CL82
NCAA Men’s Basketball National Champions - Again!
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Interesting. UConn will face both Gabby and the Ogumike sisters.Group B
- Nigeria
- Japan
- France
- USA
Interesting. UConn will face both Gabby and the Ogumike sisters.Group B
- Nigeria
- Japan
- France
- USA
I suspect FIBA will ignore the fact that Chiney's and Nneka's interest in the development of basketball globally arose after they were denied the opportunity to play for the USA. And how does it help basketball in Nigeria to bring in American players just for the Olympics? Others can answer that.
Hope Nneka can play.
Chiney's interest in the development of basketball globally has been part of her life since she was in college. She did a study abroad program in Nigeria (she has her degree in International Relations) and worked with non-profits around the continent to put on clinics and build basketball courts. She also partnered with NBA Africa to launch "Power Forward" which is a youth engagement initiative that uses basketball as a tool to develop health, leadership, and life skills in Nigeria.
It helps basketball in Nigeria if these WNBA players help elevate their results in the Olympics and creates buzz in the country. So, there is an easy case of reason there. Will they have it approved? Who knows. But the country having success in a sport on the world stage would create buzz in said country.
Since the USA committee has approved them playing for Nigeria, it should be approved.Thanks. I meant playing for Nigeria as a way to develop basketball arose recently. No Ogwumike has played for Nigeria in any of the qualifying tournaments. I know that was not an option for Nneka who believed she would make the US team but maybe it was for Chiney. I honestly don’t know what’s better for Nigerian basketball; is it giving the players who helped Nigeria qualify the Olympic experience or is it bringing in US players who are better and want an Olympic experience they couldn’t get with the US? Ultimately that is for the Nigerian Federation to decide and seems they believe it is better to bring in the US players and hope to improve the results. You make good arguments and I expect the FIBA Sec General will grant the exception.
Now the only hurdle is to see if Geno is on board.Since the USA committee has approved them playing for Nigeria, it should be approved.
I wouldn't expect this to move the needle in terms of assuaging his critics, but the insights are worth a listen. Segment starts at 17:48.
Geno does give some very well thought out explanations for the selection of the 2012, 2016 and 2021 teams. Geno also admits that Napheesa over Neka was going to have its critics regardless of which one was picked. He specifically points out that Neka was similar to Tina, Stewie and Sylvia where as Napheesa was more versatile and could do some different things for the team and selected as "a nod to the future." Thanks to our BY for finding and posting this video.But again -- he gives the reason. Yet some of these writers are just so bitter anti-UCONN just want to claim that "Geno declines comment."
Unless I missed it, Nneka, herself, hasn't spoken publicly about being left off this Olympic team. Writers, her coach, other (former and current) players, have spoken out in support of her.Complaining over not making the Olympic team is not a good look for Neka, nor was it a good look for Parker a few years back. It second guesses the extremely difficult choices associated with coaching, selecting and managing the national team when all Americans should be supporting and celebrating that team.
Going back to the 2016 Olympics when Jewel Lloyd did not make the team, she was gracious and thankful for the opportunity. Pheesa demonstrated the same level of class when she was left off the world championship team by Dawn.
Low and behold, both Jewel & Pheesa are going to Tokyo as members of the USA 2021 Olympic team. Perhaps there’s a lesson in there.
If that’s so, then Nneka deserves credit for not getting caught up in the circus of complaints. Evidently, Parker is once again one of the most vocal complaining about Neka’s snub. Derek Fischer also complained, but he gets a pass IMO for basically supporting his player.Unless I missed it, Nneka, herself, hasn't spoken publicly about being left off this Olympic team. Writers, her coach, other (former and current) players, have spoken out in support of her.
Unless I missed it, Nneka, herself, hasn't spoken publicly about being left off this Olympic team. Writers, her coach, other (former and current) players, have spoken out in support of her.
I do think she has spoken about it - not sure if she was asked directly but...If that’s so, then Nneka deserves credit for not getting caught up in the circus of complaints. Evidently, Parker is once again one of the most vocal complaining about Neka’s snub. Derek Fischer also complained, but he gets a pass IMO for basically supporting his player.