Russia Olympic Men's Basketball Team 2012: Updated News, Roster & Analysis

The Russians are coming. The Russians are coming.

They are not, however, the powerhouse they used to be. In sports terminology that's called "rebuilding."

The Russians, who finished ninth at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, have four players with NBA experience, another on the way to the NBA and four who played in China four years ago.

Andrei Kirilenko is the lone player in his 30s, and he's exactly 30 with two Olympics to his credit.

The Russians qualified for the 2012 London Olympic Games in the final qualifying tournament.

What's in store for the Russians in London?

Who's Who on the Russian National Team

The Russians

PF     Vorontsevich, Andrey    
C       Mozgov, Timofey    
PG     Bykov, Sergey   
SG     Fridzon, Vitaly    
SG     Shved, Alexey    
PF     Shabalkin, Nikita   
SF     Khryapa, Viktor    
SF     Antonov, Semyon   
SF     Monya, Sergey    
SG     Khvostov, Dmitri    
PG     Ponkrashov, Anton    
SF     Kirilenko, Andrei    
C       Kaun, Alexander
SG    Voronov, Evgeny
SG    Karasev, Sergey

        David Blatt, Head Coach
        Dmitry Shakulin, Assistant
        Sergey Zharmukhamedov, Assistant

Did you know?

Coach David Blatt was born in Boston, played at Princeton and coaches both Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Russian national basketball team.

A Little More About the Russian Players

The NBA Connections

Seven-footer Timofey Mozgov has three years.

Viktor Khryapa has four years.

Sergey Monya has two years.

Andrei Kirilenko has 10 years, all with the Utah Jazz.

NCAA Connection

Center Alexander Kaun played four years at Kansas, including the national title year of 2007-08. 

The Beijing Returnees

Andrey Vorontsevich

Sergey Bykov

Vitaly Fridzon

Viktor Khryapa

Andrei Kirilenko

Injury Update

Both Vorontsevich (spine) and Bykov (knee) were declared out of the Olympics

Did you know?

The Russians have had some success in EuroBasket, finishing third in 2011, seventh in 2009 and winning it in 2007.

The Latest News

Heading for America

On July, 10th 2012, The Associated Press reported (via Eurobasket.com) that Alexey Shved would be leaving CSKA Moscow to sign with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves on a three year, $10 million dollar contract. Shved joins a solid team with the likes of Spain's Ricky Rubio, Kevin Love, and Brandon Roy.

Getting to London

Russia defeated Nigeria, 85-77 to claim an Olympic spot.

Did you know?

Anton Ponkrashov played for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Summer League in 2010.

We're Talking Russian Basketball

Radio stars

The latest European Championship saw the national squad clinch bronze, which was just one step below a straight ticket to the Olympics. That meant that Russia had to take part in the final qualifying event to London.

David Blatt is confident that Russian superstar Andrey Kirilenko can lead his team to achieving their aim.

It’s quite evident that the team's spirits are high. Everyone feels passionate about fulfilling the task to book a place in London according to center Alexander Kaun.

This Magic Moment

A look back

Two-and-a-half years ago, the Russian Basketball Federation was desperate to revive its national program. It had suffered the consequences of the old USSR breakup, losing all those players out of the breakaway regions.

Without the old waves of talent the federation had to make the most of its resources. It had to change. The players were no longer pawns in Moscow’s military machinery. They had rich pro contracts. They had attitudes. Mostly, they had choices.

A look at the Olympic preliminary round

Group A         Group B

Argentina       Australia      
France           Brazil      
Lithuania        China      
Nigeria           Great Britain      
Tunisia           Russia      
USA              Spain

The schedule

Olympic Park, Basketball Arena
 

Sunday, July 29

Nigeria - Tunisia
Brazil - Australia
USA – France
Spain - China
Russia - Great Britain
Argentina – Lithuania
 

Tuesday, July 31

China – Russia
Australia - Spain
 Lithuania – Nigeria
Great Britain - Brazil
France - Argentina
Tunisia - USA
 

Thursday, August 2

France – Lithuania
Australia - China
Argentina - Tunisia
Brazil – Russia
Spain – Great Britain
USA - Nigeria
 

Saturday, August 4

Tunisia - France
Russia - Spain
Lithuania - USA
China - Brazil
Great Britain - Australia
Nigeria - Argentina
 

Monday, August 6

Australia – Russia
Tunisia – Lithuania
France – Nigeria
Great Britain - China
Spain - Brazil
Argentina - USA

How will the Russians finish?

The Russians will make it of the prelims but lose in the first of the medal rounds to the United States 111-75.