News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

Mike Krzyzewski hinted Monday that losing to Greece in the semifinals of the 2006 FIBA World Championships in Japan was a good reminder to the U.S. that even American basketball stars need to scout and prepare.

"We were winning that game and then all of a sudden it changed on us for a quarter and a half," Krzyzewski said on Monday in Las Vegas where the U.S. is training for the Beijing Olympics. "We had not been in that situation. We were a young team and because we didn't have that experience in playing it took us more time to adjust. We lost."

As a result, the U.S., playing in Pool B, has lined up "friendlies" against Pool A teams like Lithuania, Russia, and Australia before the Olympic tournament. If the U.S. gets to the medal round, the only team the Americans will not have seen is possibly Argentina, the defending Olympic champs.

"We needed to go through a period where we didn't play as well, or where we played well and lost," Krzyzewski said. "... We need to be prepared to the point where Mike D'Antoni and I know each other, wherer LeBron James and I know each other, where LeBron James and Kobe Bryant know each other. ... That's what the international game had over us."