FIBA BASKETBALL WORLD CUP 2023 QUALIFIERS

When: The Senior Men’s National Team will face the Dominican Republic on Saturday, February 26 (5 P.M. ET) and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sunday, February 27 (2 P.M. ET).

Where: Palacio de los Deportes, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Roster: View here

Why the Senior Men’s National Team is in Dominican Republic:

The second qualifying window for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is taking place. There are 16 teams competing in the Qualifiers. Canada is in Group C, alongside the Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. This is the second of three windows in the first round, with the top three teams in each tournament advancing to the second round where there will be three more windows of qualification.

Things to know heading into the Qualifying Tournament:

• Bubble format: As a result of the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, FIBA has elected to play the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers in a bubble format to ensure the health and safety of all participants. Both of Canada’s games in this window will be played in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Canada will face host team Dominican Republic on Saturday, February 26 (5:00 PM ET) followed by the U.S. Virgin Islands on Sunday, February 27 (2:00 PM ET).

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• Looking to keep things rolling: Canada enters the second window of qualification after earning two victories against the Bahamas and leaving Santo Domingo with an undefeated record in the first window that was held in November 2021.

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• A strong week of practice: While the players are thrilled to be back together on the court, they’re not the only ones happy that the window is finally here. Coach Nate Bjorkgren and the rest of his staff are equally as excited. “It feels great,” Bjorkgren said. “You know, we have such a good group of guys. The majority of them we've had in the previous window and even windows in the past, and it's such a good group.”

Before the first window of qualification began in November, Team Canada head coach Nick Nurse stressed the importance of having a roster built on continuity over time. Though this is just the second window since Nurse shared his vision, it’s already paying off on the practice floor.

“When we get together, we just keep building as a team,” Bjorkgren said. “We can keep adding to what we've started from. This group has worked so hard and they have so much pride for their country and for this team. It's a lot of fun to coach. It's a lot of fun to be a part of and it means a lot. They are a great, great group.”

Assistant coach Michael Meeks echoed Bjorkgren’s words, saying that even though there are only a handful of times a year that the groups are together, they make the most out of each one.

“They've really built a lot of trust with one another,” Meeks said. “It's not even the things that are taking place on the court, it’s when you see them sitting at the breakfast table, or the dinner table, or the competition's over and they're sharing stories and giving each other advice about their careers and their situations. They're always talking, they're building that bond. That's the magic that happens. Where maybe everybody doesn't really get to see it.”

Basketball IQ’s on display:

Another thing that helps when the teams spend just a week together to play a pair of games every few months is when the players on the roster can adjust to being back on Team Canada’s game plan as opposed to the schemes of the pro teams they are playing on this season.

“One of the greatest strengths of this team is their intelligence,” Bjorkgren said. “ You show them something once and they remember it. We spent that first practice this week on a review, and man, they just went with the continuity. They pick things up quickly. They remember things quickly and then you can move forward easier and get more and more detailed and continue to build every time you're together.”

What stands out to Bjorkgren about the players suiting up for this window is the commitment that every one of the players invited has shown when it comes to the program. From the travel commitments, to the mental and physical focus, when it comes to wearing the Team Canada uniform, players are ready to do whatever is necessary to make it happen.

“They have that toughness on every level,” Bjorkgren said. “Playing for their country, it means an awful lot to everyone. They do it at a very, very high level. It’s such an honour to be a part of it, it’s so much fun. You should see these guys work. They work really, really hard. They’re doing everything that we ask of them as a coaching staff and then some. This group can take it to the next level because I've said how smart they are. I love the approach these guys take into every practice, every film session, every game. They just have an elite focus and an approach to this. The window is so short, we're just together here for about a week, and they're so committed to that.”

Where to watch:

Fans in Canada can catch Team Canada in action live on Sportsnet.

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