FIBA Americas 2013: Championships Schedule, Draw, Bracket and More

Ten teams will converge in Caracas, Venezuela for the FIBA Americas Championship. The top four nations from this tournament will be granted automatic qualifying for next summer's FIBA World Cup in Spain.

However, don't look for the mighty United States in this tournament. On the strength of its 2012 Olympic gold medal, the Americans are already in the field for the World Cup.

That leaves Argentina as the bully on the block. It enters this tournament as the defending champion and stands an excellent shot at defending the title. However, it won't have the home fans this time. The last FIBA Americas tournament was held in 2011 in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

On top of that, Argentina will have to contend with basketball rival Brazil and eight other hungry teams to pull it off. 

The schedule for this event is fairly extensive. The teams will be broken into two groups and will begin preliminary round play on Aug. 30. and conclude on Sept. 5. 

From there it is onto the elimination portion of the event until a champion is crowned on Wednesday, Sept. 11. 

Take a look at the two groups and schedule, and then I'll offer the biggest storyline from this tournament and a prediction.

When: Aug. 30 to Sept. 11 

Where: Poliedro de Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela

Groups

FIBA Americas Schedule

All times Eastern—Info via USA Today

Friday, Aug. 30

Jamaica at Canada, 11:30 a.m.

Argentina at Paraguay, 2 p.m.

Puerto Rico at Brazil, 5:30 p.m.

Venezuela at Mexico, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 31

Uruguay at Jamaica, 11:30 a.m.

Canada at Puerto Rico, 2 p.m.

Dominican Republic at Argentina, 5:30 p.m.

Paraguay at Venezuela, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 1

Brazil at Canada, 11:30 a.m.

Mexico at Paraguay, 2 p.m.

Venezuela at Dominican Republic, 5:30 p.m.

Puerto Rico at Uruguay, 8 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 2

Dominican Republic at Mexico, 11:39 a.m.

Jamaica at Puerto Rico, 2 p.m.

Uruguay at Brazil, 5:30 p.m.

Argentina at Venezuela, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 3

Paraguay at Dominican Republic, 11:30 a.m.

Canada at Uruguay, 2 p.m.

Mexico at Argentina, 5:30 p.m.

Brazil at Jamaica, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 5

Second Round, 11:30 a.m.

Second Round, 2 p.m.

Second Round, 5:30 p.m.

Second Round, 8 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 6

Second Round, 11:30 a.m.

Second Round, 2 p.m.

Second Round, 5:30 p.m.

Second Round, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 7

Second Round, 11:30 a.m.

Second Round, 2 p.m.

Second Round, 5:30 p.m.

Second Round, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 8

Second Round, 11:30 a.m.

Second Round, 2 p.m.

Second Round, 5:30 p.m.

Second Round, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 10

Semifinal, 5:30 p.m.

Semifinal, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 11

Third-place game, 5:30 p.m.

Final, 8 p.m.

Key Storyline: Can Argentina Defend Its Title? 

When Argentina won in 2011, the roster was stacked. With stalwarts like Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino and Pablo Prigioni, the team was loaded and balanced. This roster is not quite as decorated. 

Of the four players I just mentioned, only Scola remains on this squad. This is not to suggest Argentina can't defend its title, but it will have to do so with more unfamiliar names.

At No. 6, Argentina is the highest squad in FIBA's rankings in this tournament. However, Brazil lurks just one spot behind and will be looking to take this title. 

Meanwhile, Brazil will be missing some familiar names as well. Anderson Varejao and Tiago Splitter have combined to give Brazil an amazing frontcourt, but neither is on the roster for this tournament. 

Prediction

Argentina and Brazil don't look to be quite as strong as they have in the recent past. This opens up the door for another team to sneak in and steal the championship, and that is exactly what Canada is going to do. 

The Canadian roster has plenty of NBA experience. That includes Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Tristan Thompson, Miami Heat center Joel Anthony, San Antonio Spurs point guard Cory Joseph and Orlando Magic forward Andrew Nicholson.

This gives Canada a menacing front line, and it will be enough to carry Canada to this championship.

*All roster information courtesy of FIBA.com