Analysis of U.S.A.’s Second Opponent, Virgin Islands

Overview
Whenever you are talking about the Virgin Islands, you can’t help but think about the player who is not going to be there, and that is Tim Duncan, who was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team in 2004 in Athens, and therefore, is not eligible to play for his home country. Currently ranked 38th in the world by FIBA, this is a team that has struggled in international play, most recently finishing eighth at the 2007 Pan Am Games. The roster has a New York City feel to it, with four players having honed their skills on the city’s courts, and fans of college basketball will most certainly recognize several faces of both the players and coaches.

Strengths
Carl Krauser is the most familiar face on the roster, having helped lead Pittsburgh University to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances while also garnering AP Honorable Mention All-America status as a senior. Krauser is a tenacious defender who plays hard and has the ability to make the spectacular play.

Though 29 years old, Kitwana Rhymer is a good shot blocker who is very active and can score. As a junior at UMASS he won the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Joining him up front is Frank Elegar, a thin and athletic 20-year old forward entering his senior season at Drexel University. Capable of scoring the ball consistently as evidenced by his double digit point totals in 26 of his 32 games this past year, Elegar put up a career-high 27 points in a win over Syracuse and 24 in a loss to North Carolina State in the NIT.

Weaknesses
This is a team that doesn’t have enough interior depth. They have an enormous challenge ahead of them, especially playing the U.S. for their first game, in which they’ll be an extreme underdog. Basically they’re looking to shock the world right now.

X-Factor
Elegar is a guy who is going to want to make an impression and prove that he is a possible up-and-coming NBA prospect. Look for him to try and leave his mark on this tourney for as long as the Virgin Islands is alive.

Coaching Philosophy
The names Tevester Anderson and Jim Harrick Jr. are recognizable to many. The head coach at Murray State for years before moving on to Jackson State, Anderson led both teams to the NCAA Tournament. Harrick Jr. joins him as an assistant after having coached with the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League last season. Anderson has been known to play an up-tempo style, which is something I am not sure he will want to do against the U.S. Most likely they’ll have to count on the three point shot. I will be shocked if they don’t pack it into an incredibly tight zone and hope that the U.S. just clanks because they will not be able to match up man to man.

source : NBA.com