Well, it’s probably sucks to be on the first u19 Team USA to lose a game since 2011. But, if you’re going to post a loss, at least it was to a team with R.J. Barrett on it. Barrett is the #1-ranked prospect in the 2019 recruiting class. He’ll attend Kentucky and play for the man he just beat, John Calipari. The kid just went off last night. He had 25 in the first half for gods sake. Team USA can still come home with a medal, it just won’t be a gold one. Let’s just blame Calipari. I like that idea.
Lexington Herald: “Coach John Calipari’s United States basketball team might return from the FIBA U19 World Cup with a medal, but it won’t be gold.
Canada, led by 38 points and 13 rebounds from 17-year-old sensation R.J. Barrett, stunned the tournament favorites 99-87 in Saturday’s tournament semifinals in Cairo, Egypt.
Canada moves on to its first-ever appearance in the U19 gold medal game on Sunday in which it will play Italy. Team USA will meet Spain for the bronze medal.
Saturday marked the United States’ first defeat in U19 World Cup play since 2011. The Americans won the World Cup in both 2013 and 2015.
“We got 30 offensive rebounds. We scored enough points to win,” Calipari said afterward. “But then it came down to some breakdowns defensively, and the other thing was, R.J. (Barrett) had it going.”
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