A MINNESOTAN IN MINSK: 2 games

The USA 17U national team is taking part in the FIBA 17U world championship in Minsk, Belarus. Paige Bueckers from Hopkins has started as a  guard for the Americans in the first two games. As expected the Americans have been dominant in their first two wins. On Saturday, in the first game, the USA beat Italy 86-48. Sunday had an even bigger victory margin as the Americans defeated Mali 92-39. With the sport infrastructure in the country there was no serious doubts in either game. The Americans dominated the boards. The more skilled and physical play suits the Americans more. I am sure if we weighed the game experience prior to the events the USA would clearly be ahead. One area that would be a concern if the games were tighter is the substandard production at the free throw line. The best the USA have scored is a 52% mark against the Italians. They only hit for 41.7% (5/12) against Mali. Both opponents were ahead at the line, not by much at 64%.

TEAM	POINTS	PP100	LEADING SCORER	+/-
SATURDAY
USA	86	110.3	Haley Jones 13	Haley Jones 35
ITALY	48	64.9	Giula Natali 16	Marta Rossini -10
SUNDAY
USA	92	116.5	Azzi Fudd 18	Azzi Fudd 44
MALI	39	50.6	Diarah Issa Sissoko  11	Diouma Berthe -28

 

As for Bueckers:

GAME	MINUTES	POINTS	PP100	FG%	+/-
ITALY	22:34	12	109.1	6/9-67&	31
MALI	15:52	8	114.3	4/7-57%	26

Bueckers is not running the show like she does for both Hopkins and North Tartan 10 Starks. She usually started offensively on the left side of the floor. In a twist, Azzi Fudd is running the show. The reason I say it is a “twist” is because on her Fairfax Stars club team the main ball handling duties belong to Carly Rivera.

Eight Americans made the century club (100+ pp100) against Italy; seven joined against Mali. Aliyah Boston had the best individual pp100 of 220 vs Mali.

The starters (the same on both dates) had a 133.3 pp100 score against Mali; against Italy it was still a more than healthy 115.4.

Due to the balance and blow out nature of the games, 31 Club scores don’t top out as high. Against both Italy and Mali two players made the 21 Club (Jones, Bueckers; Fudd, & Belibi). Jones is in the lead with 25.

You can follow along at the FIBA site. The next game in group B is on Tuesday against China. The Chinese beat Mali and lost to Italy. It appears that the USA will be the number one seed from the B group and will be matched up with the fourth-place finisher in the A group which looks like it will be Colombia.

TRENCH PLAYERS:

VS ITALY: Haley Jones with 13 points, a x pp100 and a 25 score in the 31 Club.

VS MALI: Azzi Fudd with 18 points, a 180 pp100 and a 24 score in the 31 Club.

Just a word of warning about the upcoming week: the second D1 window opens tomorrow with two events in Minnesota the Meltdown and the Mid America Showdown. My master’s class work has doubled in this window. That means my time will be limited in covering events.