Nothing but net for Canada
Action at Meridian Centre shows us how far hoops have come north of the border
Canadian basketball has come a long way, of that there is no doubt.
NBA teams selected Anthony Bennett and Andrew Wiggins of Toronto first overall in the draft. The consensus first pick for 2019 is another Canadian, J.R. Barrett, who is headed to Duke University.
Last year at the Under-19 World Cup in Cairo, Barrett led the Canadian team to an upset of the Americans in the semifinals. Canada then routed Italy in the finals. The championship marked Canada’s best international FIBA tournament finish in any event.
This week’s FIBA Under-18 Americas Championship at St. Catharines’ Meridian Centre is a continuation of that growth. The top four finishers qualify for next summer’s Under-19 World Cup.
Canada was 2-0 heading into Tuesday night’s final preliminary round game against Chile after routing Ecuador 115-75 Monday. That game’s attendance was 4,598, the largest crowd ever to watch a basketball game at Meridian Centre. The crowd included a large contingent of schoolchildren on field trips, and they made their presence felt, filling the building with noise from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
All of it makes Chris Critelli smile. The Canadian Basketball Hall of Famer is Brock University’s assistant athletic director. She coached for the women’s program at Brock for more than two decades and won more than 300 games. Before that, she played on Canada’s National team for seven years having made the squad as a 17-year-old. She made the Olympic team in 1976 and 1980.
To say the times have changed is an understatement.
“The only time I played a home game at an event like this was when I was on the national team at the Olympics in Montreal,” Critelli said. “We never had the chance to play on our home court. I know for these players, it is very special to play in your own country in front of your fans and family members.
“There are so many opportunities for men and women now.”
A who’s who of big-time NCAA basketball coaches have made their way to Meridian Centre this week as part of the recruiting circuit. They including John Calipari of University of Kentucky, John Beilein of University of Michigan and Frank Martin of University of South Carolina.
The coach of the U.S. team is Bill Self of University of Kansas. He led the Jayhawks to the NCAA championship in 2008.
His assistant on the U.S. team is the head coach at Wake Forest, Danny Manning. Manning led Kansas to an NCAA championship in 1988 before embarking on a 15-year-career in the NBA.
The U.S. is seeded first and was 2-0 heading into Tuesday’s game against Puerto Rico. Canada is seeded second. A showdown in Saturday night’s final looms.
“I watched Canada for the first time live, and I was impressed,” Self said.
“If we get an opportunity to play them, we will have to play our best game. They are very athletic. They are very fast. They have a couple of guys who can play at programs.
“In this tournament, there is no question, if we play, it will be a big rivalry game. What happened last year in Cairo, when Canada beat the U.S. team in the semifinals, was a big deal for their program. And it was an eye-opening experience for the U.S.A.
“We may not win, but it won’t be because we aren’t prepared.”
Andrew Nembhard, a 6-foot-4 guard from Thornhill, is Canada’s captain and leads the team with 21 points and 7.5 assists with per game.
He has signed a letter of intent with University of Florida, but is relishing suiting up for Canada on home soil.
“The chance to play for your country is a great opportunity for everybody on this team,” he said. “I’m just honoured to be here.
“This is my first time playing for Canada at home. The fans came out Monday, and it was a lot of fun. This is a good opportunity to show our family and friends and fans what we can do.”
Near the end of the warmup Monday, the Canadian players noticed a group of schoolchildren calling from the corner stands. The players spontaneously ran over and began exchanging highfives with the kids before returning to the court to complete their drills.
Addison Patterson, a 6-foot-6 guard from Milton, enjoyed the impromptu pep rally.
“That made me so happy,” he said. “We are playing for these kids from Canada. I am proud of this team. We appreciate the support.”
His teammate, 6-foot-6 small forward Emanuel Miller of Unionville, is being recruited by Oklahoma State and Ohio State. He said the fans gave the team a boost.
“The fans, the crowd, it was amazing to be able to look in the stands and see so many young people cheering us on,” he said. “We use the energy. It feeds us.”