Preview

It is last game for both teams on tournament held in Belarus where also
Great Britain and Belarus senior team were taking participation. In
first two games young Belarus team achieved expected big defeats first
from their senior colleagues 37:79 and later from Great Britain 62:78,
while Argentina first achieve very close 56:57 defeat from Great Britain
, but in second game surprised hosts Belarus with 72:68 win. Exactly
this last game is biggest reason why we have today such spread and
overestimation of Argentina since if they were able to beat senior team
which looks to be 40 points better than Belarus under 20 team according
to their mutual meeting than Argentina can do the same and bookie
reduced the spread for 15 points since it was how much Belarus was
favorites against Argentina before the game. So we can see how big
surprise was Argentina win especially since Belarus played at home, but
it is obvious there was big underestimation of opponent. Belarus started
the game strong taking some 12 points lead already after first quarter
and everything looked like Argentina will get same destiny as Belarus
U20 team previous day or same destiny like on Olympic qualifiers before
less than year when Belarus destroy Argentina 84:44. Obviously Belarus
is much better team and yesterday game was just fluke performance in
which they spoiled huge lead in last quarter because players relaxed too
much and their coach decidet o try some combination with players on
unfamiliar roles and giving much time to younger players since some
important players are not with the team because extended seasons in some
leagues and playing play offs. Argentina with their determined approach
was able to make surprise and steal the win but today should be expected
totally different approach from them so they could be the victim. They
played te strongest games so now will face the youngest team in the
tournament so will be time for their combinations and relaxing by
giving plenty of time to players that didn’t play much in previous
games. The had tough game yesterday in which need big comeback in last
quarter and lost plenty of energy , so this game is perfect to relax and
use it like easy practice. They will now have same approach like Belarus
seniors had on them and if Belarus U20 team might not be powerful enough
to make same surprise than are definitely capable to protect this huge
spread. They do started really bad against seniors and lost by 42 but
spread was just 18 before the game and it was their very bad
performance where shot 0/12 for 3 points and just 9/20 (45%) from free
throw line, while seniors had (94%) for FT and (36%) on 8/22 from 3pt.
There was also big difference for 2pt with just 14/48 (29%) for U20 team
but (48%) on 20/42 for Seniors. Not to mention rebound battle 54-28 for
seniors , but surprise was how juniors forced seniors to 25 turn overs 2
more than them and even junior coach had praises about defense. In
second game with Great Britain already things get much better with much
better shooting 19/46 for 2pt, 5/19 for 3pt and 9/14 from FT with
reduced rebound difference 29:43 for GB , but still good defense which
forced GB to 23 turn overs , 7 more then them. Obviously young Belarus
players were little rusty in first game or entered with too much respect
of their older colleagues which beside all missings are still best on
the tournament, but don’t have same problem against other teams which
are weaker and can give them bigger resistance and raising the form even
more with every next game in their preparations for this July European
U20 championship. As youngest team they will for sure be more motivated
side in this game and will have also home field advantage. Argentina is
not something special and they don’t have much success against European
teams loosing games around 30-40 points on Olympic qualifications so I
doubt they are better almost 30 points better than Belarus U20 team.
They just had amazing performance that I doubt will be repeated and will
rather underestimate opponent and highly unlikely to push for big win in
such unimportant friendly game. Probably will win like Great Britain
since are teams of similar quality or even closer depending how big will
be underestimation and rotations.