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Basketball of Saturday, 6 February 2021

Source: punchng.com

Hughley not expecting D’Tigress to surprise USA

D’Tigress coach Otis Hughley Jr D’Tigress coach Otis Hughley Jr

D’Tigress coach Otis Hughley Jr says he relishes the opportunity of playing against world champions USA but doesn’t believe his team will be able to spring any surprises against their American counterparts when both sides meet at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo later this year.

D’Tigress were drawn with the Olympic champions and will begin their campaign against the Americans on July 27 before taking on France three days later. They will then take on hosts Japan on August 2 in their last tie of a tough Group B.

Both sides first met at the Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 Quarter-Finals, where USA won  71-40, before another meeting at the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia in February last year, where D’Tigress lost narrowly 76-71.

In an interview with FIBA, Hughley Jr said, “Playing USA for the third time in almost as many years is exciting, but very, very difficult and we won’t be able to surprise them.

“They will be ready like they will for everyone else. The USA expects to win every game that they play. We have now adapted that attitude as well. We are going to do our very best and to be the best versions of ourselves. We are excited about that for sure.”

Meanwhile, the coach also lamented lack of preparation time for the tournament.

He added, “There is not a lot of time since it is only a few days. When other countries practice this summer, they practice and play because in the first window in November, they are playing and practising and then the second window, they will have friendly games in the spring and then they will play EuroBasket in June. That is five times before we even get a chance to meet twice. So, it is not enough time to prepare but we shall do our best.”