USA drawn with Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Slovenia, And Tunisia

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Dec. 15, 2009) -- The 2010 USA Basketball Men's World Championship Team has been drawn into preliminary round Group B and is joined by Brazil (FIBA Americas Zone champion and ranked #14), Croatia (FIBA Europe Zone sixth place finisher and ranked tied for #15), Iran (FIBA Asia Zone champion and ranked #21), Slovenia (FIBA Europe Zone fourth place finisher and ranked #20) and Tunisia (Africa Zone third place finisher and ranked #42) for the 2010 FIBA (International Basketball Federation) World Championship for Men that will be held Aug. 28-Sept. 12 in Turkey. Group B will play its preliminary round games Aug. 28-Sept. 2 in Istanbul, Turkey.

FIBA conducted the official draw, which divided the 24 qualified teams into four preliminary round groups consisting of six teams each, Tuesday in Istanbul, Turkey.

"This will be the third time I've been head coach of a USA World Championship team so I know what an intense and extremely competitive tournament this is," said USA head coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Looking at today's draw results, you see just how balanced the 24-team field is for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. I don't see a team in any of the groups that isn't capable of advancing into the next round.

"Winning each game in the preliminary round is important, not just to make sure you are one of the four teams from your group that advances, but also for securing the highest possible seeding for the next round, the Eight-Finals. Once you reach the Eight-Finals, it's like the NCAA Tournament, it's a one game format and a loss in any of the last four games eliminates you from capturing the World Championship gold medal.

"Our preliminary round group has an interesting mix of talented and tested veteran national teams like Brazil, Croatia and Slovenia, as well as two less experienced, but nonetheless talented teams in Iran and Tunisia who are making their first appearances in a World Championship," added Krzyzewski.

Of the five teams the USA men will face in Group B preliminary play, the USA has played Brazil and Slovenia in prior World Championship action.

The U.S. will open the '10 Worlds on Aug. 28 against Croatia, a team it is has never faced in World Championship play, but a squad the USA is 3-0 versus in Olympic action. Facing its second European team in as many days, the Americans on Aug. 29 will meet Slovenia, a team it defeated 114-95 in 2006 World Championship preliminary play in their only World Championship meeting. FIBA Americas Zone champion Brazil will challenge the U.S. on Aug. 29. The USA-Brazil World Championship series stands at 6-5 in favor of the United States with the two teams last meeting in the 1998 World Championship.

Following a day off on Aug. 31, the USA resumes play Sept. 1 against Asia Zone champ Iran, then closes out preliminary play with a contest versus Tunisia on Sept. 2, another team that the Americans have not faced before in the World Championships.

Composition of the other preliminary round groups are: Group A, which will play in Kayseri, consists of Argentina (2008 Olympic bronze medalist and ranked #1); Serbia (FIBA Europe Zone runner-up and ranked #5); Australia (FIBA Oceania Zone runner-up and ranked #11); Germany (FIBA wild card qualifier and ranked #7); Angola (FIBA Africa Zone champion and ranked #12); and Jordan (FIBA Asia Zone third place finisher and ranked #37). Group C will play in Ankara and features Greece (FIBA European Zone third place finisher and ranked #4); host Turkey (FIBA Europe Zone eighth place finisher and ranked #18); Puerto Rico (FIBA Americas Zone runner-up and ranked #10); Russia (FIBA wild card and ranked #17); China (FIBA Asia runner-up and ranked #9); and Ivory Coast (African Zone runner-up and ranked #40). Group D games will be held in Izmir and that group includes defending World Champion Spain (European Zone champion and ranked #3); France (FIBA Europe Zone fifth place finisher and ranked tied for #15); Canada (FIBA Americas Zone fourth place finisher and ranked #19); Lithuania (FIBA wild card qualifier and ranked #6); New Zealand (Oceania Zone champion and ranked #13); and Lebanon (FIBA wild card qualifier and ranked #24).