February 04, 2012
World Championship team profile: Australia
Matt Nielsen - Australia (Photo: FIBA)Australia arrives in Turkey from halfway across the globe, boasting size and a cast of stars familiar with what is takes to shine on this continent. The late addition of All-Euroleague center Aleks Maric further boosted what was already arguably one of the deepest frontlines in the competition. The Boomers have shown that they can compete with the best, having reached the eighthfinals at the last World Championships four years ago and the quarters at the 2008 Olympic Games, but both times it was knocked out by the United States. Now the core of the team that won the 2003 World Under-19 Championships is coming into its prime and giving Boomers fans plenty to cheer about. In Turkey, the added experience could be the difference maker for head coach Brett Brown's charges.

#
 Name
Pos.
H.
4
 Damian Martin
G
188
5
 Patrick Mills
G
181
6
 Adam Gibson
G
188
7
 Joe Ingles
F
203
8
 Brad Newley
G
198
9
 Steven Markovic
G
188
10
 David Barlow
F
205
11
 Mark Worthington
F
202
12
 Aron Baynes
C
207
13
 David Andersen
C
212
14
 Matt Nielsen
F
209
15
 Aleks Maric
C
211
Head Coach: Brett Brown
Australia relies on a trio of guards to set the table for the big men, with lightening-quick playmaker Patty Mills, savvy combo-guard Steven Markovic and Lietuvos Rytas sharpshooter Brad Newley – a veteran of the Turkish League – sharing the ball and responsibility with each other. Joe Ingles, who played in Spain last season, and Mark Worthington, who helped Brose Baskets to the German title and a spot in the Euroleague, form a strong one-two punch at small forward. In the paint, even though star center Andrew Bogut has been lost to injury, the Boomers turn to Maric, who was one of the biggest names in the Euroleague summer rumors before transferring to Panathinaikos, reigning Eurocup MVP Matt Nielsen and a former All-Euroleague selection and three-time Euroleague champ David Andersen. And the team has even more young size to bring off the bench. After a long buildup to the World Championships, it is clear that Australia is battle-tested and ready for what awaits in Turkey. How far the Boomers can get remains a mystery, but their combination of size and experience means they will certainly not be an easy team to beat. And perhaps a hot streak could see Australia making waves and heading for a medal to bring home to the basketball hotbed Down Under.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Euroleague.net
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