Finally, The Medal Rounds

By Brendon Rosenau
Love of Sports Correspondent

The first week of the Olympics can be confusing, especially if you’re trying to follow a team sport.

Pool play, prelims, qualifying … call it what you will, but it can be a mindbender.

Finally, the medal rounds are underway. The Americans are well represented and have a shot at gold in almost every event.

Basketball

At 8:00am EST Tuesday morning, the hoop games really count. Up first will be the women, who’ll battle Korea in their first medal round game. Should they win, their next opponent will be either Russia or Spain. The U.S. already beat Spain by 38 in pool play.

The American women outscored the opposition 491-276 in pool play in a perfect 5-0 sweep. The only other team to have a +100 scoring margin was Australia, who’s on the opposite side of the bracket. Tina Thompson leads the team in scoring at 15.2 ppg. Lisa Leslie’s the top rebounder, hauling in over eight per contest. As a team, they’re converting on 57% of their field goals and 41% from three.

The Aussies are the only team that can possibly give the U.S. a run. They’re led by the tournament’s leading scorer, Lauren Jackson (18 ppg).

Prediction - The Aussies may play the U.S. close for a half in the finals before the Americans pull away for a decisive gold medal.

The men’s team, fresh off a 49-point stomping of Germany, will begin medal play Wednesday morning. The game could be anywhere between 2:30-10:30am, but I’m banking on an 8:00am start.

Up first for the Redeem Team is Australia. Next would be the winner of Greece (who the U.S. already beat) and Argentina, who features Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Andres Nocioni, Carlos Delfino and Fabricio Oberto - five NBA players. Ginobili (19.6) and Scola (19.2) also rank first and third in Olympic scoring.

The U.S. is led by D-Wade, who’s averaging 16.2 points and shooting an absurd 72% from the field. As a team, the Americans are shooting 55.3%. The one area of concern is at the free throw line, where they’re just 67%. Wade (16-25), LeBron James (10-of-16) and Dwight Howard (11-of-22) have all had their problems at the stripe. The Americans haven’t been in a crunch time situation yet, with their average game score being 103-70, both of which rank as the best in the Games, which has rendered their low free throw percentage moot. Defensively the U.S. is averaging over 14 steals. James, Wade and Chris Paul each have 21.

Prediction - The U.S. will get stronger with each game. The question won’t be if they win, but by how much. Spain will come through on the other side, setting up an anticipated final. That one won’t be as close as the prelim game, and Kobe scores 40 if Coach K lets him.

Soccer

The women’s soccer team will play for the gold Thursday morning against Brazil in a rematch of their game in Athens. The U.S. won that one 2-1 for their second gold. This is the fourth final game for the U.S. They’re 2-1 in their previous three.

The U.S took care of Japan 4-2 in the semifinals, turning an early 1-0 deficit into a laugher midway through the second half. Within three minutes late in the first half, Lindsay Tarpley and Lori Chalunpy put the U.S. ahead for good, 2-1. In the 70th minute, Heather O’Reilly gave the U.S. a two-goal lead. Angela Hucles capped the scoring with her fourth goal of the Games.

Brazil reached the finals with a 4-1 win over Germany. They started the medal round with a 2-1 over Norway, the only team to beat the U.S. thus far. They have a potent offense (11 goals) led by Christiane, who leads all footballers with five goals. Mata (three goals) and Daniela (two goals) will likely keep Hope Solo busy between the posts.

Prediction - It’ll be a close, close game. This one will go into extra time and, this hurts bad to say, but Brazil wins 3-2 on a late goal by Marta.

Softball

The softball team will get going in medal action Tuesday night when they take on Japan. The U.S. beat Japan in pool play 7-0 a few days ago. If they win again, as expected, they’ll play the winner of Australia and Canada for the gold medal. The U.S. has beaten both those teams already as well.

In pool play the U.S. was 7-0 and outscored their opponents 53-1. Canada was the lone team to score, although it’s important to note that it was an unearned run. They’ve also hit .375 as a team in its first seven games and feature five players with an average of .400 or better. Crystal Bustos leads the Olympics with a .563 average and has four home runs. Jessica Mendoza also has four round trippers and nine RBI.

In the pitcher’s circle it’s been amazing. Cat Osterman’s won three games, with Jennie Finch and Monica Abbot each winning twice. All three have an ERA of 0.00. As a unit, they’ve thrown 39 innings and allowed just five hits and eight walks. If the inning total seems odd, it’s because the U.S. has played seven innings only twice. Their other five games ended in five innings as a result of the mercy rule.

Prediction - Gold obviously. Going out on a limb, but I’m saying the U.S. gets a shutout in the semifinals and the finals, but that’s not the highlight. In the final game the U.S. tosses their third no-hitter of the Olympics, sending the sport out with a bang.

Baseball

Two straight wins on the diamond have reversed the fortunes of the U.S. team. With a 3-2 record, and two games remaining, the U.S. needs just one win to qualify for the semifinals.

First up is Japan, who has the same 3-2 record as the Americans, before the final prelim game against Chinese Taipei (1-4). Cuba and Korea are on top of the standings, each with 5-0 records. Terry Tiffee’s leading the team in hitting with a .500 average.

Prediction - It’s almost impossible for the U.S. not to qualify, so I’ll start there. They’ll have to play Cuba or Korea, two teams they lost to in their final at-bat in the early round. I know I’m sitting on the fence here, but here’s the deal: if the U.S. loses to Japan, then they’ll lose in the first round. I don’t like a team that goes into a four-team tournament 0-3 against their possible opponents. If they beat Japan and draw Korea, though, they’ll get a silver. If they draw Cuba, then it’s all about the bronze.

Volleyball

The men’s team will face Serbia in the quarterfinals. After dealing with an unimaginable tragedy to start the Games, the team’s thrived off the emotion and gone 5-0. The Americans have scored on 39.75% of their shots, which is by far the most efficient of any team in the tournament. They’ve looked sharp overall in each game as well.

Prediction - Gold. It’s the perfect story from the Olympics. Plus, they’re obviously the best team in the world.

The beach volleyball team of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser will take on Jorge Terceiro and Renato Gomes of Georgia in the semifinals. That match will be played Tuesday night. The other semifinal features two teams from Brazil.

Prediction - An unpopular choice, butI haven’t been impressed with the American duo, even though they’ve been better of late. I think the pressure of the finals, which they should easily reach, might be too much of a strain on the sometimes tenuous partnership of Rogers and Dalhausser, resulting in a silver.

Boxing

The lone American boxer left is 91kg Deontay Wilder. He’ll fight again Friday at 3:30am against Clemente Russo of Italy.

Prediction - Wilder’s the last medal hope for the Americans, who have never failed to win at least a bronze in the ring. The streak continues with a silver for Wilder.