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CANTERBURY RAMPAGES 2002

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INDY 2002 INFORMATION

SECTIONS (click on each):
Squad vs Hungary & 2002 Schedule
Indy 2002 Information
Oceania Qualification Series

2002 FIBA WORLD BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
August 29-September 8, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Group A: Yugoslavia, Spain, Canada, Angola
Group B: Brazil, Turkey, Puerto Rico, Lebanon
Group C: U.S.A., Germany, China, Algeria
Group D: Argentina, Russia, New Zealand, Venezuela

In the first round, a round-robin tournament is conducted within each group. The top three teams in each division advance to a second round-robin tournament and are seeded into two new divisions based on first round results. The top four teams from each division of the second round advance to the quarterfinals of a single elimination tournament.

1st ROUND OPPONENTS

by Piet Van Hasselt

The Tall Blacks have drawn traditional basketball superpower Russia, American Zone Champion Argentina (USA did not compete) and American 5th place qualifier Venezuela in their group for the first round of matches. Russia have not finished out of the medals at the last 10 World Champs, but only qualified 5th in the strong European Zone. To guarantee a place in the next round, NZ must beat at least one of these teams. In the second round they may face the USA, Germany (led by Dirk Nowitzki) and China (with three 7 foot centres).

RUSSIA - Thursday 29 August, 5:30pm
First up for the Tall Blacks is the team that is widely regarded as the world's Basketball superpower behind the USA. Russia have been silver medallists at the last four World Championships and have been medallists at the last ten (includes when they were the Soviet Union). Struggled in qualifying, finishing in the final spot (5th) of the competitive European Zone. 20-year-old, athletic forward Andrei Kirilenko is currently having an outstanding rookie season with the NBA's Utah Jazz, averaging 10 points and 5.1 rebounds per game off the bench. Other players to watch for are 2.11m, rugged forward Nikita Morganov and veteran guard Serguei Tchikalkine. The Tall Blacks lost to Russia in their build-up for the Sydney Olympics in a thrilling double overtime match-up that only went the distance thanks to a half-court buzzer-beater from Nenad Vucinic.

VENEZUELA - Friday 30 August, 5:30pm
New Zealand's second opponent is another relatively inexperienced Basketball nation, South America's Venezuela. The Tall Blacks will perhaps be targeting this game to give them a chance of qualifying for the next round. Venezuela qualified in the final spot of the American Zone for the first time since 1990 (11th), which was their sole appearance at the World Championships. Guard Oscar Torres is Venezuela's current representative in the NBA, in his first season with the Houston Rockets. Other key Venezuelan players are 37-year old ex-NBA forward Carl Herrera and Victor Diaz who led the team with 23.6 points per game in qualifying.

ARGENTINA - Saturday 31 August, 5:30pm
The Tall Blacks final and perhaps most crucial clash is against Argentina who scored a superb team victory over Brazil to win the American Zone Championships and qualify for Indianapolis. USA did not compete as they qualified as hosts. Argentina are a regular competitor at the World Championships and have finished in the top ten at the last three tournaments. Last year they gained the Silver Medal after losing to the USA at the Goodwill Games Final at Brisbane. Forward Emanuel Ginobili led the team in scoring with 16.8 per game in qualifying and forms a good combination with former NBA centre Ruben Wolkowisky. The future of Argentine Basketball showed promise with a third placing at the 2001 World Junior Championships.

INDY 2002 SCHEDULE

DISCLAIMER: This is not the official page for the Tall Blacks. Information is subject to change.