First up in the first round for Team USA at the London Olympics is France, and last is Argentina.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced pairings and game times for the 2012 Olympic men’s basketball tournament. Two of the USA’s opponents will be determined following the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, scheduled for June 2-8 in Caracas, Venezuela, with the top three finishing teams earning the final three Olympic qualifying berths. The top 2 teams will be in the Americans’ bracket.
The U.S. men open preliminary round play on July 29 at 2:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. EDT) against France, followed by a contest against Tunisia on July 31 at 10:15 p.m. (5:15 p.m. EDT). The Aug. 2 and Aug. 4 opponents will be drawn from the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and Team USA closes preliminary round play against Argentina on Aug. 6 at 10:15 p.m. (5:15 p.m. EDT).
For a freshener on how France qualified, click here for our coverage from Kaunas, Lithuania (SheridanHoops was the only U.S. news outlet that covered the tournament).
The top four teams from each preliminary round group will advance to the Aug. 8 quarterfinals, with the winners playing in the semifinals on Aug. 10 and the medal games on Aug. 12.
USA Basketball has identified 22 finalists for the 2012 USA National Team from which the 2012 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team will be selected, although several are injured.
The 22 are: LaMarcus Aldridge (Portland Trail Blazers); Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks); Chauncey Billups (Los Angeles Clippers); Chris Bosh (Miami Heat); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks); Anthony Davis (University of Kentucky); Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder); Rudy Gay (Memphis Grizzlies); Eric Gordon (New Orleans Hornets); Blake Griffin (Los Angeles Clippers); James Harden (Oklahoma City Thunder); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); Andre Iguodala (Philadelphia 76ers); LeBron James (Miami Heat); Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves); Lamar Odom (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers); Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).
The U.S. men have collected a medal in all 16 Olympics in which they have competed, including 13 golds, one silver and two bronze. The Americans own an impressive 122-5 overall win-loss record (.961 winning percentage) in Olympic action, and since NBA players began representing the United States in 1992, the USA is 37-3 in the five Olympics they have participated in, capturing four gold medals and one bronze medal.
For the full men’s and women’s Olympic basketball schedules, click here.