McDermott named to USA World University Games team

[admin]

Doug McDermott makes the USA team. Davante Gardner of Marquette was one of the last 4 players cut from the roster.

McDermott is the only USA Basketball veteran on the team, and he was a member of the 2011 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team that finished in fifth place with a 7-2 record in the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship in Latvia.

Eleven players took home end of the year conference honors, including McDermott, who was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and an all-conference first-team selection. Additionally, Kirk listed on the Mountain West Conference All-Defensive team, Ferrell was named to the Big Ten Conference All-Freshman Team and Sheehey earned Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year.

http://www.usabasketball.com/mens/world ... _team.html

[Omaha1]

Doug will be a great representative for the Big East. Humble and well spoken young man who is proud to be in the new league.

During training camp, McDermott had a chance to pick the brains of a couple of guys — roommate Luke Hancock of Louisville, Cincinnati's Sean Kilpatrick and Marquette's Davante Gardner — on the lay of the land in the new league. Kilpatrick and Hancock won't be playing in the new Big East but Marquette figures to be one of Creighton's biggest rivals in the new conference.

One of the questions McDermott asked the players was which venue was the most difficult to play at in the new league.

“They said Louisville, which we obviously are not going to play at,'' McDermott said. “But they said Georgetown and Marquette are really tough places. Both of those teams are really physical, and they'll be up in your grill the entire game.

[admin]

Katz reporting that the games are going to be on TV too which is cool for college hoops fans:

3. The World University Games is providing a feed for ESPNU and that's why the games are on television later this month. WUG is making the project cost-effective. FIBA should take a cue from the World University Games event. The FIBA World Championships in the 19- and 18-under events have traditionally involved high-level players from the United States and abroad (last year's 18-and-under event was in Brazil and this year's 19-and-under is currently going on in the Czech Republic). These tournaments are the precursor to the World Championships and the Olympics. FIBA would be wise to help get these games on television in the United States to continue to grow the FIBA brand and create more of an awareness in the States. Americans would have interest in following names they know and others they will in the future. A fail by FIBA, but a big win for WUG.

[Omaha1]

Doug had 13 points today on 5-11 shooting today. Made three 3-pointers and had 5 rebounds.

[Dew]

Good recognition.

@GoodmanESPN: Creighton's Doug McDermott will join Marcus Smart as only college players at USA Basketball Mini-Camp, sources told ESPN.