COLORADO SPRINGS - July 22, 2008 - With the conclusion of the 2008 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Men in Athens, Greece, FIBA conducted the draw to determine the final makeup of the Olympic men's basketball preliminary round groups - Group A and Group B. Croatia, Greece and Germany earned the final three 2008 Olympic qualifying berths that were determined during the July 14-20 tournament.

The USA, which had been placed in Group B with Angola, China and 2006 World Champion Spain when the preliminary draw was held on April 26, saw Germany and Greece drawn into Group B. Croatia was drawn into Group A, which now consists of Argentina, Australia, Croatia, Iran, Lithuania and Russia.

"The addition of Greece and Germany make this preliminary group extremely competitive and the reality is that two very good teams from this group are not going to make the quarterfinals," said USA and Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Group B, in addition to No.1 ranked USA, has FIBA's No. 3 ranked Spain, No. 6 ranked Greece, No. 9 (tied) ranked Germany, No.11 ranked China and No. 14 ranked China.

The USA Basketball Senior National Team resumes training July 21-24 in Las Vegas and will cap the Las Vegas portion of its training on July 25 (5 p.m. Las Vegas local time) with the 2008 State Farm USA Basketball Challenge against the Canadian National Team at Thomas & Mack Center.

The United States will then train and play four additional games in the USA Basketball International Challenge that will see the USA play two games in Macao, China, and two more games in Shanghai, China.

The USA in the Macao portion of the USA Basketball International Challenge, will face Turkey on July 31 (8 p.m. Macao local time) and Lithuania on Aug. 1 (8 p.m. Macao local time). The games will be held at the Cotai Strip Cotai Arena (11,572 capacity) at the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel in Macau, China.

Moving to Shanghai, the Americans will conclude the USA Basketball International Challenge with tests versus 2007 EuroBasket champion Russia on Aug. 3 (3 p.m. Shanghai local time) and 2007 Oceania champion Australia on Aug. 5 (8 p.m. Shanghai local time). Both games will be held at the Qizhong Arena (13,708 capacity) in Shanghai.

Preliminary round play of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games takes place Aug. 10-18. The U.S. opens preliminary play Aug. 10 against host China at 10:15 p.m. (all times listed are Beijing local times which is 12 hours ahead of EDT); then play Africa zone champion Angola on Aug. 12 at 8:00 p.m.; on Aug. 14 at 8:00 p.m. the USA will face 2006 World Championship runner-up Greece at 8:00 p.m.; 2006 FIBA World Champion Spain on Aug. 16 at 10:15 p.m.; and the USA will close out preliminary play Aug. 18 at 8:00 p.m. against Germany, third place finisher at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The men's Olympic quarterfinals action takes place Aug. 20, semifinals play is slated for Aug. 22and the Olympic men's gold and bronze medal games will be held Aug. 24.

Named to the 2008 USA Basketball Senior National Team were: Carmelo Anthony (Denver Nuggets); Carlos Boozer (Utah Jazz); Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors); Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers); Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic); LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers); Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks); Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets); Tayshaun Prince (Detroit Pistons); Michael Redd (Milwaukee Bucks); Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat); and Deron Williams (Utah Jazz).

Duke University Hall of Fame coach Krzyzewski is head coach of the USA Senior Team program. Serving as assistant coaches are Syracuse University and Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim, New York Knicks head mentor Mike D'Antoni and Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan.