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USA Hoops finalizes 12-man University Games roster

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Mike Miller

USA basketball finalized its roster for the World University Games, which features the usual mix of shooters, rebounders and do-it-all guys.

The twist? There’s an Ivy League player among the 12. Betcha didn’t see that coming.

Here’s the roster:

Tim Abromaitis (Notre Dame); Marcus Denmon (Missouri); Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh); Draymond Green (Michigan State); JaMychal Green (Alabama); Scoop Jardine (Syracuse); John Jenkins (Vanderbilt); Orlando Johnson (UC Santa Barbara); Greg Mangano (Yale); Trevor Mbakwe (Minnesota); Ray McCallum (Detroit Mercy); and Darius Miller (Kentucky).

My guess for the starting five would be: Jenkins, Green, Green, Mbakwe and either Gibbs or Denmon at the point, depending on the opponent’s starting point guard and how quick they are. Slower guard? Start Gibbs. For others, start Denmon.

Not that it matters too much. Coach Matt Painter will surely feature an 8- or 9-man rotation. Sounds like he’s game to adjust as needed.

“I think your strengths are going to come out in competition, and we have some very good players,” Painter said. “I think we have some good point-guard play, some good, athletic wings that can shoot the basketball and then we have some good interior strength. So, I think we have balance. We do have some interchangeable parts, some guys at the three and four positions that can swing either way. We can play smaller and we can play bigger. It will depend on who we are playing against. I do think we can play a couple of different ways, and that’s always a positive.”

The team departs Aug. 8 for China, with the first games beginning on Aug. 13 against Mexico.

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