Undersized Italy thirst for talls

ORADEA (EuroBasket Women 2015) - Despite their pluck, grit and high-octane offense, Italy knows they need to nurture frontcourt talent to emerge as a powerhouse in European women's basketball.

Perhaps it's stating the obvious but size matters in basketball and a common link between the very best international teams in Europe is the quality of tall players each of them possesses.

Despite being undersized, Italy have performed solidly thus far in the tournament with three competitive performances, including a heartbreaking overtime loss to Belarus, who post formidable inside firepower.

Italy must win their final game against Turkey on Monday night in Oradea to have a chance of progressing from Group B.

Italy's game is built around high tempo and shooting from the perimeter in a bid to combat their lack of size. They rely on disciplined defense, collective resolve and continual hustle to limit physically bigger opponents.

Those characteristics were at the core of Italy's surprising Quarter-Final appearance in France two years ago and they hope to replicate something similar at EuroBasket Women 2015.

But Italy know they have a frontcourt scourge with too much burden being placed on veteran Kathrin Ress.

We have always been a small team, so it is not new for us. Sottana

 Italy guard Giorgia Sottana spoke about her team's lack of size after their win against Poland.

"We just have to find a way to win and play our game."

Because of their country's strict criteria, it is hard for Italy to find a quick fix via naturalisation.

Italy assistant coach Giovanni Lucchesi, who has been a long-time coach for their junior national teams, said talented young tall players often got poached by volleyball.

"Volleyball is the sport for Italian girls," he said. "Volleyball penetrates the schools, and it is well demonstrated to the children. Basketball isn't a major sport in Italy like in other parts of Europe."

Lucchesi said engaging more with schools could help identify prospects.

"We need to appeal to schools and really ensure basketball is being played by youngsters. This is how we find tall players," he explained.

But Lucchesi said hope could materialise with a crop of talented teenagers emerging in junior ranks.

"We have three or four players who are 16 and over 1.90 metres. They are still very young and need years of experience before they are ready for international competition," he pointed out.

We need to get results and making the Olympics would obviously really help getting more mainstream exposure. - Ress

Ress, the team's center measuring at 1.94 metres, believed Italy's lack of success during the past two decades has contributed to the sagging popularity with youngsters.

"It's on us [the national team] too. We haven't been able to get to the next level," she offered.

Due to her vast height, volleyball enticed Ress as a youngster but basketball quickly compelled due to the success of her brother Tomas Ress, who played college basketball in the United States and represented Italy's men's team.

"I was probably a bit different to other Italian youngsters because my brother was playing basketball and I developed a love for the game," she recalled.

"More effort needs to be done to get basketball popular in Italy and identifying talent at an early age."

Ress turns 30 later this month and knows her career is nearing the end. She's hopeful a new generation, highlighted by talented tall youngsters, can soon make their mark for Italy.

"We have some talented guards coming through, but will that be enough? I don't know," she said. "Hopefully a few tall players emerge, so Italy can become a physical impact type of team in the future."

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FIBA