ALEXANDRIA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is just around the corner. In the lead-up to the biggest international basketball event, we take an individual look at all 24 teams.

Country: Australia
FIBA bwin Ranking Men: No. 9
Last participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 2010 (3 wins, 3 losses, 10th place)
Best result in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup: 5th place (1982 and 1994)
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup: Winners of the 2013 FIBA Ocean Championship (2 wins 0 defeats)

Australia's men have never made it to the podium at a major international basketball event but they are firmly in the reckoning for a spot at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

The Boomers, who swept New Zealand in the FIBA Oceania Championship, are coached by Andrej Lemanis.

The former New Zealand Breakers coach and ex-national team assistant has made a seamless transition to the top role, combining local knowledge with enthusiasm and a steely determination to get the best out of his players.

The coach has utilized the opportunity of the Sino-Australia Challenge the past couple of years to identify unheralded players the Boomers need like Cameron Bairstow and Brock Motum.

There is no Pat Mills this summer but the Aussies do have an NBA champion in Aron Baynes.

His powerful presence in the low post will be a determining factor for a side wanting to claim a top-three finish in Group D to avoid a likely Last 16 clash with the United States.

The Americans have been a bogey side for Australia since their meeting in the knockout stages of the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

The player generating most of the excitement for the Boomers is Dante Exum, the No. 5 pick in June's NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. At 19, he is one of the most exciting prospects ever to emerge Down Under.

Exum showed his class at last year's FIBA U19 World Championship when he averaged more than 18 points and almost four assists and made the all-tournament team.

A 1.98m guard, he has a wingspan of 2.05m, plays above the rim and hurts opponents with his perimeter game.

Perhaps more significant for the backcourt will be the leadership of Matthew Dellavedova.

The Cleveland Cavaliers playmaker burst onto the senior team scene at the 2012 Olympics and also played for Lemanis last year.

A combative guard with a full array of skills, the 1.91m Dellavedova is a good reader of the game and has a knack for making big plays.

Vital for Australia will be the performances of veterans, those who have been in the basketball wars for several years like David Andersen, Brad Newley and Joe Ingles.

Andersen was crucial four years ago at the FIBA World Championship when his two free-throws with 13 seconds left capped an unlikely comeback against Jordan.

Australia won, 76-75, and the victory paved the way for team’s third-place finish in Group A.

It allowed the team to avoid the USA in the Round of 16, but Slovenia proved equally ruthless as they thrashed them 87-58 to end their tournament on a low.

The Boomers now look to have a balanced team with an abundance of confidence.

FIBA