Tough ask for Boomers

AUSTRALIA'S men's basketball team has been handed a tough assignment in the Olympic Games.

The Boomers avoided defending gold medallists USA when the draw for pool games was made in Rio de Janeiro yesterday, but still face a tough task to get through the qualifiers.

The Aussies, already without NBA star Andrew Bogut through injury, have been drawn in Group B alongside hosts Great Britain, European heavyweights Spain, the highly-rated China and Brazil, with another qualifier yet to be determined.

The top four teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, with the final set to take place on August 12.

In the women's section, the Opals face a similarly tough task after they were drawn with Great Britain, Russia, Brazil and two further qualifiers.

Australia has lost the last three women's Olympic finals to arch rivals America.