Aug. 15, 2001

DENVER, Colo. - Following five days of training camp featuring 14 finalists, the 12-member 2001 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team was finalized. Highlighted by University of Maryland's 2001 Final Four standouts and 2001 NCAA All-Region selections Juan Dixon (Baltimore, Md.) and Lonny Baxter (Silver Spring, Md.), the 2001 NCAA West Region Most Outstanding Player, the U.S. team will remain in Denver to train through Aug. 16 before traveling to Beijing, China and will begin competition at the 21st World University Games on Aug. 22 against Iran.

Maryland teammate Tahj Holden (Red Bank, N.J.) was one of 16 finalists for the USA Team, but withdrew his participation prior to attending the team's training camp in Denver.

Following a 5-7 p.m. (MDT) practice session Wednesday night at the Denver Nuggets practice facility in the Pepsi Center, the USA will conclude it's Denver training on Aug. 16 with sessions at the Nuggets practice facility from 11:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. (MDT) and 5:00-7:00 p.m. (MDT).

Selected to the 2001 USA Basketball Men's World University Games Team were: 2001 NJCAA Tournament Most Valuable Player Antwain Barbour (Wabash Valley C.C./ Elizabethtown, Ky.), Andre Barrett (Seton Hall / Bronx, N.Y.), Earl Barron (Memphis / Clarksdale, Miss.), Baxter, Dan Dickau (Gonzaga / Vancouver, Wash.), Dixon, Melvin Ely (Fresno State / Harvey, Ill.), Lynn Greer (Temple / Philadelphia, Pa.), Roger Mason, Jr. (Virginia / Silver Spring, Md.), Chris Owens (Texas / Duncanville, Texas), Justin Reed (Mississippi / Jackson, Miss.) and Tyler Smith (Penn State / Lake Forest, Ill.).

"I'm very pleased and comfortable with the 12 guys that make up this World University Games team," said USA and Penn State University head coach Jerry Dunn. "It was awfully tough to cut the two players that we did because we had an outstanding group of young men out here.

"I feel very good about the interchangeable parts that we have on the perimeter and on the front line, this is a group that will gel pretty quickly," added Dunn on the make up of the U.S. squad. "It's always a little more comforting to know who's going to fit in where, who you have to work with, and be able to start to figure out what people's roles are going to be. You have your team set in your mind and you don't have to continue to work extra guys into things, not knowing who you're going to have and not going to have on the team. I feel very good about the 12 guys that we have."

Dunn is being assisted on the sidelines by collegiate head coaches Rod Barnes from the University of Mississippi and Al Skinner from Boston College (Mass.).

The World University Games, held every two years, is a multisport competition open to athletes between the ages of 17 and 28 (born between Jan. 1, 1973 and Dec. 31, 1983), who are, or have been within the past year, a student at a college or university. This summer the World University Games will be held Aug. 22Sept. 1 in Beijing, China. The men's basketball competition, currently featuring teams from 27 countries, has been divided into eight preliminary round pools.

Placed into Pool B, the United States will open preliminary round play against Iran on Aug. 22, before facing South Africa on Aug. 23 and closing preliminary action against Turkey on Aug. 24. Quarterfinals are scheduled to be played Aug. 26-28 with the semifinals slated for Aug. 30 and the gold medal will be contested on Aug. 31.

The U.S. has never faced any of its three preliminary round opponents in World University Games history. However, the United States has posted a combined 50-2 record against 19 of the 26 opposing nations competing in the Games, including Brazil (7-0), Bulgaria (3-0), Canada (7-2), China (1-0), Czech Republic (2-0), Germany (2-0), Great Britain (5-0), Greece (2-0), Hong Kong (2-0), Japan (3-0), Lebanon (1-0), Lithuania (2-0), Mexico (2-0), Nigeria (1-0), Peru (1-0), Russia (1-0), South Korea (4-0), Sweden (1-0), Yugoslavia (3-2).

Owning a 40-game winning streak at the World University Games and having captured six consecutive gold medals, the USA has been a dominating force at the WUGs since beginning play in 1965. The U.S. has earned an incredible 16 medals in as many appearances at the Games, including 12 golds, three silvers and one bronze, and lists an amazing 1106 (.984 winning percentage) record at the event.

USA At World University Games Competition Schedule Beijing, China

Aug. 22 = 8:00 a.m. = USA vs. Iran
Aug. 23 = 8:30 p.m. = USA vs. South Africa
Aug. 24 = 8:30 p.m. = USA vs. Turkey
Aug. 25 = TBD = Practice
Aug. 26-28 = TBD = Quarterfinals TBD
Aug. 29 = TBD = Practice
Aug. 30 = TBD = Semifinals TBD
Aug. 31 = TBD = Finals TBD

NOTE: = All times are local.  Beijing, China, is 12 hours ahead of EDT