y get a chance to see how well they grasped that lesson against Memphis, a proficient defensive team. Then it doesnt get any eas

CHICAGO -- Even Carmelo Anthony struggles to process the enormity of his Olympic accomplishments.The New York Knicks superstar and Team USA stalwart is on the verge of becoming the first American man to participate in four Olympic basketball tournaments.It really hasnt sunk in yet about the fact that Im playing in four Olympics and have an opportunity to win three gold medals, Anthony said before the U.S. mens basketball teams practice on Thursday. I think about it, but I havent really sat down and put everything into perspective. A lot of times when youre going through these situations, you tend to not put so much focus on the whole process and the journey until after the fact.As much as Anthony tries to shy away from the possibilities, the fact is he could become the most decorated Olympic mens basketball player in American history if Team USA rolls to its third straight gold medal in Rio next month, as is expected. Hes also in line for a slew of other Olympic mens basketball records.According to ESPN Stats & Information, Anthony is just 35 points shy of becoming the Olympic mens basketball all-time leading scorer. LeBron James currently holds the record with 273 points, spread out over the past three Olympics.Anthony has played in 23 Olympic basketball games, just one shy of the record James and David Robinson share for most in American history.Anthony has racked up 83 rebounds over the past three Olympics. Thats good for fourth in American history. Robinson owns the lead with 124.Anthony has made 75 field goals in Olympic play, good for fifth in American history. Michael Jordan owns the record with 111 made field goals over his two Olympics.Anthonys rise to the top of the U.S. program is even more impressive when you consider his humble beginnings on Team USA. In the 2004 Athens Games, Anthony played in just seven contests, according to basketball-reference.com, and scored just 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the tournament that saw the Americans earn a bronze medal.Jerry Colangelo was brought in months later as U.S. mens basketball managing director -- in charge of overhauling the organizations system and to try to atone for the underwhelming finish in Greece. But it was in those difficult moments immediately after a shocking loss to Argentina in the 2004 medal round that the foundation for Anthonys love of the program was formed. As one U.S. player after another dejectedly walked off the floor, it was Anthony, then just 20 years old, who individually walked most of the team back to the locker room.Jim Boeheim, Anthonys college coach at Syracuse and a mens basketball team assistant under Mike Krzyzewski since 2006, knows the player who helped the school win its only national title in mens basketball has changed a lot since his first Olympic experience.A huge development, Boeheim said. All those guys in Athens, even LeBron, and all those guys were young. And they did crazy stuff -- they did what teenagers do when theyre out on their own for the first time. Carmelo has really, over the years, matured in terms of on and off the court. Hes a leader now. He has been a leader for a while. Hes accepted his role on our Olympic teams. Hes been part of two gold medal-winning teams, one he started on and one he came off the bench. Now hes back, and Im glad hes back because he gives us a veteran guy thats been there, along with Kevin [Durant], two guys that won gold medals.Anthonys veteran presence is something this young American team will be able to lean on during its defense of another world title. The fact that Anthony continues to answer the bell for his country on the Olympic stage is something Colangelo gushes over. Out of all the stars in Americas deep pool of basketball riches, it is Anthony who has become the unlikely face of the national program over time, not James or Durant.The fact that he has had a commitment for that period of time and has served for that period of time is an incredible example for the other players, Colangelo said. Number one, its been healthy and good for him in terms of participation and being ready for the next season just a few months later when they go into training camp. He also, in the international game, has thrived. Hes been very successful in it, so its a feel-good kind of a situation. When youre happy and youre a player and you thrive in a system, you want to be there. So when you look at all that he brings to the table -- the leadership, the experience, the fact that hes been so successful -- its all of those factors that make it very special.But aside from health and longevity, what is it about Anthonys game that has made him so successful over time on the international level? Boeheim noted that the 3-point line is a little closer, 23 feet, 9 inches at the top of the key in the NBA compared to 22 feet, 1.7 inches in FIBA. But the larger key is the versatility in the All-Stars repertoire.Carmelos game hasnt changed that much, Boeheim said. He gets open, he makes shots and if you get up on him [he can] get to the basket. Probably internationally, hes a little better because they dont have many shot-blockers internationally, so he can get to the rim and shoot. Hes a really good offensive player anyway, but hes really even probably a little better internationally.After all these years, Anthonys reasoning for continuing to come back to Team USA is simple -- it has been a part of his entire basketball life. Aside from the soon-to-be four Olympic appearances, Anthony won a silver medal in 2001 as part of USA Basketballs Youth Development Festival. He earned bronze medals in the 2004 Games and the 2006 World Championships. And besides his two Olympic gold medals, he earned another gold in 2007 as part of the team that won the FIBA Americas tournament.I enjoy it, Anthony said. At first, early, Athens was -- I wanted to come back and kind of redeem myself -- myself as an individual and ourselves as a country. We did that. And just the program and the foundation that Jerry Colangelo laid and put into place -- I wanted to be a part of that.Anthony has a chance to cement that legacy even further in Rio, and Boeheim is hopeful that his schools famed protégé can help push the rest of the group to the mountaintop one more time.I wanted him to come because I thought it would be good for him to have a good experience again in basketball, Boeheim said. But I thought it was good for our team to have a guy thats been there.Anthony is trying to take all of this in stride. As much as he doesnt want to admit it, he has become the man that the rest of his teammates and coaches look up to as they try to dominate the rest of the basketball world.I try not to think like that, Anthony said of being the face of the Olympic mens basketball team. I think Im a big part of USA Basketball, but as far as being the face, thats a lot of pressure.As he has proved time and time again since those difficult moments 12 years ago in Athens, its a pressure that he has proudly overcome for the love of the game and his country. Air Max Plus Canada . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Air Max Plus Canada Wholesale . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. http://www.cheapairmaxpluscanada.com/ . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. Air Max Plus Free Shipping . Carey Price didnt, but he still came out on top against one of his rivals for the No. 1 job at the Sochi Games. The Anahim Lake, B.C., native was stellar in making 39 saves in his home province and Lars Eller got credit for a bizarre short-handed winner as the Canadiens defeated the Canucks 4-1. Cheap Air Max Plus Canada . The Browns coaching search remains incomplete. NICEVILLE, Fla. -- Stifling defense, as usual, carried the day again for No. 7 Virginia as the Cavaliers cruised to their fifth straight win.Jerred Reuter led a well-balanced scoring attack with 14 points, but it was that trademark defense that set the tone for a 74-41 victory over Iowa on Friday night in the semifinals of the Emerald Coast Classic.Its what we do, said London Perrantes, who added 12 points and led the Cavaliers with four assists. We work on defense every single day in practice. We know what we have to do to win games.The Cavaliers (5-0) will play for the tournament title on Saturday against Providence, which beat Memphis 60-51 in the other semifinal.Isaiah Wilkins had 11 points for Virginia and Darius Thompson had 10.Offense, though, took a back seat as it often does whenever Virginia plays.The Cavaliers began the day leading the nation in scoring defense by holding opponents to 38.8 points per game.Iowa (3-2) barely bested that average, led by Peter Joks 13 points.They really are a great example of five guys playing as one, Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said. Theyre in the gaps, theyre fighting the post, they close off penetration.The Hawkeyes shot only 31.3 percent from the field including 26.1 percent from 3-point range.The Cavaliers hit 48.3 percent from the field including 47.1 percent on 3s.You could see they had some inexperience, just like we do, Virginia coach Tony Bennett said of Iowa. Theyre still coming together and finding themselves.Iowa opened the scoring with two free throws by Nicholas Baer, but Virginia went on an 11-0 run that began with a 3-pointer by Thompson and the Hawkeyes never threatened again.The win was the first for Virginia in only the third game between the schools. The previous meetings came in the 1997 NCAA Tournaments first round and the 2013 NIT quarterfinals.Virginia is seeking itts fourth straight regular-season tournament championship.ddddddddddddBIG PICTUREVirginia: The Cavaliers passed their first real test of the season on Black Friday after fattening up with four easy pre-Thanksgiving wins against UNC Greensboro, St. Francis, Brooklyn, Yale and Grambling State. They did it without Memphis transfer Austin Nichols, who was expected to provide low post scoring but was dismissed from the team for rules violations a week earlier. Now the going continues to get tougher with Memphis or Providence on Saturday and then Ohio State in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday, followed by No. 19 West Virginia and East Carolina.Iowa: The high-flying Hawkeyes, who had been averaging 96.2 points per game before Friday, crash landed against Virginias defensive scheme.The Hawkeyes considered it a learning experience going in and theyll quickly get a chance to see how well they grasped that lesson against Memphis, a proficient defensive team. Then it doesnt get any easier next week when Iowa plays at Notre Dame in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge on Tuesday.POLL IMPLICATIONSDefeating Iowa will strengthen Virginias Top 10 ranking as it marks the Cavaliers first win against a major conference foe. Their No. 7 ranking is based on blowout wins against four much weaker opponents to open the season.FLORIDA HEXVirginia broke a two-game losing streak in Florida, but it was just the third win in the Cavaliers last 23 trips to the Sunshine State including 1-11 at Florida State and 1-6 at Miami.UP NEXTVirginia: The Cavaliers play for the tournament championship Saturday against Providence at Northwest Florida State College.Iowa: The Hawkeyes play in the Emerald Coast consolation game Saturday against Memphis. ' ' '