Stingy Serbs await Team USA in pool play

By Staff Jul 7, 2015

Members of the Serbian team break from a huddle at the end of their practice before Team USA took the court for a practice at Gwangju High School Wed., July 1. Team USA will play an exhibition game against China on Thursday, July 2 and will play Serbia in tournament pool play Wed., July 8.

So far at the World University Games — and in the three exhibitions that preceded it — Team USA/Kansas has remained unscathed against its international competition.

Bill Self’s Jayhawks, SMU’s Nic Moore and Florida Gulf Coast’s Julian DeBose [pulled away late in two Kansas City warmups against Canada][1], [ran away with a scrimmage against China][2] and improved to 3-0 in pool play [by blowing out Chile][3] while most of us slept last night in the U.S.

So far, so good, for sure. But tonight (Wednesday in Gwangju, South Korea) the KU/USA contingent faces its most difficult opponent yet: Serbia.

The U.S. and Serbia — both 3-0 — are the only two unbeaten teams in Group D.

Serbia beat Switzerland, 58-41; toppled Chile, 69-43; and handled Turkey, 61-43.

Kansas center Hunter Mickelson (42) blocks a shot during a 106-41 Team USA win against Chile Tuesday, July 7, at the World University Games in South Korea.

Team USA struggled early before knocking off both [Turkey, 66-57,][4] and [Brazil, 82-72,][5] then smoked Chile, 106-41.

Clearly, Serbia and the U.S. are winning with different styles of basketball. The Serbs have stifled opponents, keeping all three to point totals in the low 40’s, while Team USA’s scoring has gone up in each World University Games contest. There’s no way that trend will continue against Serbia. But a grind-it-out, defensive game never made Self sweat, either.

As KU’s coach told our Bobby Nightengale Jr. after the Chile rout:

> “Tomorrow will be a big-boy game,
> without question. Serbia is one of the
> best teams here.”

Kansas forward Landen Lucas (33) pulls down one of his 14 rebounds in a Team USA game against Chile Tuesday, July 7, at the World University Games in Muan, South Korea..

With that in mind, here’s a look at how USA and Serbia compare statistically at the World University Games, entering this matchup, which could end up determining the winner of Group D — you can watch the pool-play showdown live on ESPNU at 10 p.m. tonight, and follow along at our live blog.

**FIELD GOAL %**: *USA, 93/204 (45.6%)*; Serbia, 68/182 (37.4%)

**2-POINT FGs**: *USA, 70/136 (51.5%)*; Serbia, 50/117 (42.7%)

**OPPONENT FG%**: USA, 60/177 (33.9%); *Serbia, 44/165 (26.7%)*

– Serbia is the only team in the field holding opponents below 30%.

Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) drives to the basket in a 106-41 Team USA win against Chile Tuesday, July 7, at the World University Games in South Korea.

**3-POINTERS**: *USA, 23/68 (33.8%)*; Serbia, 18/65 (27.7%)

**OPPONENT 3-POINT %**: USA, 19/74 (25.7%); *Serbia, 6/62 (9.7%)*

– As you probably already guessed, no one at the World University Games has defended the 3-point arc like the Serbs.

**FREE THROWS**: *USA, 44/61 (72.1%)*; Serbia, 34/56 (60.7%)

**POINTS PER GAME**: *USA, 84.3*; Serbia, 62.7

Kansas guard Frank Mason III (0) drives to the basket in a Team USA game against Chile Tuesday, July 7, at the World University Games at Muan Indoor Court in South Korea.

**POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME**: USA, 56.7; *Serbia, 42.3*

– Serbia leads the entire field in points allowed; the U.S. ranks fourth.

**REBOUNDS PER GAME**: USA, 46.3; *Serbia, 47.7*

– The U.S. and Serbia rank third and second, respectively, in the field, with Germany leading the way at 53.0.

**OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS PER GAME**: USA, 15.3; *Serbia, 16.0*

**ASSISTS PER GAME**: *USA, 11.0;* Serbia, 10.7

**TURNOVERS PER GAME**: USA, 16.7; *Serbia, 15.7*

**STEALS PER GAME**: *USA, 13.3*; Serbia, 10.7

**BLOCKS PER GAME**: USA, 1.7; Serbia, 1.7

**FOULS PER GAME**: *USA, 17.7*; Serbia, 20.7

Serbia’s outstanding defensive numbers might be a bit skewed due to two of its games coming against Switzerland and Chile, both winless, but defense is easier to maintain from game to game than hot shooting.

The Serbs have a few individuals who have stood out so far — and for comparison’s sake, we’ll include the numbers of some USA players with each case.

**Aleksandar Marelja** leads the team in scoring, with 14.0 points per game, which ranks seventh overall at the World University Games.

– Team USA’s **Wayne Selden Jr.** leads all players in scoring (20.0), and **Frank Mason III** is second (16.7).

A 6-foot-9 forward, **Marelja** also leads the Serbs with 7.7 rebounds per game (seventh among all players), and has shot 57.1% from the field (eighth).

– For the U.S., **Perry Ellis** averages a team-best 7.3 rebounds (tied for ninth).

– **Selden** has made 22 of 37 shots (59.5%, sixth).

However, **Marelja** has been a non-factor from 3-point distance, where teammate **Dusan Kutlesic** has shot 4-for-7 (57.1%).

– The U.S. doesn’t have a player in the top 10 in 3-point percentage, but **Selden** has made eight, and **Moore** is right behind him, with seven.

**Stefan Pot** leads the low-key Serbia offense in assists, at 3.3 (tied for ninth).

– **Mason’s** 4.0 assists lead Team USA.

**Pot** also has drawn 6.3 fouls per game (third), a category in which his teammate **Milan Milovanovic** also ranks high (4.3, tied for eighth).

– **Mason** leads all players, with 8.3 fouls drawn a game.

The most active perimeter player for the Serbs, **Pot** averages a team-best 2.7 steals (tied for sixth).

– No one from the U.S. ranks in the top 10.

Big man **Milovanovic** has had issues with taking care of the ball, giving it away 3.7 times a game (tied for fifth-worst mark).

– The USA has avoided this dubious top 10.

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jun/27/selden-powers-ku-sweep-canada/
[2]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jul/02/jayhawks-run-past-china-93-56-victory/?mens_basketball
[3]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jul/07/jayhawks-start-fast-usa-blows-out-chile-106-41/?mens_basketball
[4]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jul/04/world-class-us-rallies-win-games-opener/
[5]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jul/05/selden-sparks-jayhawks-after-sloppy-start-usa-beat/