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.
