FIBA U17

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

2016 FIBA U17 World Championships are underway in Spain, and Australia has suffered a key setback against Canada in the first game, losing 81-78. Both teams were considered medal contenders, but were placed in the same group, so now Australia cannot afford another loss or they are unlikely to advance past the group stage. Samson Froling did not start the game, but came off the bench to lead the team wth 15 points and 8 rebounds. Sam was a perfect 5/5 from the field, including his only 3-point shot. Australia lost the game at the free throw line, where they made just 15 of 30 attempts.

Defending champion and gold medal favorite USA easily crushed CHinese taipei in the opening game, 119-45. The US once again has a highly talented roster that includes Kevin Knox of Tampa, who lead all scorers with 15 points. Auburn commit Austin Wiley lead all rebounders with 11. I dont see anyone on the US roster that I know SMU is recruiting, and no Texas kids on this years team, but there is still plenty of time to get involved with most of these kidyou never know what might happen.

I wont be able to update over the weekend, because I am trabeling, but will catch up on monday.

[smusportspage]

Thanks for the update.

[Balatro Diabolus Ex]

After going 10/10 from the floor, including 2/2 from 3-point range, in Australia's first 2 games, Samson Froling finally missed a shot in the Aussies win over Finland. He made up for it by grabbing 10 rebounds and leading the team in assists, with 4. For the tournament, Sam shot 67% from the floor, the best field goal percentage on the Australian team and second overall for the tournament, behind Carte'Are Gordon of the USA (72%). Sam was also Australia's leading rebounder in every game, averaging 10.4 rpg with a high game of 15 boards vs Korea. His 10.4 average was the fifth highest amongst all players in the tournament. Sam also lead his team in blocked shots, and was second in points (11pg) and assists (2apg). The remarkable thing is, he did all this, and never started. Samson Froling was first or second in every statistical category, averaged a double-double (11 points, 10.4 rebounds per game), and did it coming off the bench. Over the first 4 games, his playing time actually decreased steadily from 32 minutes against Canada to 30 against china, 22 against Finland, and only 18 against Bosnia.
Two years ago, when Sams older brother Harry helped Australia win a silver medal at the u17 Worlds, the Aussies had a big and productive frontcourt led by Isaac Humphries (now at Kentucky), but for some reason this year their coach decided to play small ball, using a starting lineup with no players over 6'7", and leaning heavily on forward Tom Fullarton (6'7") and shooting guard Dragan Elkaz (6'4"). Patrick Bines, a tough but undersized (6'6") forward was asked to do most of the inside work when Sam wasnt on the court. Point guard play was also weak for the Aussies this year, getting very limited production from that position. The small ball experiment was a failure, as Australia finished a disappointing 7th place, far behind the silver medals they brought home after that previous 2 tournaments.
Tom Fullarton led Australia in both points (14) and assists (4), and was second in rebounds (6) behind Samson.

The United States defeated Turkey 96-56 in the Gold Medal game, a new record for margin of victory in the championship, but the Turks were the only team to hold the US under 100 points, and gave the US its closest game of the tournament during the Group stage, when the US prevailed 84-66. For the tournament, USA averaged 106 points per game, and had 7 players average double digits, lead by Collin Sexton with 17ppg. Sexton, a 6'2" shooting guard from Georgia, shot 56% from the floor, and an eye opening 73% from 3-point range, and also led the team in assists with 4.2 apg. Prior to this summer Sexton wasnt recieving a great deal of attention from the recruiting services, but now he hold offers from almost every school in the SEC and Big12, as well as from our friends at Cincinnatti and Tulane. Wendell Carter lead the US in rebounding with 7.4 per game.

[sadderbudweiser]

Seems like schools will be all over Froling II. It's good we have the inside track.