AUS - Goorjian confident Aussies will prevail

GOLD COAST (FIBA Oceania Men's Championship) - Australia head coach Brian Goorjian believes he has selected a 14-man squad which can beat New Zealand in the FIBA Oceania Men's Championship next month.

The Boomers are coming off the back of a successful seven-day training camp on the Gold Coast, and after demoralising injuries to star players Andrew Bogut, CJ Bruton, Matt Nielsen and Chris Anstey, Goorjian was buoyed by the enthusiasm he witnessed at the camp and the team's unified drive to beat the Tall Blacks.

"The guys really stepped it up at the camp," he said.

"They are in great shape and motivated and after (Brad) Newley and (Luke) Schenscher arrived I thought, 'We've got a pretty nice team'.

"We had questions over the point guard position but Darnell Mee came in and picked up the system quickly and he's a leader and respected by the group.

"We hadn't seen David Andersen for a while but he is a class player that can score, has played around the world and is a true professional. He made all the other guys around him better.

"The Kiwis are tough and the series that they're having with Venezuela is very physical, but at this point in time I just don't see any surprises from them.

"We know what to expect."

The series against New Zealand will be played on August 20, 22 and 24 in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, with the winner earning the right to play in the Olympics in Beijing next year.

Recent NBA draftee Newley tore ligaments in his left ankle at the end of the Gold Coast training camp but will travel with the team, while Russell Hinder has been named as a non-touring reserve in the squad due to an ongoing calf injury.

Ian Crosswhite, Matt Burston and Alex Loughton were released from duty when the squad was reduced.

Youngster Patrick Mills will join the Boomers squad on an Indigenous Talent Identification Grant, courtesy of the Australian Sports Commission.

Australia squad: David Andersen, Adam Gibson, Wade Helliwell, Joe Ingles, Luke Kendall, Sam Mackinnon, Darnell Mee, Patrick Mills, Brad Newley, Damien Ryan, Glen Saville, Luke Schenscher, Jason Smith, Mark Worthington.
Reserves: Russell Hinder, Jacob Holmes

FIBA