Team Profile: Great Britain out to back up Qualifiers success

LONDON (United Kingdom) - Great Britain have impressed by taking some big scalps on the international stage in Qualifiers action in the past couple of years, but there is nothing like the test of playing in a major tournament.

Assistant coach Marc Steutel took charge during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers, while Nate Reinking was unavailable due to club commitments in the US, and the team came together in a memorable run.

They started with a bump after losing on the road to Montenegro in an ominous opening knowing France and Germany were to come. However, they ignited their campaign with a thrilling home win against Germany in Newcastle as Luke Nelson lit up the arena with a 26-point haul.

The addition of Nelson’s scoring power since college has been a huge boost for GB as they also lean on the likes of Ovie Soko and Myles Hesson to shoulder big responsibility on the team along with the vast leadership of Dan Clark - set to become the Senior men’s all-time leader in caps.

Gabe Olaseni has become the silent assassin in the paint, quietly going to work inside after a huge breakout tournament at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 and will be another key piece to the puzzle for GB as they also look to their younger players to carve out bigger roles on the team.

GB missed out on home advantage as the Qualifiers went into a bubble format, but they bounced back from a heavy loss to France in Pau with a crucial 15-point victory over Montenegro to claim the head-to-head.

The final window took place in Podgorica and GB ensured there was no home party as Nelson’s game-winner against Germany set up qualification before they celebrated in style with a stunning 21-point win over France as Soko starred.

GB have never made it to a FIBA Basketball World Cup, but they have found a level of consistency in reaching the Final Round of Europe’s flagship event on five of the last six occasions – only missing out in 2015.

While they failed to record a win five years ago, it’s not unrealistic by any stretch for GB to be targeting a place in the Round of 16 this time around.

They defeated Greece in the FIBA World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers but can expect a much tougher test as they come up against a side led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Italy and Croatia will also be strong. But that could pave the way for a three-way battle to make it into the top four in Milan with Estonia and Ukraine the other sides in contention.

The senior women’s side made history at Women's EuroBasket in 2019 with a run to the Semi-Finals for their best-ever finish and the men will be hoping to stamp their own claim on the record books if they can make it to the knockout stages.

We’ve seen what GB can do in the Qualifiers, now as the level rises, can they step up to make some noise at the Final Round? That remains the big question.
 

 IN THE LAST 10 FIBA EVENTS

YEAR	EVENT	LOCATION	ACHIEVEMENT
2021	Olympics	Tokyo (JPN)	Did not qualify
2019	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Beijing (CHN)	Did not qualify
2017	FIBA EuroBasket	Istanbul (TUR)	22nd
2016	Olympics	Rio de Janeiro (BRA)	Did not qualify
2015	FIBA EuroBasket	Lille (FRA)	Did not qualify
2014	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Madrid (ESP)	Did not qualify
2013	FIBA EuroBasket	Ljubljana (SLO)	13th
2012	Olympics	London (GBR)	9th
2011	FIBA EuroBasket	Kaunas (LTU)	13th
2010	FIBA Basketball World Cup	Istanbul (TUR)	Did not qualify

   

HOW DID  QUALIFY: FIBA EUROBASKET 2022 QUALIFIERS - 2nd IN GROUP G (4W - 2L)

DATE	GAME	RESULT
21/02/2020	Montenegro v Great Britain	81-74
24/02/2020	Great Britain v Germany	81-73
27/11/2020	Great Britain v France	56-79
29/11/2020	Great Britain v Montenegro	74-59
20/02/2021	Germany v Great Britain	81-83
22/02/2021	France v Great Britain	73-94

 

FIBA