USA BASKETBALL HISTORY
USA MEN’S AMERICUP TEAM 2001 RESULTS
NEUQUEN, ARGENTINA • AUGUST 16-26, 2001
The 2001 Tournament of the Americas served as the championship tournament for North, South and Central Americas, as well as the
qualifying tournament to determine the five nations from FIBA Americas that would qualify for the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
The United States had already qualified for the 2002 Worlds as the host country so USA Basketball offered the National Junior College
Athletic Association (NJCAA), an active member of USA Basketball, the opportunity to participate in the tournament.
The team conducted six days of training camp at Vincennes University (Indiana) and was pared down from 19 finalists to the 10-member
team that competed in the 2001 Tournament of the Americas.
Despite 23 points by Banks, the team fell to Brazil 116-78. Facing gold medal favorite Argentina, the squad was bested 108-69 as Banks
and Ferguson scored 13 points apiece. Venezuela handed the team a 107-83 loss despite Holland scoring 20 points. In need of a win
against Uruguay to advance to the second round, the NJCAA team led by as many as 10 points in the first half and was up four at halftime.
Uruguay rallied in the second half to claim the victory 104-93 and send the squad home. Banks finished with 24 points in the loss, Holland
added 16 points.
Banks led the NJCAA scoring attack averaging 18.5 points, while Holland scored 12.0 points and Ferguson contributed 10.3.
Puerto Rico and Argentina finished preliminary play 4-0 to establish themselves as the early favorites. Brazil got back into the medal
contention by defeating Puerto Rico 89-83 and Canada 78-69. Argentina improved to 8-0 and closed out the second round by upending
Puerto Rico 95-70.
Argentina, Brazil (6-2), Puerto Rico (6-2) and Canada (4-4), who advanced over Venezuela and Panama based on FIBA’s tie breaking formu-
la, moved on to the medal round with qualifying berths for the 2002 World Championship secured. Venezuela, by virtue of its 106-92 win
over Panama in second round action, claimed the fifth qualifying berth.
In the semifinals, Brazil bested Puerto Rico 98-94 and Argentina rolled over Canada 97-76 setting the stage for the Argentina-Brazil gold
medal clash. Argentina claimed the title after rolling over Brazil 78-59, and Canada the bronze after posting a 102-95 win over Puerto Rico.
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