Asunto: U19 Canadian Basketball National Team

We will be switching to an all 18 year old team to prepare for next season. Also, time to reassess the full roster of candidates for next season's team.

This looks like another hard tournament for the U19 squad.
Our group includes:
(world ranking following)

Croatia...............4
Poland...............10
Germany..............18
Canada...............30
Denmark..............40

With a slow start, and a short schedule, we will need a supreme effort and some nifty tactics to pull off a qualifying run.

Well..........
It doesn't look like it's going to be Grrrmany we sneak past, so it's going to have to be Poland!

We are switching to the all 18yr old team today to build chemistry for next season.

Team roster is set for this season. Working now on building chemistry and improving tactics percentages.

What are the odds for this season? What do you expect from our roster? In your sense, do we have a better or worse team than previous years. I wish us good luck.

This year's U19 group includes:
(world rank beside)

Croatia........6
Germany.......16
Argentina.....22
Canada........28
Austria.......37

Last year we lost twice against Croatia and twice against Germany, so I don't think there's any wins there. They are both about 10-12 points higher in team OR than us. This means we have to win both games against Austria (possible), and at least split and win the points differential against Argentina (possible, but we will need some luck). It ain't over 'til the fat lady sings. We'll have a better idea once we have played them each once. As usual, we are a little short in stature up front. I'm being "cautiously optomistic".

Argentina...106
Canada.......88

This loss puts us at a serious disadvantage. We will have to not only beat Argentina at our house, but make up the 18 point differential before this round is over.
Not likely, but not entirely impossible. In addition to overcoming the points differential, we still need 2 wins over Austria, and an unlikely upset over Croatia or Germany (probably at our house) would be a tremendous plus and really only likely if they should decide to play VL because they had already qualified before the last game this round!
Earl is our best centre, but at only 200 cm, he is in real tough. Going to try moving him to PF for the friendly we play next and put Goldsmith at centre (208 cm). If the player ranking numbers don't take a serious hit, it could be a good move even though they are out of position. Goldsmith's position ranking number at centre is better than Earl's. We will also play every game on VH to max the chemistry and experience. It can only help us in this round, even if it puts us at an energy disadvantage if we should advance.
It's "heads up, and bear down"!

Earl is at 208cm and Goldsmith 201cm and Goldsmith is a very good PF while Earl is perfect for center... even in size. What I dont catch is why Earl he is only rated 59... his speed and techniques are maybe too low or it is chemistry?

I noticed that you play Woodcock at center, is never gona have the size. I know he is my player, but maybe trying Comeau who has, at least, the size even if training PF can do the work?

There is also a mistake for the SG backup position. Look at Franck Laplante instead of Kane McTaggart. The last one is a PG not an SG, plus he his one year younger with a lower OR. Lets see if this does it to help us going further.

These are the figures I have from this season's world championships including friendly games.

At centre:
Goldsmith.........64 (2 games)
Woodcock.......49-52 (3 games)
Comeau............51 (1 game)
Earl...........57-59 (6 games)
Earl shows as ranking out in league play at 59 as well.

At PF:
Goldsmith......69-72
McDougall.........65
Woodcock..........62
Priel.............58

I suspect that Earl is not the only player ranking low. Chemistry on the national teams is independent of league chemistry. The fact that a player's team does not qualify for further play in the WC championships works against him on two counts.
First, he is not playing games and therefore not gaining national chemistry or experience while others on still competing teams are.
Second, because he is not playing, he is also subject to losing chemistry over the same period.
We have not been able to advance in the last three years. The highest team chemistry for any player on the team is only 50%. Team chemistry for the best starters is about 40%. This puts us at a further disadvantage to teams who went further in last season's tournament. This, coupled with the lower talent levels of our players, due to our loss of good training facilities, makes it almost impossible to advance. This problem is likely to persist until Canadian teams can update facilities enough to produce and train quality players. In the meantime, all we can do is expand our tactics base so that when that time comes, we will have the necessary options to help us win.

Same problem for the U17, but I think we just need to accept that we won't really be a contender for U19 and U17 and focus on the Senior team. Play your best players the most and hope for a good run.

Same problem for the U17, but I think we just need to accept that we won't really be a contender for U19 and U17 and focus on the Senior team. Play your best players the most and hope for a good run.

The seniors should advance from the first round. Then it's largely a question of how the draw goes. By the end of the present round, team chemistry will be at 100%, and most players should still be at 95+ for energy.

U19 World Cup:
Even another upset win over Germany is not likely to be enough to advance.
Things went pretty much as anticipated.
Two wins against Austria,
Two losses to Croatia.
Our upset win in overtime against Germany was helpful, but as predicted, we still needed a split against Argentina with an overall points advantage to have a chance to advance, but we lost both games to them.
I know some will still disagree, but creative line-ups to make the most of our best talents was necessary to put a balanced team on the floor. Instant challenges has taught me that weakness at even one position is enough to cause a loss. Our biggest problem is still having enough good forwards at all three positions. I'm afraid it is a problem we will deal with for a few years yet.
After the next game, we will likely be switching to an all 18 year old line-up to build chemistry and experience for next season.
Thanks again for all your support and input.