Team USA may have captured gold at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago, but can it truly be atop the basketball world without gold at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup? After a seventh-place finish at the 2019 event, the Americans have been on a mission to redeem themselves.
For Team USA, it was smooth sailing through the first three games of group play before a tough test from Montenegro raised a few eyebrows. After avoiding a letdown at the hands of the Montenegrins, Team USA suffered its first loss of the tournament, falling to Lithuania by a final score of 110-104.
The good news for Team USA is that, despite the loss, its goal of winning gold is still within reach. That said, Team USA has been trending downward since the second round began, bringing up valid questions about the squad moving forward.
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What's next for Team USA after loss to Lithuania?
With the loss to Lithuania, Team USA dropped to second in the Group J standings. A second-place finish in the group is good enough to advance, however, as the top two teams from Groups I, J, K and L each earned a spot in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Team USA now has to win three consecutive games in order to win gold in Manila. The Americans' journey continues when they face Italy on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 8:40 a.m. ET.
Also on Team USA's side of the bracket are an undefeated Germany team and a Latvia squad that has stunned the masses to advance to the quarterfinals.
In order to advance, Team USA will have to turn things around after a few alarming trends revealed themselves against Montenegro and Lithuania. How worried should Team USA be?
The biggest concern to arise from Team USA's play during the second phase of group play has been rebounding. Over the course of two games, the Americans were outrebounded 92-58, with starting center Jaren Jackson Jr. pulling down just one rebound.
After the scare from Montenegro, I examined just how big of an issue rebounding would be for Team USA. And while I may have downplayed the rebounding woes, it still stands that rebounding alone isn't enough to defeat this American team.
With respect to Team USA's stunning loss, it's important to note that Lithuania drained each of its first nine 3-pointers before shooting 14-of-25 from deep for the game, including some extremely tough looks.
WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS.#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/4CBuioXtu7
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) September 3, 2023
Dominant rebounding coupled with otherworldly shooting and foul trouble — Jackson and Austin Reaves fouled out — proved to be the formula for taking Team USA down, but is there another team built to take advantage in a similar manner?
Among teams that advanced to the quarterfinals, Italy ranks second behind only Lithuania in rebounds per game. Forwards Nicolo Melli and Simone Fontecchio lead Italy's rebounding efforts, while point guard Marco Spissu is draining 2.4 3-pointers per game at a 46.2 percent clip.
Team USA at FIBA Basketball World Cup: Quarterfinals schedule
Here is a look at Team USA's road to gold at the FIBA World Cup:
| Date | Matchup | Round | Time (ET) |
| Sept. 5 | Lithuania vs. Serbia | Quarter-Finals | 4:45 a.m. |
| Sept. 5 | Italy vs. USA | Quarter-Finals | 8:40 a.m. |
| Sept. 6 | Germany vs. Latvia | Quarter-Finals | 4:45 a.m. |
| Sept. 6 | Canada vs. Slovenia | Quarter-Finals | 8:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 8 | TBD | Semi-Finals | TBD |
| Sept. 8 | TBD | Semi-Finals | TBD |
| Sept. 10 | TBD | Third Place | 4:30 a.m. |
| Sept. 10 | TBD | Championship | 8:40 a.m. |
The winner of the game between Italy and Team USA will advance to face the winner of the game between Germany and Latvia. On the other side of the bracket, Lithuania and Serbia will meet for a chance to face the winner of the game between Canada and Slovenia.
The championship game at the FIBA Basketball World Cup is set to tip off on Sunday, Sept. 10, at 8:40 a.m. ET.
