izzy Chilcott and Klara Wischer had 13 points each.  In the loss, ex-LSU player Lasondra Barrett, who was teammates with Kathleen during the national league season, had 14 points and 9 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=465269176&c=1-3363-0-284003-0&pool=2

Nick Horvath and Manawatu Jets continued to try to at least end their season on a winning note as they beat the Otago Nuggets 106-97.  Nick had 14 points and 13 rebounds in 27 minutes.  Paul Jones had 23 points, Brandon Jenkins had 21 points and 7 assists, and Jeremiah Trueman had 10 points and 15 rebounds.  In the loss, ex-Illinois player Warren Carter had 25 points and 11 rebounds, ex-Eastern Michigan player Brandon Bowdry had 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists, and ex-USCAA player Tony Tolovae had 22 points and 7 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=465342413&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

Last Saturday, Jess Foley and the Norwood Flames rolled to another win, pounding the Eastern Mavericks 111-74.  Jess had 14 points in 21 minutes.  Amy Lewis had 21 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=465415091&c=1-3656-0-289296-0&pool=1

Last Sunday, Nick Horvath and the Manawatu Jets finished their season with a 112-76 win over the Super City Rangers.  Nick had 22 points and 14 rebounds in 30 minutes.  Paul Jones had 26 points and 8 rebounds and Brandon Jenkins had 13 points and 11 assists.  In the loss, ex-NAIA player Cameron Stuart had 12 points.  The Jets ended their season with five wins in a row leaving them only one game out of the last playoff spot.  Given Nick's contributions after he missed the first eight games due to an injury, the team must wonder what would have happened with better health.  Nick again proved to be one of the top post players in the league and now looks to make an impression in training camp for the national team.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=465435157&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=1

Here are his statistics for the season:
http://www.sportingpulse.com/team_info.cgi?pID=192371995

On Friday, Kathleen Scheer and the Hobart Chargers had a strong start against the Brisbane Spartans, but saw their win streak snapped as they faded in the second half and lost 86-83 in overtime.  Kathleen had 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists in 30 minutes before fouling out.  Izzy Chilcott had 19 points.  In the win, ex-Southeast Missouri State player Natalie Taylor had 11 points and 9 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=466412398&c=1-3363-0-284003-0&pool=2

Jamal Boykin's long and adventurous season came to an end with a loss in the semifinals in New Zealand.  Jamal started the season with a short-term contract in Germany to fill in for an injured player.  Once that deal ran out, he found a place in Ukraine, where he was playing well before issues in the country disrupted the league.  While Jamal stayed longer than most of the foreign and premier domestic players, he was looking for another place to play and earn a living and he was able to leave for New Zealand.  Jamal was a key player for the Nelson Giants, finishing 7th in the league in scoring.  He did so extremely efficiently, with the fourth highest free throw percentage and the fifth highest two point percentage, making the second most two point baskets in the league and finishing fifth in the overall efficiency index that takes into account all statistics.  Jamal will soon be ready to find his next place to play as he has already experienced the professional game in seven different countries during his career.
Here are his statistics in New Zealand:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&client=0-8336-114261-298804-20462741&pID=197890808&pname=Jamal%20Boykin&news_task=DETAIL

On Saturday, Jess Foley and the Norwood Flames crushed another opponent as they beat the North Adelaide Rockets 76-42.  Jess had 13 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes.  Amy Lewis had 16 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=466486312&c=1-3656-0-289296-0&pool=1

On Monday, Red Star Belgrade hosted Game 2 of the finals with DeMarcus Nelson among several players suspended for their roles in the Game 1 brawl.  Partizan Belgrade took the lead early and held off a small second half charge to win 82-62 and even up the series.  Charles Jenkins stepped into DeMarcus's role and had 17 points and 6 rebounds.  In the win, Davis Bertans, the 42nd pick of the Indiana Pacers in 2011 before a draft day trade to the San Antonio Spurs, had 14 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=244

On Thursday, DeMarcus Nelson and all the other suspended players returned for Game 3 of the finals, which was played in an empty arena because of fans behavior in Partizan's last home game.  The team led early as they look to take the series lead, but could not keep it and fell 77-67.  DeMarcus had 16 points in 36 minutes.  In the win, ex-NBA player Sasha Pavlovic had 16 points and Joffrey Lauvergne, the 55th pick of the last draft by the Memphis Grizzlies before a draft day trade to the Denver Nuggets, had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=245

On Friday, Nick Horvath and the Manawatu Jets continued to play out the rest of the season, beating the Taranaki MountainAirs 86-71.  Nick had 7 points and 16 rebounds in 28 minutes.  Paul Jones had 19 points, Arthur Trousdell had 15 points and 6 rebounds, and Brandon Jenkins had 14 points.  Ex-Rice player Suleiman Braimoh had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the loss.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=463850696&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

On Saturday, DeMarcus Nelson and Red Star Belgrade tried to extend their season in front of their home fans in Game 4 of the finals.  The game was close throughout, going into overtime, before Partizan Belgrade took the lead for good and won 95-87.  DeMarcus had 14 points and 6 assists in 34 minutes.  Charles Jenkins had 16 points.  In the win, Joffrey Lauvergne had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Sasha Pavlovic had 11 points.  DeMarcus became the first American player to return to Red Star Belgrade for a second season and took a much more active role in the team's offense, impressing the team once again as they competed for multiple trophies, but came up short at the end of the season.  DeMarcus may return to the team for another year, but he has also drawn attention from some of the elite teams around Europe.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=246

Here are DeMarcus's domestic league statistics:
http://www.kls.rs/igrac_stat.php?igrac=251

Here are DeMarcus's Adriatic League statistics:
http://www.abaliga.com/player/1054/DeMarcus_Nelson

Here are DeMarcus's EuroLeague statistics:
http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=RED&pcode=002829&seasoncode=E2013

Here are DeMarcus's EuroCup statistics:
http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/competition/players/showplayer?pcode=002829&seasoncode=U2013

Jess Foley returned for the Norwood Flames as they eased to a 106-48 win over the Central Districts Lions.  Jess had 19 points and 6 assists in 21 minutes.  Amy Lewis had 18 points and 8 steals.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=463924772&c=1-3656-0-289296-0&pool=1

On Sunday, Nick Horvath and the Manawatu Jets won another game, beating the Waikato Pistons 85-74.  Nick had 7 points and 20 rebounds in 38 minutes.  Brandon Jenkins had 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists, Paul Jones had 14 points, and Arthur Trousdell had 10 points.  In the loss, ex-Kansas State player Akeem Wright had 21 points and 12 rebounds and ex-Northern Arizona player Casey Frank had 11 points.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=463850613&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

Kathleen Scheer and Hobart Chargers continued a string of strong performances with an 82-62 win at Kilsyth.  Kathleen had 17 points and 7 rebounds in 34 minutes.  Klara Wischer had 12 points and 7 rebounds.  In the loss, ex-St. Mary's player Louella Tomlinson had 20 points and 8 rebounds and ex-Fresno State player Rosie Moult had 17 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=463924136&c=1-3363-0-284003-0&pool=2

On Tuesday, Nolan Smith and Cedevita Zagreb looked to win the title in Croatia on their home court and managed to do so by completing the sweep with an 87-76 win.  Nolan had 14 points in 29 minutes.  Goran Suton led all scorers with 23 points.  In the loss, ex-UNLV player Jerel Blassingame had 18 points and 6 assists.  Nolan completes his debut overseas season on a winning note and while he looks to return to the NBA next season, he has also left an impression in the basketball community in Europe, leading his team to a successful season.
Here is the boxscore:
http://stats.stilu.net/stats.php?gameid=1663&sez=prv
Here are Nolan's statistics in domestic competitions:
http://stats.stilu.net/igraci.php?id=2979
Here are Nolan's Adriatic League statistics:
http://www.abaliga.com/player/2259/Nolan_Derek_Smith
Here are Nolan's EuroCup statistics:
http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=CED&pcode=004918&seasoncode=U2013

On Wednesday, DeMarcus Nelson and Red Star Belgrade looked to advance to the finals as they had Game 2 at Mega Vizura.  They trailed early, but kept the game close and took the lead in the second half on the way to a 101-95 win.  DeMarcus had 22 points and 6 rebounds in 29 minutes.  Charles Jenkins added 21 points.  In the loss, ex-NBA player Ratko Varda had 20 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=242

Taylor King's team in the regional league in Mexico had their season ended after choking away a playoff lead in the quarterfinals.  Taylor had previously finished his season with the Los Mochis Pioneers due to an injury.  While he did not play for the entire campaign, he did compile solid statistics that should help him find a new place as soon as the next fall season after he finishes healing.
Here are his statistics:
http://www.sportingpulse.com/team_info.cgi?pID=197819488

On Friday, Kathleen Scheer and the Hobart Chargers returned to action for their first game with a new coach and beat their Tasmanian rivals, the Launceston Tornadoes 82-62.  Kathleen had 23 points in 38 minutes.  Izzy Chilcott had 30 points and 13 rebounds.  In the loss, ex-Iowa State player Lauren Mansfield had 12 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=462027753&c=1-3363-0-284003-0&pool=2

On Saturday, the Norwood Flames looked to bounce back from their first loss as they played the Southern Tigers without Jess Foley again and prevailed 92-58.  Amy Lewis took the lead again with 23 points and 7 rebounds and ex-UMass player Marisa Stabile, who joined the team late again this season, had 10 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=462189611&c=1-3656-0-289296-0&pool=1

Nick Horvath and the Manawatu Jets beat the Hawke's Bay Hawks 88-84.  Nick had 13 points and 15 rebounds in 36 minutes.  Paul Jones had 29 points and 6 rebounds and Brandon Jenkins had 13 points and 6 assists.  In the loss, ex-College of Charleston player Dustin Scott had 18 points and 9 rebounds and ex-Cincinnati player Kareem Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=462154889&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

DeMarcus Nelson and Red Star Belgrade had Game 1 of the finals against their fierce rivals Partizan Belgrade.  The team took a lead and held it into the fourth quarter before a big fight that heavily involved DeMarcus broke out, stopping the game until officials could determine which player needed to be ejected and so the stands could be cleared of unruly fans.  When the game started again with DeMarcus among the players thrown out, Red Star had five remaining players and Partizan only had three.  Red Star kept their lead, although they lost one more player after he fouled out, holding on to a 97-88 win.  DeMarcus had 12 points in 24 minutes as Charles Jenkins took command after the fight to finish with 16 points.  In the loss, Joffrey Lauvergne, the 55th pick of the Memphis Grizzlies in the last draft before a draft day trade to the Denver Nuggets, had 26 points and 13 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=243

On Monday, Nick Horvath and the Manawatu Jets were finally able to get a win by beating the Wellington Saints 100-89.  Nick was able to play all 40 minutes and had 14 points and 14 rebounds.  Paul Jones had 40 points and 8 rebound and Brandon Jenkins had 22 points.  In the loss, ex-Georgetown player Brandon Bowman had 28 points and 8 rebounds, ex-Texas A&M player Bryan Davis had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and ex-NAIA player Corey Webster had 17 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=459377788&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

DeMarcus Nelson and Red Star Belgrade were finally able to get a win, pounding Crnokosa 89-63.  DeMarcus had 8 points as he was only needed for 11 minutes and the team was able to rest its starters.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=232

On Tuesday, Marty Pocius and Zalgiris Kaunas tried to close out the Finals in Game 5 at Neptunas, but could not do after falling behind early and falling short in a late comeback attempt 87-86.  Marty had 7 points and 7 rebounds in 24 minutes.  Justin Dentmon had 16 points and Robertas Javtokas had 10 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2897781&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1

Nolan Smith and Cedevita Zagreb started the finals in Croatia against Cibona Zagreb and led for the entire game before being tested in the second half as they won 84-76.  Nolan led his team with 17 points in 28 minutes.  Goran Suton added 10 points.  In the loss, ex-UNLV player Jerel Blassingame had 11 points and 6 assists.
Here is the boxscore:
http://stats.stilu.net/stats.php?gameid=1661&sez=prv

On Wednesday, DeMarcus Nelson was held out of Red Star Belgrade's final regular season game as they were able to easily defeat Metalac 90-53.  Charles Jenkins had 11 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=238

On Friday, Nick Horvath and the Manawatu Jets earned another win after beating the Otago Nuggets 88-74.  Nick had 14 points and 11 rebounds in 31 minutes.  Arthur Trousdell had 18 points and 13 rebounds, Paul Jones had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Brandon Jenkins had 10 points.  In the loss, ex-Eastern Michigan player Brandon Bowdry had 20 points and 11 rebounds and ex-Texas State player Brendon Polyblank had 18 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=460680373&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

Marty Pocius and Zalgiris Kaunas had a shot at winning the title in front of the home fans in Game 6 and they did so by beating Neptunas 90-70.  Marty led his team with 16 points in 27 minutes.  Robertas Javtokas had 15 points and 9 rebounds Justin Dentmon had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists.  Despite some scary moments, the team managed to accomplish its goals during a difficult year for the club.  When healthy, Marty was a big part of the success of the team in his return to his first professional club.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2897783&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1
Here are Marty's domestic league statistics:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/zaidejas/?player_id=4833419&season_id=87901
Here are Marty's EuroLeague statistics:
http://www.euroleague.net/competition/players/showplayer?clubcode=ZAL&pcode=001878&seasoncode=E2013

On Saturday, Nick Horvath and the Manawatu Jets had a quick turnaround, but could not continue their winning streak after losing 91-83 to the Southland Sharks.  Nick had 24 points and 19 rebounds as he played all 40 minutes.  Brandon Jenkins had 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists and Paul Jones had 11 points.  In the win, ex-Georgetown player Kevin Braswell had 27 points and 8 rebounds, ex-UTEP player Luke Martin had 20 points and 7 rebounds, ex-Utah State player Tai Wesley had 15 points and 7 rebounds, and ex-Saint Louis player Brian Conklin had 10 points and 15 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=460839644&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

Nolan Smith and Cedevita Zagreb are now a win away from the championship after winning 69-61 at Cibona Zagreb in Game 2.  Nolan led all scorers with 19 points in 27 minutes.  Tomislav Zubcic added 11 points.  In the loss, Jerel Blassingame had 13 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://stats.stilu.net/stats.php?gameid=1662&sez=prv

On Sunday, DeMarcus Nelson and Red Star Belgrade started the playoffs with Game 1 of the semifinals against Mega Vizura, winning 81-70.  DeMarcus had 13 points and 8 assists in 28 minutes.  Charles Jenkins added 12 points.  In the loss, ex-NBA player Ratko Varda had 20 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=240

On Wednesday, Marty Pocius and Zalgiris Kaunas looked to take the lead in Game 3 of the finals at Neptunas and did so by holding on to an 82-75 win.  Marty had 4 points in 20 minutes.  Justin Dentmon had 21 points, Sarunas Jasikevicius had 14 points and 6 assists, and Robertas Javtokas had 10 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2897777&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1

On Thursday, DeMarcus Nelson and Red Star Belgrade had a quick turnaround against Radnicki, but dropped another game after a late comeback fell short 90-78.  DeMarcus had 15 points in 22 minutes before fouling out.  Charles Jenkins had 19 points and Ivan Radenovic had 10 points and 7 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=225

On Friday, Nick Horvath and the Manawatu Jets faced the Super City Rangers and lost 100-94 as their season continues to look like a hopeless cause.  Nick had 18 points and 20 rebounds in 30 minutes.  Brandon Jenkins had 24 points, Jeremiah Trueman and Arthur Trousdell had 11 points and 6 rebounds each, and Paul Jones had 10 points.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=459145980&c=0-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

Kathleen Scheer and the Hobart Chargers had an emotional game against the youngsters representing the Basketball Australia Centre of Excellence.  With their coach leaving for non-basketball reasons (a common issue for semi-professional leagues), the team charged out of the gates with their new look lineup and led 26-4 after the first quarter and rolled to a 94-65 win.  Kathleen led all scorers with 24 points and added 7 rebounds in 35 minutes.  Izzy Chilcott had 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=458975299&c=1-3363-0-284003-0&pool=2

On Saturday, Marty Pocius and Zalgiris Kaunas moved one step closer to the championship in Lithuania with an 88-72 Game 4 win over Neptunas for a 3-1 series lead.  Marty led his team with 14 points in 26 minutes.  Sarunas Jasikevicius had 13 points and Robertas Javtokas had 11 points and 6 rebounds.  In the loss, ex-Western Kentucky player Tyrone Brazelton had 12 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2897779&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1

DeMarcus Nelson and Red Star Belgrade tried to get back on track and had a big challenge to do so against their big rivals Partizan Belgrade.  They struggled again to start the game and fought back to force overtime, briefly taking a lead before losing 82-78.  DeMarcus had 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists in 32 minutes before fouling out.  Charles Jenkins had 12 points.  In the win, ex-NBA player Sasha Pavlovic had 20 points and Joffrey Lauvergne, selected 55th in the last draft by the Memphis Grizzlies before a draft day trade to the Denver Nuggets, had 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=229

Jess Foley was not available for the Norwood Flames as they faced their toughest test, the new look Sturt Sabres, and were just able to force overtime before falling 88-87 to lose a game for the first time in more than one year.  Amy Lewis had 25 points as she picked up the slack in Jess's absence.  In the win, ex-Notre Dame player Natalie Novosel had 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists and ex-NAIA player Hannah Richards had 15 points and 7 rebounds.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=459287483&c=1-3656-0-289296-0&pool=1

On Wednesday, Nolan Smith and Cedevita Zagreb finished the regular season in Croatia with a 104-76 win over Zagreb.  Nolan was healthy enough to return to the lineup and had 4 points and 8 assists in 18 minutes.  Tomislav Zubcic had 21 points and Goran Suton had 11 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://stats.stilu.net/stats.php?gameid=1656&sez=prv

On Thursday, Marty Pocius and Zalgiris Kaunas started the Finals in Lithuania on the road at Neptunas.  The team started well, but foul trouble to Marty and other factors slowed their momentum in the second half and they lost 71-59.  Marty had 10 points in 24 minutes.  Justin Dentmon and Sarunas Jasikevicius had 13 points each.  In the win, ex-Western Kentucky player Tyrone Brazelton had 16 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2897773&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1

On Friday, Nick Horvath was finally able to make his season debut as the Manawatu Jets faced Jamal Boykin and the Nelson Giants, but 91-82 after coming out flat after halftime.  Nick shook off some rust with 14 points and 17 rebounds in 29 minutes.  Paul Jones had 30 points and Brandon Jenkins had 12 points and 9 rebounds.  On the other side, Jamal Boykin led all scorers with 35 points and added 11 rebounds in 35 minutes.  Ex-Syracuse player Josh Pace added 20 points and 9 rebounds in the win.

Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=457221739&c=11-8336-0-298804-0&pool=-1

On Saturday, Nolan Smith and Cedevita Zagreb started the playoffs in Croatia with Game 1 of the semifinals against Jolly, winning 77-53.  Nolan had 2 points as he was only needed for 8 minutes.  In the loss, ex-DII player Terry Smith had 12 points.
Here is the boxscore:
http://stats.stilu.net/stats.php?gameid=1657&sez=prv

Jess Foley and the Norwood Flames won another game, beating the West Adelaide Bearcats 73-54.  Jess led her team with 19 points in 39 minutes.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.foxsportspulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=457391072&c=1-3656-0-289296-0&pool=1

On Monday, Marty Pocius and Zalgiris Kaunas hosted Game 2 of the finals against Neptunas and took control of the game in the third quarter to even the series with a 92-83 win.  Marty had 9 points in 19 minutes.  Justin Dentmon had 23 points and Robertas Javtokas had 14 points.  In the loss, ex-Old Dominion player Valdas Vasylius had 10 points.

Here is the boxscore:
http://lkl.lt/lt/top/rungtynes/?game_id=2897775&season_id=87901#mbt:73-400$t&0=1

On Tuesday, Nolan Smith and Cedevita Zagreb completed the semifinal sweep by beating Jolly 75-54 on the road.  Nolan had 10 points in 24 minutes.  Tomislav Zubcic added 12 points and 8 rebounds.  In the loss, Terry Smith had 12 points and 6 assists.
Here is the boxscore:
http://stats.stilu.net/stats.php?gameid=1659&sez=prv

DeMarcus Nelson and Red Star Belgrade resumed the season in Serbia after the league was postponed due to flooding in the country which resulted in many basketball arenas being used as shelters.  They faced Mega Vizura and came out flat, taking a brief lead in the second half, but falling 91-79.  DeMarcus had 12 points in 35 minutes.  Charles Jenkins had 15 points.  In the win, ex-NBA player Ratko Varda had 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Here is the boxscore:
http://www.kls.rs/box.php?id=220