A first basketball World Cup quarter-final appearance in 20 years awaits the Boomers if they can negotiate a tricky last-16 opponent in reigning silver medallists Turkey.
Australia will bid to take a significant step towards a maiden World Cup medal when the sides meet in a round of 16 showdown in Barcelona on Sunday (Monday morning AEST).
While the Boomers were forced to reject suggestions their shock loss to Angola on Thursday was orchestrated to forge an easier path through the knockout rounds, it will prove irrelevant should they fall at the first sudden death hurdle.
Turkey underlined their status as a danger team in Spain by getting closer than most to the might of USA during the group stage, a fact not lost on Australia.
“It will be a tough match-up,” said Australian Utah Jazz recruit Brock Motum.
“They (Turkey) played the USA tough (in a 98-77 loss) and also had a tough game against New Zealand (76-33 win). They are coming together.
“But in terms of team preparation we are well on track and right where we want to be.”
Sunday’s contest will hinge significantly on the match-up between Chicago Bulls centre Aron Baynes, Australia’s player of the tournament so far, and Turkish NBA star Omer Asik.
The New Orleans Pelicans player is among the best centres in the tournament and renowned for his defensive abilities, pulling down 20 rebounds in a group stage loss to Ukraine.
In-form Boomers guards Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Ryan Broekhoff will also have their work cut out against attacking threats Cenk Akyol and Emir Preldzic.
A victory for Australia would likely set up a quarter-final showdown with Lithuania, who face New Zealand on Sunday.
The Boomers would take a huge mental advantage into that clash, having upset the European heavyweights 82-75 during the group stage.
The loss to Angola, which prompted accusations of “tanking”, meant Australia avoided a potential quarter-final showdown with US, who strolled into the last eight with a 86-63 win over Mexico on Saturday.
The Boomers would meet the US in the semi-finals should they make it that far but even a loss in that game would earn Andrej Lemanis’ side a crack at bronze and its first ever medal at the prestigious tournament.
Australia’s encouraging performance so far have come despite the absence of NBA stars Patty Mills and Andrew Bogut, with standouts Baynes, Ingles and Broekhoff receiving strong support throughout the squad.
“We can start almost with any player in the starting line-up and do what we need to,” Motum said.
“And then the bench comes in and contributes what it has to.
“I think we are ready for a tough game.”
Australia last appeared in the tournament’s last eight under a different format in 1994, beating China and Puerto Rico to equal its best finish of fifth.
Hosts Turkey lost in the final of the 2010 event.
Johnno
Guest
Silver Sovereign Agreed, worst choke in a long time in any sport that was awful. Worst 5-minutes not just basketball but any sport, the aussies completely lost the plot, could barely hold onto the ball, lost all structure, that was truly awful that last 5-minutes, worst 5-minutes in any sport not just basketball. European or South American nation,no mercy in soccer or basketball, coach would be sacked immediately. Sack Lemanis, that was pathetic bordering incompetent with the roster he had. Awful. Worse than any Wallabies(Wobblies) chokes over the years, truly awful last 5-minutes that choke. Worst I seen in any sport. Serves Boomers right for tanking game, a Q/F vs US would look much better even if we lost, the tank put pressure on the team, came back to bite em. Lemanis should of gathered his side and said defend like hell,close the game. Too many rookies were picked to NBA or no NBA, 19yr olds not ready, Jawal was ineffective too as was Exum, some more experienced hard heads should of gone. Shockingly incompetent campaign,as bad as Barry Barnes shuffle offence tactics at Sydney 2000.
Silver Sovereign
Guest
Huge huge choke by the Aussies. No one to blame but themselves. Their d has kept them going through the comp but the offence always terrible. Coach needs to be sacked. So many possessions have been spent out past the 3 point line, a thousand miles from the basket, with little ball movement
Johnno
Guest
Boomers choked, lost by 2 massive 3-point bombs in last 2 minutes, wow.
Johnno
Guest
Annoyed to. I wanted Tall Blacks to win, everyone's 2nd favourite side in Basketball after there home team, everyone in Basketball has a soft spot for the Tall Blacks. More exciting brand of basketball than the Boomers. One can only live in hypotheticals if Steve Adams had played v Lithuania would of made MASSIVE difference. Would have loved a Boomers v Tall Blacks Q/F, oh well maybe at 2016 Olympics or at 2019 FIBA World Cup which will be increased to 32-teams.
James
Guest
Dammit. NZ narrowly loses to Lithuania 71-76. Good effort from the boys for making the knock out stages consistently over the past 2-3 tournaments but they just need thier US based players if they want to take it to the next step. They definitely needed the 7 ft players like Steve Adams. Turkey also narrowly beat NZ by 3 points so the Boomers should beat Turkey and they have already beaten Lithuania.