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SPORTS Tuesday 6 augusT 2019

Popovich, finally, gets his turn at leading USA Basketball

By TIM REYNOLDS as Krzyzewski’s successor
AP Basketball Writer nearly four years ago. “It’s
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gregg been like thinking about
Popovich walked into two teams at the same time
USA Basketball’s first team for that period. But Coach
meeting in advance of K did that for 12 years. So I
World Cup training camp, think I can probably try to
and it seemed to some in do the same.”
the room that he was hav- Popovich was all over the
ing a little difficulty keeping floor in his first practice,
his emotions in check. pulling some guys aside
He talked about tradi- for 1-on-1 chats during a
tion, about what it means scrimmage and other times
to play for your country, gathering the entire team
about expectations, about around him to discuss the
sacrifice, about playing the nuance of proper box-out
right way, about respect technique.
for opponents. “You can’t help but teach
The only downside was that here and there,” Popovich
when he was done speak- said.
ing, the first practice was Popovich calls it “a huge
still about 18 hours away. responsibility” to both rep-
“Shoot, from the get-go, I resent the country and
think everybody was ready continue the program’s In this July 26, 2018, file photo, head coach head coach Gregg Popovich speaks with the media
to play a game or run long tradition of winning. during a training camp for USA Basketball, in Las Vegas.
through a brick wall for him He and his assistants have Associated Press
after that talk,” Brooklyn been meeting for weeks, are 76-0 — a run that start- Lloyd Pierce, a Popovich Academy did the same for
guard Joe Harris said. going over every possible ed with the bronze medal assistant this summer. “The Popovich. Krzyzewski has
With that, Camp Pop had detail. game in the 2006 worlds first conversation I had five NCAA titles; Popovich
arrived. “He is so passionate about followed by gold-medal with him, he said that we has five NBA titles.
Popovich’s first training this project and he’s so runs in the 2007 FIBA Ameri- would enjoy this and we In 2016, Krzyzewski called
camp practice as coach well-prepared,” Golden cas tournament, the 2008 would have fun. But when the pending coaching
of the U.S. men’s national State coach and USA Bas- Olympics, the 2010 world we meet as coaches, you change “succession” —
team went into the books ketball assistant Steve Kerr championships, the 2012 walk into the room and another term heard often
Monday, less than a month said. Olympics, the 2014 World there are tables full of notes in military circles when talk-
before the Americans will There is also some pressure, Cup and finally the 2016 and easels full of notes al- ing about the transfer of
begin play at the FIBA of course. Olympics. ready. He’s not taking this leadership. “I have the unit
World Cup in China. The When the Americans start USA Basketball has lost at for granted.” right now,” Krzyzewski said
U.S. has won the last two World Cup play in Shang- times since 2006, including There are some natural, in 2016. “He’s going to take
World Cup gold medals, hai on Sept. 1 against the twice during the 12-game and coincidental, paral- command of the unit.”
both won under now-for- Czech Republic, it’ll be ex- World Cup qualifying run. lels with Popovich following That day has arrived, and
mer coach Mike Krzyzews- actly 13 years since the na- But none of the defeats Krzyzewski as national team it was a long time coming
ki, and now it’s Popovich’s tional team program lost a came against the full- coach. for Popovich. He was an-
turn to lead the red, white game at the world cham- fledged U.S. varsity, the Both were military and ser- nounced as Krzyzewski’s
and blue. pionships, now known as level that Popovich is now vice academy men: Krzyze- successor as national team
“It’s been on my mind ev- the World Cup, or in Olym- overseeing. wski graduated from Army coach on Oct. 23, 2015 —
ery day, what I want to pic competition. “He’s taken on the chal- West Point in 1969, Popov- nearly a year before the Rio
do and what needs to be On Sept. 1, 2006, the U.S. lenge of leading the USA ich from the U.S. Air Force Games ended, nearly four
done,” said Popovich, the lost to Greece in the world team and he’s taking on Academy in 1970. The years before the first game
longtime San Antonio Spurs championships semifinals. the challenge with serious- Army put Krzyzewski into its he’ll actually coach for the
coach who was picked Since then, the Americans ness,” said Atlanta coach Hall of Fame; the Air Force red, white and blue.q

Lochte wins 200 IM at U.S.

nationals after 14-month ban

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) trial effort of 1:57.88 in the Lochte was competing
— Ryan Lochte won the event four days earlier, for the first time since the
200-meter individual med- which didn’t count toward recent end of a 14-month
ley at the U.S. national qualifying for the national suspension for receiving
championships, fresh off a team. an infusion of vitamin B-12 Ryan Lochte competes in the men’s 200-meter individual
14-month ban. It was the lone victory above the allowable limit. medley time trial at the U.S. national swimming championships
The 12-time Olympic med- and only final of the five- Madisyn Cox won the in Stanford, Calif., Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Lochte is
alist touched in 1 minute, day meet for Lochte, who women’s 200 IM in 2:10.00 returning from a 14-month suspension.
57.76 seconds on Sunday turned 35 a day earlier. He to go with her earlier victo- Associated Press
— 1.07 ahead of runner- finished 37th in the 200 free- ry in the 200 breaststroke. two years to six months. Ally McHugh won the
up Shaine Casas — to style preliminaries, fourth in She was suspended last She argued that her posi- 1,500 free in 16:05.98. She
earn his first national title the C final of the 100 but- year after failing a drug tive test was the result of won the 400 free earlier.
since 2014. Lochte’s time terfly, and scratched the B test, but went to court to a legal multivitamin that Erika Brown took the 50
was quicker than his time- final of the 100 backstroke. get her ban reduced from had been contaminated. free in 24.71 seconds.q