REMINDER: Team USA plays France for gold tonight

by:Mrs. Tyler Thompson08/06/21

@MrsTylerKSR

Devin-Booker-Team-USA-Olympics

(Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Tonight, three Kentucky Wildcats will go for gold. Consider this your reminder that Team USA, featuring Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, and Keldon Johnson, plays France in the gold medal game at the Olympics at 10:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on NBC.

Team USA won’t just be going after a medal tonight; they’ll be looking for revenge. France beat USA 83-76 to open Olympic play back on July 25. The loss snapped USA’s 25-game Olympic win streak and was France’s second straight win over the Americans in a FIBA senior-level event.

Since then, both teams have won every game. Team USA has steadily improved, beating Iran (120-66) and Czech Republic (119-84) to move out of pool play, Spain (95-81) in the quarterfinals, and Australia (97-78) in the semifinals. France secured its spot in the finals with a narrow 90-89 victory over Slovenia.

When it comes to former Cats, Devin Booker was one of the stars of the win over Australia, going 7-10 from the field, 3-5 from three, for 20 points to help USA advance. In five games, he’s averaging 10.8 points and 3.8 rebounds off 46% shooting. Bam Adebayo has started every game and is averaging 6.4 points and 5.6 rebounds. Keldon Johnson has played sparingly, totaling four points, three rebounds, and three assists over four games.

In total, eleven Wildcats have won Olympic gold medals: Cliff Barker, Ralph Beard, Alex Groza, Wallace Jones, and Kevin Rollins in 1948; Billy Evans in 1956; Adrian Smith in 1960; Sam Bowie in 1980; Tayshaun Prince in 2008; Anthony Davis in 2012; and Demarcus Cousins in 2016. Hopefully three more join that club tonight.

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