Australia national basketball team

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Australia

FIBA ranking

10^th

FIBA zone

FIBA Oceania

Coach

Brian Goorjian

Nickname(s)

Boomers

Olympic Games

Appearances

Unknown

Medals

None

World Championships

Appearances

Unknown

Medals

None

Oceania Championship

Appearances

Unknown

Medals

None

Uniforms

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Home

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Away

The Australian national basketball team (nicknamed the Boomers) is the men's basketball side that represents Australia in international competitions, including the FIBA Oceania Championship, the FIBA World Championship, the Commonwealth Games, and the Games of the Olympiad. Selected by Basketball Australia, the team usually comprises the best players from the National Basketball League and some Australians playing collegiate or professional basketball in the United States.

Several other sides are similarly-styled: the women's national team (nicknamed the Opals), the men's national team for players aged under 21 years (the Crocodiles), the women's national team for players aged under 21 years (the Gems), and the wheelchair basketball men's and women's national teams (the Gliders).

[edit] History

[edit] 1956 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1956 Summer Olympics

Australia first competed in basketball at the Summer Olympic Games in 1956 in Melbourne and defeated Thailand and Singapore to finish in twelfth place.

[edit] Roster

Peter Demos, Geoff Heskett, Peter Bumbers, Stan Dargis, Inga Freidenfelds, Colin Burdett, George Dancis, Peter Sutton, Algis Ignatavicius, Merv Moy, Ken Finch, Bruce Flick, Ken Watson (Head Coach), Harry Burgess (Ass. Coach), Perc Foster (Manager), Bill Annells (Referee), Doug Hughes (Referee), Charlie Jones (Referee), Ray Strath, (Referee), Dave Thomas (Referee), Paul Wiltshire (Referee)

[edit] 1960 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1960 Summer Olympics

At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Australia failed to get by the tough Pre-Olympic Qualification tournament in Bologna and therefore did not participate in the Olympic Tournament.

[edit] 1964 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1964 Summer Olympics

The 1964 Summer Olympics saw Australia win eight of nine games in the Yokohama Pre-Olympic Qualification tournament and in the Tokyo Olympic Tournament; Australia defeated Peru, Korea, Mexico and Japan to finish in 9th place.

[edit] Roster

Scott Davie, Brendon Hackwill, John Heard, Bill Wyatt, Michael Ah Matt, Ken Cole, Carl Rodwell, Mike Dancis, Werner Linde, Les Hody, Lindsay Gaze, John Gardiner, Keith Miller (Head Coach), Frank Angove (Manager), Al Ramsay (Ass. Manager), Sid Taylor (Referee)

[edit] 1968 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1968 Summer Olympics

In the 1968 Pre-Olympic Qualifying tournament held just prior to the Mexico Olympics, Australia faltered and lost games to Poland, Indonesia, Spain and Uruguay and as occurred in 1960, did not participate in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

[edit] 1972 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1972 Summer Olympics

The 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich witnessed Australian victories over Japan, Brazil, Egypt, West Germany and Poland. A one-point loss to Czechoslovakia and a five-point deficit against Spain saw Australia so close to the top nations in 9th position.

[edit] Roster

Glenn Marsland, Ian Watson, Richard Duke, Bill Wyatt, Eddie Palubinskas, Brian Kerle, Peter Byrne, Perry Crosswhite, Ray Tomlinson, Ken James, Tom Bender, Toli Koltuniewicz, Lindsay Gaze (Head Coach), Frank Angove (Manager), John Holden (Referee)

[edit] 1976 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1976 Summer Olympics

The 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal recorded Australia's best ever placing, to that time, in the Olympic Tournament, finishing in 8th position. A memorable 120 - 117 overtime victory against Mexico placed Australia in the group of teams immediately behind the medal winners.

[edit] Roster

Andrew Campbell, Ian Watson, Robbie Cadee, Tony Barnett, Eddie Palubinskas, Andris Blicavs, Michael Tucker, Perry Crosswhite, Russell Simon, Peter Walsh, John Maddock, Ray Tomlinson, Lindsay Gaze (Head Coach), Bob Staunton (Manager), John Holden (Referee)

[edit] 1980 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1980 Summer Olympics

At the 1980 Moscow Olympics, the preliminary round matches witnessed a sensational 84 - 77 win over Italy and a three way tie between Australia, Italy and Cuba for the two finalist positions from their preliminary group.

Australia had defeated Italy by 7 points; Cuba had defeated Australia by 7 points, while Italy defeated Cuba by 7 points. However, in a further division of points, Italy and Cuba qualified for the finals. Italy subsequently won the Silver Medal.

Australia then defeated Czechoslovakia, Senegal and India and down to Poland to finish in 8th position equaled its best ever result.

[edit] Roster

Peter Ali, Stephen Breheny, Perry Crosswhite, Mel Dalgleish, Ian Davies, Gordon McLeod, Danny Morseau, Les Riddle, Larry Sengstock, Phil Smyth, Peter Walsh, Michael Tucker, Lindsay Gaze (Head Coach), Alan Dawe (Ass. Coach), Bob Staunton (Manager), John Holden (Referee)

[edit] 1984 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Australia defeated Brazil 76 - 72 in the opening game, after being down 34 - 38 at half time. In the following matches, the 1980 Olympic Champions, Yugoslavia, defeated Australia 94 - 64 while the very tall and talented West Germans went down to Australia 67 - 66 in a very close and exciting game.

Italy then defeated Australia 93 - 82 and a good win over Egypt 94 - 78 saw Australia have to win their next game in order to be in the medal play-off games. After being well down in the first half, Australia fought back to within three points in the second half against the eventual Silver Medallists, Spain, and a final score of 101-93 saw the medal opportunity slip away for another four years.

In the remaining games Uruguay surprised Australia to win 101 -91 while in the last game for 7th position Australia overcame a very determined West Germany to win 83 - 78 to achieve its best ever result at the Olympic Games.

[edit] Roster

Phil Smyth (Capt), Andrew Campbell, Damian Keogh, Larry Sengstock, Mark Dalton, Wayne Carroll, Mel Dalgleish, Andrew Gaze, Ian Davies, Danny Morseau, Brad Dalton, Ray Borner, Lindsay Gaze (Head Coach), Adrian Hurley (Ass. Coach), Bob Elphinston (Manager), John Holden (Referee)

[edit] 1988 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics

At the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, Australia defeated Puerto Rico 81 - 77 in game one after leading 50 - 36 at half-time. However, in game two Australia played eventual Gold Medallists, Soviet Union losing 91 - 69. Game three against Central Africa was won 106 - 67 whilst game four against eventual Silver Medallist Yugoslavia was lost 98 - 78. Game five against South Korea was a must win situation and Australia with good poise and positive play won 95 - 75.

Australia finished in third place in their pool and met Spain in the quarter-final and secured a first ever semi-final berth by winning 77 - 74. The semi-final game against Yugoslavia proved a disappointment as Australia played poorly losing 91 - 70. The Bronze medal play-off game against the USA, losers in the other semi-final to the USSR was a disappointment. The first half saw Australia behind 52 - 29 at half time to eventually lose 78 - 55. Fourth placing was Australia's highest Olympic Games record to date.

[edit] Roster

Phil Smyth (Capt), Darryl Pearce, Robert Sibley, Larry Sengstock, Damian Keogh, Wayne Carroll, Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Mark Bradtke, Brad Dalton, Andrew Vlahov, Ray Borner, Adrian Hurley (Head Coach), Brian Kerle (Ass. Coach), Barry Barnes (Ass. Coach), Terry Charlton (Manager), Ray Hunt (Referee), Craig Purdam (Physio)

[edit] 1992 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1992 Summer Olympics

In 1992 at the Barcelona Olympics Australia finished in sixth place after a 4 win, 4 loss record.

[edit] Roster

Phil Smyth (Capt), John Dorge, Mike McKay, Larry Sengstock, Damian Keogh, Leroy Loggins, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, Luc Longley, Andrew Vlahov, Ray Borner, Adrian Hurley (Head Coach), Barry Barnes, (Ass. Coach), Patrick Hunt (Ass. Coach), John Scott (Manager), Peter Harcourt (Doctor), Craig Purdam (Physio), Bill Mildenhall (Referee)

[edit] 1996 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 1996 Summer Olympics

In 1996 at Atlanta, after a historic quarter-final win over Croatia with an unbelievable 3 point shot from Tony Ronaldson, the Boomers finished 4th in the bronze medal play-off against Lithuania, going down 80 - 74.

[edit] Roster

Andrew Gaze (Capt), Tony Ronaldson, Sam Mackinnon, Scott Fisher, Pat Reidy, Brett Maher, Tonny Jensen, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, John Dorge, Andrew Vlahov, Ray Borner, Barry Barnes (Head Coach), Brett Brown (Ass. Coach), Alan Black (Ass. Coach), Tom York (Manager), Peter Harcourt (Doctor), Craig Purdam (Physio).

[edit] 2000 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics

In the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia as host nation automatically qualified for the Olympic competition and finished 4th in the bronze medal play-off against Lithuania, going down 89 - 71.

[edit] Roster

Andrew Gaze (Capt), Chris Anstey, Mark Bradtke, Martin Cattalini, Ricky Grace, Shane Heal, Luc Longley, Sam Mackinnon, Brett Maher, Paul Rogers, Jason Smith, Andrew Vlahov, Barry Barnes (Head Coach), Brett Brown (Ass. Coach), Alan Black (Ass. Coach), John Trivellion-Scott (Manager), Peter Harcourt (Doctor), Craig Purdam (Physio), Bill Mildenhall (Referee)

[edit] 2004 Olympics

Main article: Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, the Boomers qualified first in the Oceania region with a win over New Zealand in the qualifying tournament in 2003 but finished a disappointing 9th after losses to Greece (76-54), the Dream Team (89-79), Puerto Rico (87-82), Lithuania (100-85) and wins over Angola (83-59) and New Zealand.