Miami Basketball G Vasiljevic Leads Australia to 9th Place
Miami Basketball Sophomore guard Dejan Vasiljevic led Australia to an exciting 101-96 victory in the ninth place game in the World University Games in Taiwan.
The Boomers finished the tournament with a 6-2 record. Their only losses came in pool play to eventual gold medalist Lithuania and Israel.
Miami Basketball Sophomore Guard Dejan Vasiljevic shined once again for the mini-roos. He tossed in his third game with 28 points in the tournament. Vasiljevic finished as the leading scorer at the World University Games at 21.5 points per game. He scored nine more points than anyone else.
Vasiljevic also tied for the most three-point field goals made in the tournament with 30. He was second with a number of overall field goals made with 58.
Vasiljevic also flashed an all-around game in Taiwan that he showed more of in the second half of the 20-16-17 season. The Sophomore also averaged 3.25 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. He shot 45 percent from the floor, 39 percent from the floor and 76 percent from the line.
Vasiljevic was also able to put the ball on the floor and get to the basketball. He shot 55 percent from inside the arc. He struggled early in his freshman season on his two-point attempts.
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Vasiljevic was scorching in the Aussies last game of the tournament. The Australian basketball website Pick and Roll has provided outstanding coverage on the Hurricanes three-point marksman and his teammates throughout the World University games.
They summed up his stellar performance in the Boomers final game in Taiwan.
"“Dejan Vasiljevic capped off the tournament with yet another game-high scoring performance, racking up 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting that included four three-pointers and 15 points in the opening term”"
Canada was able to get off to an eight point lead in a first quarter full of fireworks. The Maple Leafs led 40-35 after the first ten minutes. Vasiljevic didn’t get on the board until about halfway through the opening stanza.
"He then got hot according to Pick and Roll: “Vasiljevic then took over. He would go on to score 15 points in the last 4:29 of the (first) period.”"
Vasiljevic showed he can be a playmaker as a much as a scorer. Although he only had three dimes in the game, a key one late iced the game for Australia. Pick and Roll described the final quarter.
"“In a classic final period which saw six lead changes and the scores locked four times, Australia landed the killer blow late when Vasiljevic found McVeigh open for three to take back the lead for good with 1:14 to play.”"
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Vasiljevic will now return to Miami. Classes began August 21. Jim Larranaga is going to need Vasiljevic early in the season. Freshman star Lonnie Walker will be coming off of knee surgery when the U opens the season November 10 against Gardner-Webb.