COLOGNE, Germany, Aug. 3 -- The U.S. men's Olympic team did more than merely lose. It was embarrassed and exposed in its most lopsided defeat since adding NBA players in 1992.
Losing an exhibition game for the first time since using professional players, the Americans were completely outclassed by lightly regarded Italy, 95-78, Tuesday.
Lamar Odom battles Italy's Gianmarco Pozzecco for a rebound. "It's a young team, and it's a different game internationally," U.S. Coach Larry Brown said.
(Hermann J. Knippertz -- AP)
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| _____ Countdown to Athens _____
• The Olympics are less than a week away and organizers are pulling the pieces together for the Aug. 13 opening.
_____ From The Post _____
• Dana Vollmer will be one of those tales of courage that come up during the Olympics.
• Michael Wilbon: In Athens, the new can't hold a torch to the ancient.
• Lauryn Williams is far more interested in chasing goals she can see rather than those she can imagine.
• Notebook: Jerome Young reportedly tested positive for the banned drug EPO at a meet last month.
_____ Live Online _____
• Tony Azevedo, the top scorer on the U.S. Men's Water Polo team, took questions July 28.
• Alexander Kitroeff discussed his book, "Wrestling with the Ancients: Modern Greek Identity and the Olympics," and the history of the Games on July 27.
_____ On Our Site _____
• Photos: Swimming trials.
• Photos: Track and field trials.
_____ Swimming's Wonder Boy _____
• Phelps's main training partners and buddies reflect on blown chances. (July 27)
• Coach Bob Bowman has been the guiding force for Phelps. (July 4)
• Gallery: Coach shows the way to Athens.
• Numerous endorsements already have made Phelps a millionaire. (June 1)
• Gallery: The road to the Games are paved with gold.
• Phelps expected to be the Games' most-decorated athlete. (April 18)
• Gallery: Phelps making a splash.
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"This is a wake-up call for us," Philadelphia 76ers star Allen Iverson said. "I think we need something like this to understand it's not going to be easy."
The Americans were sloppy with the ball and couldn't handle Italy's zone defenses and three-point shooting. Italy not only made 15 from behind the arc, but also showed superior ball movement and poise in shocking the Americans.
"They're going to be in for a lot of lessons for the next few weeks," U.S. Coach Larry Brown said. "It's a young team, and it's a different game internationally."
But the problems have not just come on the court for the U.S. team. Before the team's win over Puerto Rico on Saturday, Brown suspended Iverson, LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire because the trio was late for a team meeting.
Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony led the Americans with 19 points, and two-time NBA MVP Tim Duncan added 15 and a team-high 10 rebounds.
Italy, whose roster is filled by players from that country's league, was led by Giacomo Galanda's 28 points and Gianluca Basile's 25.
"We took them by surprise," Italian Coach Carlo Recalcati said. "They didn't expect us to be such good shooters. They didn't know us."
The Italians were fifth at the Sydney Olympics. The United States is unbeaten at the Summer Games and in Olympic qualifying since NBA players were allowed in 1992, taking four straight gold medals. It will seek a fifth in a row at the Aug. 13-29 Athens Olympics.
But the United States is sending its youngest team to the Olympics -- the average age is 23 1/2 -- since the door opened for NBA players.
"We need more time together," Lakers forward Lamar Odom said. "These teams play together for years, and we have to put it together in a couple of weeks."
At the 2002 world championships, an American team with NBA players was beaten for the first time, 87-80, by Argentina. The United States went on to lose twice more in that tournament and finished sixth.
In an effort to avoid a similar display, the current U.S. squad is touring Europe before heading to Greece. On Wednesday, it will face Dirk Nowitzki-led Germany, which beat Italy, 85-77, Sunday.
