Today’s DimeMag.com poll asked if a team of American college ballplayers would land on the medal stand in these Olympics. USA Basketball used amateur players for decades before the originial Dream Team and was traditionally dominant, but with other countries closing the talent gap over time, could today’s collegians still compete?

Putting together an amateur-only ‘08 Team USA, I’d still have to put Coach K in charge (although I’m a Duke-hater, I have to give the man credit for being the best in the business), but after that there are plenty of philosophical questions to answer. For example, in a year with so many great freshmen, do you go with a crew thick with 18- and 19-year-olds, or lean towards older, more experienced upperclassmen? (Keep in mind that players who were drafted this year would be eligible.)

Do you go with a guard-heavy lineup similar to the current U.S. team, or employ more bigs to deal with experienced international big men like Pau Gasol, Andrew Bogut and Yao Ming? Do you want Coach K to go with a more structured system since he’s got younger players, or keep the same free-wheeling system with which he’s let the pros feast on the rest fo the Olympic? Lastly, are there any Class of ‘08 high schoolers talented and/or mature enough to make the roster? Read More »