Canadian hockey is preparing for the next Winter Olympics without its best NHL players. But it isn’t the only sport in which Canada’s player depth will be severely tested.
No Andrew Wiggins, Kelly Olynyk or Jamal Murray?
No problem.
Or at least that’s what University of Victoria Vikes basketball coach Craig Beaucamp believes, as he will be the main assistant coach to head coach Roy Rana, as Canada enters qualifying play for the 2019 FIBA World Cup without its NBA players.
“It shows the depth of our talent in this country,” said Beaucamp, of the face he can be optimistic heading into the FIBA AmeriCup 2017.
It is the first qualifier for the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The world No. 24 Canadians broke camp Thursday at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto to head to Bahia Blanca, Argentina, where they will open Sunday in Group B against world No. 59 U.S. Virgin Islands before playing No. 6 Argentina on Monday and No. 15 Venezuela on Tuesday.
The top team from each group, along with host Argentina, will advance to the next round in Cordoba. Qualifying rounds continue in November with Canada meeting Bahamas, Dominican Republic and U.S. Virgin Islands, with the idea to amass as many wins as possible leading for assure 2019 World Cup qualification.
Unless this group of itinerant Canadian hoops pros who play in Europe and Asia come through to qualify, there will be no Canadian team of NBA stars in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
“This first round of qualifying is as important as the last round [World Cup tournament],” Beaucamp said.
There won’t be a World Cup without a successful qualifying phase. “We don’t qualify for the World Cup unless we get this done.”
All national sides in the Americas qualifiers, however, are in the same boat and are without their NBA players. Canada, however, has on the qualifying roster players who have had NBA experience such as Joel Anthony of the San Antonio Spurs and Andrew Nicholson of the Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.
“We are trying to get across to our players, that while they might not be the guys eventually chosen for the World Cup team, this is an opportunity for them to showcase themselves and keep themselves relevant [in their pro and international careers],” Beaucamp said.
Also an assistant coach to Rana on the Canadian team is former Seattle SuperSonics NBA forward Jack Sikma.
“Jack has such a wealth of knowledge and I am picking his brain all the time,” Beaucamp said.
The GM of the Canadian national team program is two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash of Victoria and the head coach of the national team, when the full contingent of NBA players is available, is Jay Triano, who will be travelling to Argentina.
Beaucamp got the call after head coaching the Canadian U-16 team to the silver medal in the FIBA Americas, also held in Argentina, in June. He will guide that group in the FIBA U-17 world championships next year.
“Any chance you get to coach a Canadian team is an honour,” said Beaucamp.
“Now, getting this chance at the senior national team level is truly special.”
Beaucamp has been highly active for Basketball Canada in summer international play and was assistant coach with the U-18 national team in 2006, 2007 and 2016 and with the Canadian team to the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico. Beaucamp was also a guest coach with the men’s senior national team from 2013 to 2016.
There will be no chance to rest after getting back from Argentina. UVic Vikes training camp opens in CARSA the day after Beaucamp returns as he enters his 15th season of guiding the Vikes this fall.
With the legendary Ken Shields and late Guy Vetrie, Beaucamp is one of only three coaches to guide the UVic men’s team since 1976. Beaucamp is 211-88 all-time at UVic in Canada West regular-season play and five-time conference coach of the year with two Canada West championships and three consecutive appearances in the U Sports Final 8 from 2012-13 to 2014-15.
