Team USA to Face South Sudan in Crucial Group-Stage Clash
The United States men's basketball team is gearing up for their second group-stage game against South Sudan, set to tip-off at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Both teams are coming off victories in their openers, with Team USA defeating Serbia and South Sudan emerging victorious over Puerto Rico. The winner of this high-stakes encounter will secure a coveted spot in the quarterfinals.
The Olympic format divides 12 teams into three groups of four, each participating in a round-robin schedule. Teams earn two points for a win and one for a loss. The top two teams from each group, along with the top two third-placed teams, advance to the quarterfinals. Head-to-head results determine tiebreakers for teams deadlocked in standings, while total score differentials break ties for wildcard spots between teams from opposing groups.
Reflecting on the team’s previous match-up against South Sudan, U.S. head coach Steve Kerr expressed the narrow margin of their exhibition victory. “They came within one shot of beating us,” Kerr remarked, highlighting the tight competition. LeBron James had clinched the 101-100 win for the United States with a last-second shot.
Despite their win against Serbia, Team USA remains cautious. "We have appropriate fear. We know we can't just sleepwalk through any game and feel like you're going to win," stressed Stephen Curry, emphasizing the team's need for vigilance. Curry acknowledged South Sudan's dynamic offense: "They're a very high-octane offense, spread the floor, shoot a lot of 3s and have athleticism. So you just got to be mindful of how to guard them. It's totally different than Serbia."
South Sudan has demonstrated impressive talent and depth. The roster includes players like Wenyen Gabriel, JT Thor, Marial Shayok, and Carlik Jones. Khaman Maluach, a 7-foot-2 freshman at Duke projected as a lottery pick in the 2025 NBA draft, also adds to the team’s imposing physical presence. In their recent exhibition game, Carlik Jones posted a triple-double and Marial Shayok scored 24 points, including six three-pointers. Jones’s performance against Puerto Rico, featuring 19 points, six assists, and seven rebounds, was crucial in their victory. Additionally, Wenyen Gabriel’s three three-pointers in the same exhibition emphasized South Sudan's proficiency from beyond the arc.
Team USA, not without its own stars, saw Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, and Joel Embiid in the starting lineup against Serbia. Durant led with 23 points, while Curry, despite shooting struggles, contributed six points from two three-pointers. Curry's shooting has been a topic of discussion, given his 12 for 31 field-goal attempts, including 7 for 23 from beyond the arc, over the last three games.
Coach Kerr expressed some regret over personnel decisions, admitting, "I felt like an idiot for not playing Tatum a single second in the opener." Such decisions will likely be scrutinized more closely as the tournament progresses. However, Kerr also acknowledged the value in having played South Sudan before, stating, "I'm really glad that we played them so we can feel their speed and their 3-point shooting ability and feel how good they are."
As Team USA prepares for the pivotal game against South Sudan, the tension and anticipation are palpable. With a spot in the quarterfinals on the line, each team's strategies and performances will be under the microscope. The basketball world waits with bated breath to see which squad will rise to the occasion and secure their place in the next round of this intense competition.