College basketball no longer has any representation in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup as New Zealand fell today to Lithuania in the Round of 16.
Nebraska guard Tai Webster and Hawaii forward Isaac Fotu were both playing for the Tall Blacks in the event and Fotu, in particular, had a very positive event.
In six games, the 6-foot-4 Webster averaged 5.3 points, 3 rebounds and 1.5 assists a game while shooting 37 percent (13-for-35) from the field and nine percent (1-for-11) from three-point range.
While those numbers aren’t great for Webster, being a college sophomore playing against a lot of professionals is a valuable training camp.
The 6-foot-8 Fotu had a strong showing at the World Cup, as he finished in double figures in the scoring column the last three games of the event and averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Fotu also shot 60 percent (23-for-38) from the field and 41 percent (5-for-12) from three-point range.
New Zealand may be eliminated but the six games -- and practices -- were both valuable experiences for Webster and Fotu entering the 2014-15 college basketball season.