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Brief capsules on each basketball team the USA is up against in the 2004 Olympics:

How each Basketball Team Qualified for 2004 Olympics:

Angola: Won African Championships
Argentina: 2nd in Americas Championships
Australia: Won Oceania Championships
China: Won Asian Championships
Greece: Host country
Italy: 3rd in European Championships
Lithuania: Won European Championships
New Zealand: 2nd in Oceania Championships
Puerto Rico: 3rd in Americas Championships
Serbia & Montenegro: Won 2002 World Championships
Spain: 2nd in European
USA: Won Americas

OLYMPIC TEAMS:

ARGENTINA

Considered a legit Gold contender. It was Argentina who in the 2002 FIBA World Championship gave the U.S. team their first loss. And last summer Argentina finished second to the U.S. in the Americas Olympic Qualifying tournament. Argentina is led by coach Ruben Magnano, San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, former NBA center Ruben Wolkowyski (6-10), Andres Nocioni (6-7, just signed with Chicago Bulls, he's a three-point threat), Fabricio Oberto (6-7), Luis Scola (6-9 San Antonio Spurs draftee, plays in paint), Pepe Sanchez (former Detroit Pistons point guard, went to Temple University), Leandro Palladino (three-point threat) and Alejandro Montecchia (three-point threat).

ANGOLA

Angola qualified for for the 2004 Olympics by winning the African Championship (they dominated, in fact). They have won seven of the last eight African basketball championships. Angola has Miguel Lutonda (guard with three-point range), Jean-Jacues (also shoots well), Edmar Victoriano (hits the boards), Antonio Carvalho (scores from anywhere, three-point threat), Carlos Almeida (also a three-point threat). Angola's one Olympic problem is that the entire team is short.

AUSTRALIA

Australia qualified for the 2004 Olympics by winning the 2003 Oceania title. Australia has Shane Heal (guard with great range who got in Charles Barkley's face years ago, played with Spurs and Timberwolves), Chris Anstey (big-man with NBA experience), Tom Ronaldson (forward from Arizona State University with three-point range), Matthew Nielson (big forward who also scores) and Sam Mackinnon.

CHINA

China qualified for the 2004 Olympics by winning the Asian championship. China has Houston Rockets star Yao Ming, former NBA center Mengke Bateer (big and muscular) and NBA center Wang Zhizhi (skinny with shooting range), plus Li Nan (small forward with three-point range) and Hu Weidong (swingman with three-point range).

GREECE

Greece automatically qualified for 2004 Olympic basketball competition because they're the host country. In the 2003 European championship, Greece finished fifty. Dimosthenis Nikoudis is a forward who can score and shoot from anywhere, Nikolaos Chatzivrettas is a guard with range, NBA center Jake Tsakalidis can put in some shots and take up space, Antoniois Fotsis is a 6-8 forward who scores and rebounds.

ITALY

Italy qualified for the 2004 Olympics by finishing third in the 2003 European championship. Italy counts on a total team effort for their offense. Guards Massimo Bulleri and Gianluca Basile both have range. Center Giacomo Galanda scores and rebounds. The team's attack is balanced with lots of players contributing.

LITHUANIA

Lithuania qualified for the 2004 Olympics by dominating the 2003 European Championship, coming in first. Lithuania almost beat Team USA in the 2000 Olympics, as a missed three-pointer in the final seconds would have won the game. Basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis isn't playing, and NBA Cleveland Cavaliers center Zydrunas Ilgauskas isn't either. Guard Arvydas Macijauskas scores like crazy and has unlimited range. Small forward Ramunas Siskauskas also puts in points and hits the boards. Guard Sarunas Jasikevicius scores, dishes and hits threes. Saulius Stombergas does the same. NBA Sacramento Kings center Darius Songaila scores inside and hits the boards.

NEW ZEALAND

Small forward Phil Jones scores in a big way, from inside and out. Shooting guard Kirk Penny (University of Wisconsin) does the same. Forward Pero Cameron goes inside. NBA center Sean Marks operates down low and is a force on the glass. Guard Mark Dickel is a great passer.

PUERTO RICO

Puerto Rico qualified for the 2004 Olympics by finishing third in the 2003 Americas Olympic Qualifying tournament. Utah Jazz point guard Carlos Arroyo, quick as anyone, steps it up when it counts. International legend Jose Ortiz, who is 40 years old, still does his thing close to the basket. Milwaukee Bucks center Daniel Santiago also operates inside. Guard Elias Ayuso scores and has range. Another outside shooter is guard Eddie Casiano.

SERBIA & MONTENEGRO

Serbia & Montenegro (former Yugoslavia) is the defending world champion. They won the 2002 world championship, qualifying them for the 2004 Olympics. Vlade Divac isn't playing. Peja Stojakovic is also taking these Olympics off. NBA center Predrag Drobnjak (who sometimes has problems with the team's coach) and NBA forward Vladimir Radmanovic both score, rebound and pass. Forward Dejan Bodiroga scores and rebounds. Forward Milan Gurovic adds three-point range. NBA guard Marko Jaric dishes the rock while scoring inside and out. Milos Vujanic (Knicks draftee in 2002) also scores with range. NBA center Zarko Cabarkapa contributes. Darko Milicic, contrary to what some NBA fans think, can play. NBA small forward Aleksander Pavlovic is a shooter. Giant telephone pole Slavko Vranes was briefly a Knick and still trying to make an NBA career happen.

SPAIN

Spain was runner-up at the 2003 European Championship. NBA star Pau Gasol scores like crazy and hits the boards as best he can. NBA guard Raul Lopez is quick, scores and passes. Guard Juan Carlos Navarro (drafted by Washington Wizards in 2002) has nice three-point range. Guard Carlos Marco causes havok with quickness and outside shooting. Inside, Spain has Jorge Garbajosa, Alfonso Reyes and Carlos Jimenez.