Athlon Sports looks at the[URL=”http://www.athlonsports.com/college-basketball/kentucky%E2%80%99s-big-blue-nation-olympic-basketball-team-0″] Olympics if Kentucky fielded a team[/URL] of their own and how would they fare vs. the United States, Spain, and Argentina.
Here are their thoughts on the starting 5:
[QUOTE][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]STARTING FIVE-STARS[/B][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]C – DeMarcus Cousins[/B]
[I]Age: 21 (Aug. 13, 1990)
Height/Weight: 6-11, 270
Drafted: 2010, Sacramento Kings, No. 5 overall
2011-12 Stats: 18.1 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.4 spg, 1.2 bpg (NBA)[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]DMC was one of the final cuts made by Team USA. Boogie would bring the type of interior toughness that Spain has in the Gasol brothers and Serge Ibaka, and that the USA lacks outside of Tyson Chandler.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]
F – Anthony Davis[/B]
[I]Age: 19 (March 11, 1993)
Height/Weight: 6-10, 220
Drafted: 2012, New Orleans Hornets, No. 1 overall
2011-12 Stats: 14.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 4.7 bpg, 1.4 spg (NCAA)[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]Much like Kentucky early in the Civil War, the reigning NCAA Player of the Year, Final Four MOP and No. 1 overall NBA draft pick might be on the fencepost deciding whether to play for the USA or UK. But the unibrow-ed Uni-blocker would be a perfect running mate for the brutish Cousins down low.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]
F – Tayshaun Prince[/B]
[I]Age: 32 (Feb. 28, 1980)
Height/Weight: 6-9, 215
Drafted: 2002, Detroit Pistons, No. 23 overall
2011-12 Stats: 12.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.4 apg, 35.6 3P% (NBA)[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]A gold medal winner with the Redeem Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2004 NBA champion, Prince provides valuable length defensively, veteran leadership and a history of making clutch 3-pointers in pressure situations.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]
G – John Wall[/B]
[I]Age: 21 (Sept. 6, 1990)
Height/Weight: 6-4, 195
Drafted: 2010, Washington Wizards, No. 1 overall
2011-12 Stats: 16.3 ppg, 8.0 apg, 4.5 rpg, 1.4 spg (NBA)[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial]Playing off the ball while Rondo runs the point, Wall would be charged with going toe-to-toe with the USA’s Kobe Bryant and Argentina’s Manu Ginobili. Turning defense into fast break offense would be a likely strength of the lightning quick backcourt of Wall and Rondo.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000][FONT=Arial][B]
G – Rajon Rondo[/B]
[I]Age: 26 (Feb. 22, 1986)
Height/Weight: 6-1, 185
Drafted: 2006, Phoenix Suns, No. 21 overall
2011-12 Stats: 11.9 ppg, 11.7 apg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 spg (NBA)
[/I][/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE]
Here is who they would have on the bench:
[QUOTE]
BENCH
F – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Age: 18 (Sept. 26, 1993)
Height/Weight: 6-8, 230
Drafted: 2012, Charlotte Bobcats, No. 2 overall
2011-12 Stats: 11.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.0 spg (NCAA)
The defensive specialist would get an early taste of tangling with LeBron, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony.
G – Jodie Meeks
Age: 24 (Aug. 21, 1987)
Height/Weight: 6-4, 210
Drafted: 2009, Milwaukee Bucks, No. 41 overall
2011-12 Stats: 8.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 90.6 FT%, 36.5 3P% (NBA)
A designated shooter and spark off the bench, Meeks’ free-throw shooting would also be a valuable asset on a team that might struggle at the line.
F – Terrence Jones
Age: 20 (Jan. 9, 1992)
Height/Weight: 6-9, 250
Drafted: 2012, Houston Rockets, No. 18 overall
2011-12 Stats: 12.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.8 bpg, 1.3 spg (NCAA)
The enigmatic talent would likely run hot and cold on the international stage. But Coach Cal would have the luxury of only playing Jones when he had a hot hand.
G – Brandon Knight
Age: 20 (Dec. 2, 1991)
Height/Weight: 6-3, 190
Drafted: 2011, Detroit Pistons, No. 8 overall
2011-12 Stats: 12.8 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.2 rpg, 38.0 3P% (NBA)
Another ball-handler and shooter, Knight would see limited floor time behind Wall and Rondo but would be a nice option off the bench.
G – Doron Lamb
Age: 20 (Nov. 6, 1991)
Height/Weight: 6-5, 210
Drafted: 2012, Milwaukee Bucks, No. 42 overall
2011-12 Stats: 13.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 46.6 3P%, 82.6 FT% (NCAA)
Lamb would be a better option than even Knight. The sharpshooter with a savant’s basketball IQ would play essentially the same role with this team that he did with the 2012 NCAA champions.
F – Chuck Hayes
Age: 29 (June 11, 1983)
Height/Weight: 6-6, 250
Drafted: Undrafted
2011-12 Stats: 3.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.4 apg (NBA)
A mauler down low, Hayes would provide muscle and hustle, providing the most value banging with the USA’s LeBron, Melo and Kevin Love, as well as Argentina’s Luis Scola.
C – Josh Harrellson
Age: 23 (Feb. 12, 1989)
Height/Weight: 6-10, 275
Drafted: 2011, New Orleans Hornets, No. 45 overall
2011-12 Stats: 4.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 33.9 3P% (NBA)
“Jorts” would be the token white guy, the chief cheerleader and a valuable stretch-4 whose game might be better suited for international rules than for those of the NBA or NCAA.
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Athlon also lists who would carry the flag at the ceremony(Ashley Judd) and the guys that were left off(Eric Bledsoe, Patrick Patterson, and Nerlens Noel).
Do you think this team could be improved and do you agree that this team would win the silver medal, losing to the United States team in the finals?
