PARIS – Gonzaga head coach Mark Few helped lead Team USA to the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a 103-86 victory over South Sudan on Wednesday.
In their initial encounter, a pre-Olympic exhibition game, Team USA narrowly edged out South Sudan 101-100. However, Wednesday’s game saw a dominant performance by Team USA, who established a 25-4 lead in the first half. Bam Adebayo led the team with 18 points, while Kevin Durant contributed 14 points. Anthony Edwards scored 13 points, and LeBron James added 12 in the win.
Few, serving as one of three assistant coaches under Golden State head coach Steve Kerr, is the only college coach on the staff. Team USA remains the favorite to win gold, with an 84.62% implied win probability, while Team Canada holds the second-best odds at 10%.
The victory against South Sudan secured a knockout-round berth and the No. 1 seed from Group C for the U.S., which joins Canada, France, and Germany in the quarterfinals. Four additional spots are still to be determined, with seven teams vying for advancement.
What’s Next and How to Watch: Team USA will face Puerto Rico on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. PT in their final Group C game, available to watch on NonStopLocal KHQ.
Although Puerto Rico is already eliminated from quarterfinal contention, the game is still significant for the United States. A win would ensure a 3-0 record in group play and boost their chances of securing a top-two seed in the knockout round.
The knockout rounds start with eight teams in the quarterfinals. The teams will be randomly drawn for matchups, but the two highest-ranked teams will be placed in the same pot and positioned on opposite sides of the bracket.
All four quarterfinal games will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 6, with the semifinals on Aug. 8, and the gold medal game on Saturday, Aug. 10.
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