Kevin Durant and the USA Basketball team learned their first order of business when they arrive in Spain for the 2014 FIBA World Cup this summer. Team USA was named to Group C and will be joined by Turkey, Ukraine, New Zealand, Finland and the Dominican Republic.
FIBA World Cup 2014 draw: USA basketball joined by Turkey, Ukraine in Group C
Team USA was grouped with Turkey, Ukraine, Finland, New Zealand and the Dominican Republic, but it’s Spain’s Group A that might be the toughest road to the FIBA World Cup championship.
Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE
It’s likely that Turkey will be the Americans’ toughest opponent in the Group C play that will take place in Bilbao, Spain. Turkey is a top-10 team by the FIBA rankings released after the 2013 summer continental tournaments, but Ukraine, which is led by American coach Mike Fratello, also showed signs of promise during the 2013 EuroBasket tournament.
Spain, which is widely considered Team USA's likely opponent come the championship game, might have earned the toughest go in terms of group play. Ricky Rubio, Marc Gasol and their crew will have to compete against Tony Parker, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw's French national squad. The Spaniards are also joined by Serbia, Brazil, Iran and Egypt.
Argentina was the favorite of Group B and will face a field of Senegal, Croatia, Puerto Rico, Greece and the Philippines. In Group D, Lithuania will be joined by Angola, Korea, Slovenia, Mexico and Australia.
Here is a look at the groupings and where in Spain they will be playing the preliminary rounds. The final rounds will take place in Madrid and Barcelona.
GROUP A (Granada): Spain, Egypt, Iran, Serbia, Brazil, France
GROUP B (Seville): Argentina, Senegal, Philippines, Croatia, Puerto Rico, Greece
GROUP C (Bilbao): USA, Finland, New Zealand, Ukraine, Dominican Republic, Turkey
GROUP D (Gran Canaria): Lithuania, Angola, Korea, Slovenia, Mexico, Australia
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