MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina — For LSU sophomore Glen Davis and the United States of American U21 team, the chance to win a gold medal in the FIBA U21 World Championships begins here Friday against Canada.
Pool play is done and the Americans, the best in Group B at 5-0, will meet Canada (2-3), the fourth place finisher in Group A, in one of four Friday quarterfinals, now scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
Any loss between now and Sunday will prevent the Americans from defending their title in this competition.
The Americans come into the game off a much closer than expected 82-79 win over Slovenia. Canada beat Israel, 78-66, to make the medal round.
The other quarterfinals will send Greece against Puerto Rico, Australia (the Group A winner) against Slovenia and Lithuania against host Argentina.
Davis, the SEC Freshman of the Year, is averaging 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in the five-game group competition. Davis started but played only five minutes in the game against Slovenia.