Mike Krzyzewski always emphasized that you should respect your opponent and never underestimate them. We made that mistake with Montenegro.
Montenegro’s population is slightly less than that of Louisville, around 600,000. Yet that country that most of us couldn’t possibly place on a map made Team USA sweat on Friday, losing just 85-73.
The perimeter bailed the US out with Tyrese Haliburton and Austin Reaves coming off the bench to score 10 and 12 points respectively and giving the team a spark when it needed it.
Former Blue Devil Paolo Banchero also played well, scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds.