Massacre so far.

I like

Was expecting an easy win but that was an absolute destruction in first qtr.
27-2 at one stage.
Credit to all the players that have stayed on in this squad for all the qualifiers, it shows.

Roster getting a bit too old tbf, more youth needed in these phase 1 qualifiers.


Brandt 33
Blanchfield 31
Mccarron 30
Kay 30
Norton 29
^
Mcveigh 26
Vasiljevic 25
Froling 22
Galloway 19
Hawke 18
Toohey 18

Avg age 26


^ not sure why bring most of those guys, 2-3tops for exp and leadership.
Get developing some young teens to mid 20s pfs and centers.

HT KAZ 25-58 AUS

Very nice.

Blanchfield, McCarron and Norton are the 3 that could be replaced by just about anyone younger. But I'm guessing not that many younger players are available for these games.
Brandt and Kay just destroy this level of competition and are great to watch in these games.

Decided or told not to go
Cooks
Pinder
Travers
Mcdowell-white
Mcdaniel
Mudronja
Swaka Lo Buluk


Just A couple more youth from nbl or even Coe would have been good.

U25
Jordan hunter
Isaac Humphries
Angus Glover
Kyrin Galloway
David Okwera
Akoldah Gak
Lat Mayen
Daniel Grida
Biwali bayles
Oliver hayes brown
Owen foxwell
Josh duach
Rocco Zikarsky
Roman Siulepa
Etc

FT KAZ 50-97 AUS

Don't think I've ever seen a court inside a velodrome before!


Launceston Silverdome is a velodrome. Hosts two JackJumpers games a season.

So is John Cain arena

It was a close game... NAHT

Result to be expected, good win.

Now looking forward to some more competitive basketball next weekend!

What's the effect of not playing against Iran in Iran?

Is it a forfeit?

Didn’t South Korea or another nation get disqualified because they refused to play in the pandemic? Would Australia face consequences?

@KET

Iran gets a free win. 20-0 for them. Congratulations on the WC spot!

Single forfeit won't get you disqualified, it counts as a 20-0 loss and you don't get the point that normally comes with a loss (so basically a double loss).

Korea got disqualified for forfeiting twice (in one window) because members of their travelling group got Covid (so couldn't travel).

I wish the Boomers just play in Iran, China played with no issues. No Iran need to give us a big thank you because they now have qualified for the World Cup.

Has there been any news out from the Boomers?

Heard nothing official yet, even from their press conference after the match, nothing.

Now*

We were fortunate with the way the schedule worked out.

Aussies have made it anyway, if they win the rest they still finish top anyway

How would finishing second or whatever affect WC groups/placings?

I think you need to go and have a look at the standings.

?

Really?

Hmm WTF, I was looking at an incorrect ladder.

How would finishing second or whatever affect WC groups/placings?

Australia are 9-0 top, China are 7-2 second, Iran are 5-4 third.

"Aussies have made it anyway,"
Top 3 in group F qualify - Australia cannot go below second. They have qualified, so this is right.

“if they win the rest they still finish top anyway”
Because China have lost 2, if Australia only lose the first through forfeit, they still finish top. This is right.

I don't know why I need to look at the standings?

“How would finishing second or whatever affect WC groups/placings?”

This is the question - are the World Cup groups decided based on their rank how they qualified or their global ranking?

And, would being a top qualifier conceivably put them in a better World Cup group or would it not make a difference?

I’m not really sure how looking at the current qualifier standings assists with answering those questions?

Aren't World Cup groups picked out of different pots?

Wouldn’t it help to be in a top pot?

Single forfeit won't get you disqualified, it counts as a 20-0 loss and you don't get the point that normally comes with a loss (so basically a double loss).

28/02/2023 AUS-KAZ

Does anyone know if there has ever been a forfeit in the NBL? Whenever the question is asked by me people scoff at it because their peanut brains can't grasp the awarded after walkover 20-0 rule. Perhaps now with the Iran forfeit in context we can get over this hurdle. St. Kilda declined playing in the NBL playoffs one season but they were removed and finals reseeded.

Aren't World Cup groups picked out of different pots?

Wouldn't it help to be in a top pot?

" Seeding is based on FIBA ranking so it makes no difference to us since we're #3."

Thanks - wonder if this would be a first for Australia (men) to be in the top pot?

Basketball Australia has cited player safety concerns for its decision to withdraw the men's national team from an upcoming World Cup qualifier in Iran.

Following the defeat of Kazakhstan that sealed their spot in next year’s tournament, the Boomers had been due to travel to Tehran and meet Iran on Tuesday (AEDT).

Instead, the side will return to Australia and await instructions from FIBA as to whether the match will be rescheduled elsewhere.

"Basketball Australia have conducted a thorough risk assessment in conjunction with relevant authorities and as a result we will not be sending any teams into Iran at this time," a statement read.

A series of protests erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was allegedly violently arrested by the country’s Guidance Patrol in September for failing to wear her hijab properly. She died in custody three days after falling into a coma.

Currently, Iran is one of 19 countries to which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises Australians not to travel.

“Protests continue around the country and there’s been an increase in the number of foreign nationals arrested,” DFAT’s advice reads.

“Medical evacuation may be difficult. If you’re in Iran, we recommend you leave. Airlines may cancel or reduce their operations to and from Iran at short notice.”

Thanks - wonder if this would be a first for Australia (men) to be in the top pot?

"Aren't World Cup groups picked out of different pots?

Wouldn't it help to be in a top pot?"

If I remember right it has less to do with world ranking and more to do with who is the zone champion, and because FIBA ranks the Asia zone lowly, it has led to the Boomers being saddled with other zone champions in their pools. Expect a booby prize or two in our group regardless of the seeding outcome. But given our talent we shouldnt worry about progressing through any group. Its the crossovers with one of France or USA that would most concern me.

The 24 man Boomers squad for the cup is meant to be announced soon, by the way.

I can't believe Fiba will take further action against Australia not being able to play in Tehran. In honesty they should reschedule the game.

If I remember right it has less to do with world ranking and more to do with who is the zone champion, and because FIBA ranks the Asia zone lowly, it has led to the Boomers being saddled with other zone champions in their pools.

" Roster getting a bit too old tbf, more youth needed in these phase 1 qualifiers."

I tend to think the opposite. Having the experienced group of McCarron, Brandt, Kay etc is great exposure for the young guys coming through, Hawke/Toohey/Galloway/Procter/Ducas etc, they get to learn the standards of International ball and the Boomers culture passed down from Patty/Joe. It's certainly a great system in place and an envy of other countries.

The thing with qualifiers is we need to win them. I am all for blooding kids, and I concede that we can probably win with an under-22 team most of the time, but it's not really a risk we should be taking. JMS is right about culture. The Boomers are a culture team. Even with the talent we had last year, we weren't the third most talented team in the world. It's the team culture and ethics that make us a world basketball power. And it is the thing that will hold us up when we're faced with a stacked Canada, France or USA.

Seeding for the World Cup is based on FIBA ranking, therefore:

Pot 1: #1-4
Pot 2: #5-8
and so on.

There is an adjustment usually made to place the host nation in the top pot but it won't affect us since we're #3, but not sure how they adjust it with three hosts this time around.