Australia - Boomers squad 'covers all bases'

From www.theage.com.au
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The first Boomers Beijing Olympics squad has been named, with a few surprises, writes Stephen Howell.

Nathan Crosswell's wife Ros rang him yesterday and asked if he had something to tell her. "Uh-oh," wondered the Melbourne Tigers championship-winning guard, "Have I done something I don't remember while celebrating?"

Fortunately it was nothing like that. Ros Crosswell had heard Nathan was in the Boomers squad that soon will start preparing for the Olympics in Beijing.

Crosswell had heard nothing from Basketball Australia and when The Age called later he said: "It was very unexpected, I guess. I didn't know what to say.

"I had to check a few places to see that it was true, but it's great to be recognised."

Coach Brian Goorjian and his selectors have named a "cover all bases" squad of 33 that will shrink to 12 in July for the August Games, but Crosswell is happy to be in with a chance.

"Winning the championship was the pinnacle," the 28-year-old said of the Tigers' 3-2 National Basketball League grand final series win on Friday over the Sydney Kings, who were coached by Goorjian. "Then for this to come along, it's just great.

"Even if at the end of the day I only get to go to the (selection) camps, I'll have something to tell my kids one day."

The first camp is in Canberra from April 1-4 and Crosswell said he might have to change the starting date of a European holiday he and Ros have planned next month.

Goorjian said all players who were asked had committed to the Olympics, except for Cairns guard Stephen Black, who is injured.

"We've got a strong squad and some very good players will miss the cut," the coach said.

The main fitness concern is over captain Sam Mackinnon, who has a knee injury similar to the problem that sidelined him for almost two years and cost him selection for Athens in 2004.

Tigers in the squad with Crosswell are NBL and grand final MVP Chris Anstey and guard-forward David Barlow.

"He's playing great basketball right now," Goorjian said of Anstey, who is available for a "major" for the first time since Sydney 2000.

"In my conversations with him he's very, very excited about the opportunity to play in Beijing."

While this will be Anstey's final Olympics, 19-year-old point guard Patrick Mills, who was a vital part of the Boomers' qualification series win over New Zealand last August, appears certain to play in his first.

"It's an important position for us," Goorjian said. "So not only do I see Patrick being a part of it, I see him being a very, very important part."