Hoops

2015 World Uni Games - starts 4 July

Yeah, hard to know what to make of Uni Games performances in the context of a quality league like the WNBL. Australia seems to throw the spirit of the student athlete thing out the window and just send our best possible team.

Looks to me like Lavey had a pretty nice campaign.
3rd in the tournament in scoring at 17ppg, 5th in assists at 3.8apg. Her 2P FG% was top 10 in the tournament at 55%, which is pretty impressive for a guard. 38.5% from outside the arc is more than respectable too.

I've been as critical of her as anyone here based on her WNBL output to date, but I'm not seeing which aspect of her WUG performance is causing you to lose perspective like that.

In their final game of the 2015 World University Games, the Emerging Boomers fell to Serbia 72-81 and in doing so finished in tenth place.

The game proved to be a tight contest, with Serbia gaining the upper-hand thanks to a 25-20 third period to set up a 9 point win. Mangok Mathiang was once again the shining light for Australia, delivering 16 points, 11 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in a commanding individual performance. Mitch Creek was also influential, gathering 14 points with 4 rebounds, yet neither he nor Mathiang was able to prevent the loss.

Serbia shade Australia for ninth place

Agree Dunkin' Dan.

In a tournament format, all it takes sometimes is a loss at the wrong time. A loss to a team that was quality is not a bad outcome. In this case it was the difference in playing off for a medal or 5th.

Maybe the worst final result for the women, but in reality they lost just 1 game, against Japan, who are clearly far from chopped liver as they pushed the USA to double OT. So the 5th placing isn't actually as bad as it sounds IMO.

Agree with Paul entirely.

Great to see Mathiang step up at this level. He looks set for a massive junior year with Louisville.

I initially thought we had finished ninth, but we actually now playoff for ninth against Serbia today from 1:30pm AEST.

No - countries pick their best available players that are in the tertiary space. Many, especially from Europe, are professional players. Hence why we reference the Australian team as "Emerging Boomers" and "Emerging Opals"...the girls had 5 current Opals on the team from the European tour a month or so back.

Australia have put behind them the disappointment of missing out on a medal by securing fifth place after holding off a fast finish by the Czech Republic to prevail 56-51 at the 2015 World University Games.

Leading by as many as 16 points with less than 5 minutes remaining, Australia withstood an 11-0 run by their opponents to hold on for a 5 point win. Stephanie Talbot was the lone Australian to reach double figures, providing a game-high 13 points with 6 rebounds, with Tessa Lavey chipping in with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. In finishing fifth, the Emerging Opal's only loss for the tournament was against Japan who played off for bronze.

Emerging Opals hold off Czech’s fast finish to claim fifth

In their final game of the 2015 World University Games, the Emerging Boomers took control early to cruise past Korea 92-64 and finish in ninth place.

Australia used their superior height and strength against the home nation, with Mangok Mathiang again leading the way. The 6’10 forward powered his way to huge 18 point and 17 rebound double-double, his fourth of the tournament. Athletic forward Deng Deng added 15 points and 5 rebounds, Dan Trist 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, and Mitch Creek compiled 10 points and 5 rebounds as the UniRoo’s frontline dominated.

Australian men cruise past Korea, finish ninth

Mangok Mathiang helped guide Australia to a 6 point win over Turkey to advance to the playoff for ninth position at the 2015 World University Games.

The 6’10 forward scored 6 of his team-high 17 point and 10 rebound double-double in the last 2 minutes of the game, ensuring the UniRoos a chance to finish in the top ten at this tournament thanks to their 73-67 win. He was well supported by Hugh Greenwood who continued his excellent perimeter shooting by collecting 13 points (3/5 3PT) and Mitch Creek who gathered 10 points.

UniRoos take care of Turkey

Tough losses for both the men and the women for sure.

Lithuania stifled the Emerging Boomers’ chance for a medal in a narrow 67-74 loss at the 2015 World University Games.

Mitch Creek’s game-high 21 points and 5 rebounds, along with a perfect 14-point (5/5 FG, 3/3 3PT) shooting performance from Hugh Greenwood –who also recorded 7 rebounds– were not enough to earn the win in what proved to be an incredibly close and hard-fought contest. Lithuania withstood the UniRoos’ challenge to earn second place in Group C. Australia is relegated to playing off for positions 9 through to 16.

Lithuania extinguish Emerging Boomers’ hopes for a medal

Japan managed to shoot their way past Australia 83-71 to book a place in the semi-finals of the 2015 World University Games, ending the Emerging Opals’ quest for a medal.

Despite a 22-point and 3-assist haul from Tessa Lavey, Japan was able to pull away late in the fourth quarter, thanks to some sizzling three-point shooting that earned them a 12 point win over Australia, and a chance to play for a medal. Sara Blicavs provided 14 points and 3 rebounds; she was one of only two UniRoos to score in double figures.

Japan stifles Emerging Opals with impressive shooting night

Despite being outscored in the second half, Australia defeated Finland 82-69 at the 2015 World University Games, and are within one win of the quarterfinals.

Australia built an early lead and controlled the game right from the start, despite the Finnish side never backing down. Daniel Trist enjoyed his best game of the tournament to date with a game-high 19 points and 4 rebounds. Also making valuable contributions were Corey Maynard who added 14 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals, and Mitch McCarron with 12 points.

Emerging Boomers defeat Finland, one win away from quarterfinals

Lithuania will be tough who is up next.

When your the only one putting up,shots (last game 21 fga, ) next nearest was 7, running more minutes than anyone else, then of course your stats are going to give the impression your doing OK, be better to actually be able to see the game rather than take it purely on stats before making statements like those above.
Lavey gets time in SEABL and struggles against guards who don't even get a look in at the opals level, and this uni team is playing countries that do not have the same level of ability and true uni students not professional bb players, so you need to put everything into perspective

The emerging Opals progress to quarterfinals of the 2015 World University Games undefeated, after withstanding a stern challenge from Chinese Taipei to prevail 77-62, behind an explosive performance from Opals guard Tessa Lavey.

Lavey was unstoppable this game, pouring in a game-high 28 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists in one of the performances of the tournament so far. Along with 12 points each from Olivia Thompson (9 rebounds) and Sara Blicavs (7 rebounds, 3 steals), Australia was able to secure the win behind commanding first and third quarters.

Emerging Opals progress to quarterfinals undefeated

Thanks to an all-round team effort, Australia fought off a challenge from Japan to earn a 73-59 victory at the 2015 World University Games.

Trailing by 1 at half time, the emerging Boomers outscored Japan 40-24 in the second half to earn a 15 point victory behind a game-high 19 points from Hugh Greenwood on an impressive 8/11 shooting (3/5 3PT). Mitch Creek also had an impact behind 15 points and 5 assists, while Mangok Mathiang compiled his second double-double of the tournament with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Emerging Boomers fight off Japanese challenge

Australia’s emerging Opals continued their fantastic start to the 2015 World University Games by easily dispatching Brazil, 85-40.

The South Americans were no match for a ruthless UniRoos team, who overcame a slow start before powering their way to a 45 point victory. Leading the way were the trio of Tessa Lavey, Stephanie Talbot and Vanessa Panousis, all of whom scored 14 points each.

Brazil bounced by ruthless Australians

Men take on Japan today, the women play against Chinese Taipei.

The women smashed poor Uganda for sure, but bet your bottom dollar Uganda are all actually uni students studying full time!

France were good, Australia struggled to score. Perhaps they were out-scouted/coached in this one?

France outclasses the emerging Boomers

The emerging Opals thrashed Uganda on the other hand by almost 100.

Emerging Opals overwhelm Uganda

Hooley has 1 more year at Albany first!

France will prove a tougher opponent. Good to see Hooley go perfect in shooting, while Creek and Mathiang took advantage of their opponents' lack of size and strength.

New Zealand Tall Fern Angela Marino has been named the Player of the Week for her inspiring performance in Round 3 of the Women’s National Basketball League.

Marino posted 11 points in the final quarter to lift Adelaide Lightning to a 93-87 victory over Perth Lynx after Lightning captain Jess Foley succumbed to an ankle sprain late in the second quarter in Albany on Saturday.

Two-time Olympian Marino top-scored with 32 points, shooting 7-of-11 from the field at 64 percent and was at home on the charity stripe where she converted 15-of-19.

The 166cm point guard also managed to pull in six rebounds and dish five assists.

Marianna Tolo and Round 2 Player of the Week Kristi Harrower were also standouts in Round 3.

Opals point guard Harrower scored 26 points in the second half to finish with a game high 32 points against Logan in Bendigo Spirit’s one-point win, 72-71, on Friday. The point guard grabbed seven rebounds and an assist.

Canberra Capitals forward Tolo tallied a double-double with 33 points and 10 rebounds against the AIS on Sunday. She shot 13-of-18 from the field and rejected five shots.