Pan Am Games

cyclone13

Well-Known Member
Apr 7, 2009
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Watching USA vs Brazil and didn't realize that Bluder is the HC for the team. I am extremely surprised.
Not sure why BF hasn't been called to coach another team? He won Gold last time at the World University Games
 
He probably could if he wanted. The time away from the office during prime recruiting period is rough to be away. Her 2016 is full, BFs is not.
 
IIRC there are steps for coaching in the US Basketball Team - that you start at U-16, then U-17 etc before going to Pan Am and finally to Olympics and World Championship. It's surprising that Bluder has been so far removed from coaching US Basketball (14 years) while BF still has more recent experience.
I understand if BF wants to use summer for recruiting but coaching US National Team never hurts recruiting especially coaching Pan Am Games team.
 
and Bludder blows it. All that talent, including probably the best basketball player we will ever see in Breanna Stewart, and lose. Shows why even with all the talent she has recruited, Iowa will never be an elite team. Even with probably her best team ever couldn't get past the sweet sixteen.

Hate to see her blow it for USA thought.
 
Unbelievable! How did she blew it with Brianna Stewart and 2 more UConn players and a good roster! Wow!

I agree that this probably shows that she doesn't know how to coach at the elite level..
 
Most of the teams in Pan Am were playing their National teams. Canada was no exception. The bulk of that team placed 5th in the latest world competition and several of the players on team Canada had been with this team for years. By contrast, U.S. Team was a group of college students who many of which will be national team members for the U.s. Someday but are still inexperienced collectively. even if Tiffany Mitchell hadn't been injured before the tournament and if they hadn't lost Jefferson in the first half, it's probably a long shot that this collection of U.s players was going to win against Canada who were pre tourney favorites
 
Bluder would have a difficult time coaching her way out of a wet paper bag, even if she had a steak knife.
 
As a previous poster said, USA generally may not match up well in the Pan Am games, if you look at the history.
http://www.usab.com/history/pan-am-womens/womens-pan-american-games-all-time-results-standings.aspx

USA has won the most gold medals (7), but has as many lower finishes and finished 7th in 2011.

That said, USA was 17-0 against Canada in the Pan Games going into this game, albeit last playing them in 2007.

If you like Bluder, you might say, good job getting USA the sliver. If not, then you blame her for not getting the gold. Apparently it would have taken really good coaching to get the gold.
 

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