World University Games - Men
Australian WUG Team announced
Basketball Australia has announced the athletes selected to represent Australia in basketball at the 2009 World Uni Games in July.
The World University Summer Games (WUSG) are held every two years under the banner of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and in 2009 will be held in Belgrade, Serbia from July 1-12.
The men's team contains two athletes from the National Basketball League, with the remaining Australian players sourced from American universities.
The most represented university is St. Mary's College of California, the current residence of Australian Boomer Patty Mills, with three athletes followed by America's Nicholls State University and Victoria's Monash University with two athletes apiece.
The men's team will be coached by former Sydney Kings Assistant Coach and current Australian Boomers Network Coach Bill Tomlinson.
At the 2007 WUG event the men's team finished the 2007 event in seventeenth place.
The men's team will join the Australian Boomers at a training camp at the Australian Institute of Sport from June 20-24 prior to departure for Europe.
Australian Universities Men's Basketball Team
Benjamin ALLEN, St. Marys College of California (USA)
Ryan BATHIE, Nicholls State University (USA)
Anatoly BOSE, Nicholls State University (USA)
Benjamin CONGIUSTA, University of Tennessee at Martin (USA)
Andrew HARMS, Monash University (VIC), SEABL: Frankston Bears
Carlin HUGHES, St. Marys College of California (USA)
Auryn MACMILLAN, Gardener Webb University (USA)
Ben MADGEN, Augusta State University (USA)
Nate TOMLINSON, University of Colorado (USA)
Cameron TOVEY, Curtin University of Technology (QLD), NBL: Townsville Crocs
Jesse WAGSTAFF, Metropolitan State College (USA)
Cameron WITT, Valparaiso University (USA)
Head coach: Brett COXSEDGE (formerly with NBL, Sydney Spirit)
Asst. Coach: Michael Downer (formerly with NBL, Perth Wildcats)
Manager: Greg WARNECKE
Notes:
* Athletes seeking selection in Basketball must be at least 17 years of age and less than 24 years of age on January 1 in the year of the event as per new FISU regulations and must be proceeding towards a diploma or higher at either an Australian or Overseas University/TAFE or have graduated from a suitable institution in the year prior to the competition (ie: if the Championship is on 1 July 2009, then the student must have graduated after 1 July 2008).
* The WUSG tournament is an integral process in the pathways for Australian athletes. In 2005 the world governing body FIBA decided they would not continue with the U21 age category for World Championships and instead they would elevate the World University Games to the third event in importance on the senior stage for male and female basketball players. Olympics followed by World Championships are the two top events. It has now become a very important part of our underpinning program for the Boomers and Opals.
About the World University Games
The World University Summer Games are held every two years under the patronage of the International University Sport Federation (FISU) and is an official FIBA sanctioned event.
The Australian World University Games Team involves over 150 athletes and officials participating across 15 sports.
The 2009 FISU World University Games are being held in Belgrade from July 1 - 12, 2009.
