The #1 & #2 Seeds on the same side of the Bracket?: USA over Canada.
Only FIBA could put a wrench in the works this bad.
How in the hell do you put the top 2 seeds on the same side of a bracket? Even Joe Lunardi/Jerry Palm know better than that? So the FIBA U19 semi-finals will outshine tomorrow’s Finals. USA U19 outlasted their Canadian counterparts in an electric game in Latvia – 92-86. USA will play whomever and roll in the finals. Canada will also play whomever and take the bronze. They should have been slated for play in the finals, from opposing brackets. Oh well.
Andy Katz, Jon Rothstein, and the others will rave on & on about Holmgren, Edey, and the rest. I will concern my comments to the Creighton contingent of Kalkbrenner & Nembhard.
Heading into this game Kalkbrenner was averaging: 6.8ppg /62%, 71.4% FT, 4.7Rpg, 1.3 BLK, on 12.2 minutes.
Nembhard was averaging: 14.2ppg/35.4%, 39.4% 3pt, 77.8% FT, 4.2Rpg, 6.2 Ast, on 30 mpg.
In this game they played above their averages:
Kalk: 10Pts/66.7%, 2-2FT/100%, 4Rbd, 1TO, 2Blk, on 12.27 Minutes
Nemb: 18Pts/31.8%, 37.5% 3Pt, 50% FT, 8Rbd, 6 Ast, 2TO, 2Stl, on 38 Minutes
Both of our guys did themselves proud…playing well as expected, for their respective national teams. These games, as well as the Kaluma/Afrobasket 21 games are giving the Bluejays coaches and contingent excellent insights into the caliber of players we have on board for this and future seasons.
Mac and staff have done real good in landing top-tier players for the team and IMHO there will be little, if any, fall off from previous years. These young men are Warriors and will help CU continue to be competitive at the highest levels of collegiate hoops.
As an aside, 2022 recruit Adem Bona was representing Turkey at the FIBA U19 games.
Bona’s Line: 8.8 Ppg/70%, 100% FT, 2.8Rpg, 0.8 Blk, on 15.2 MPG
Well Done to both Ryan’s, Well Done young fellas. Way to represent your countries and Creighton!
Bluenotes 