Northwestern University Athletics
Joe McKeown Begins Quest for Gold with USA Basketball
7/3/2015 6:42:00 PM | Women's Basketball
GWANGJU, South Korea -- Northwestern head women's basketball coach Joe McKeown is also leading another squad this summer, and this one has a chance to secure a gold medal more than 6,700 miles away from Evanston.
McKeown is serving as the head coach for the 2015 USA Basketball World University Games team. The coaching staff was selected by the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors. McKeown is assisted this summer by Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick and Northern Iowa head coach Tanya Warren.
The squad, comprised of 12 of the top players from around the nation, came together on June 20 in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a week-long training camp stateside. On June 27, the group departed for Seoul, South Korea, where it would spend a few days before continuing on to the World University Games.
On Monday, June 29 the USA had the opportunity to practice at U.S. Army Garrison Yongson, a military base home to more than 21,000 service members, families, civilians, contractors, retirees, Korean augmentees to the U.S. Army, Korean military, Korean service corps and Korean national employees. It also serves as headquarters for United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea and Eighth Army.
During the session, the Red, White and Blue had the opportunity to meet with a few prominent figures, including Rear Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the head of the U.S. Naval Forces in Korea. Franchetti is a proud Northwestern alum. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and she was commissioned in 1985 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at NU.
Franchetti's personal decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards).
Below, Franchetti poses with some Wildcats gear alongside Coach McKeown, his wife Laura, and daughter Allie.
The team's journey continued to Gwangju, site of the 2015 World University Games, on July 1. The following day, the USA had the opportunity to scrimmage the team from Russia. After winning that unofficial contest, 71-58, the team had a final tune-up on tap on July 3.
After spending the last four years wearing Northwestern's colors together, McKeown was pitted against a familiar face, Karly Roser, and her Canadian squad. The teams went back and forth through the entire first half, but the United States pulled away in the final 20 minutes, winning 68-51.
"I'm so proud of Karly and excited for her to be here," said McKeown. "She did so much for us at Northwestern, she's representing her country on the Canadian National Team and she's signed a contract to play professionally in Europe. I'm so happy for her.
"To play against her was very surreal," added McKeown with a laugh. "I didn't know whether to cheer for her and try to steal the ball from her. I thought she played great and she made so many of those great plays she made for us over the last four years."
With the scrimmage in the rearview mirror, the delegation was able to participate in the Opening Ceremonies later Friday evening.
The World University Games women's basketball competition will be held July 5-13 and the USA opens Group C play against Italy on July 5, before playing China on July 6 and Czech Republic on July 7. The first game against Italy can be viewed on live on ESPNU on July 4 in the United States at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The second game against the Chinese will also air on ESPNU on July 6 at 4:30 a.m. ET/3:30 a.m. CT.
Playing in Group A will be Canada, Hungary, Mozambique and South Korea; Group B includes Japan, Mexico, Russia and Sweden; and Group D features Australia, Brazil, Taiwan and Uganda.
The quarterfinals will be played on July 9, the semifinals are on July 11, the bronze medal game is on July 12 and the gold medal game is set for July 13.
McKeown is serving as the head coach for the 2015 USA Basketball World University Games team. The coaching staff was selected by the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors. McKeown is assisted this summer by Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick and Northern Iowa head coach Tanya Warren.
The squad, comprised of 12 of the top players from around the nation, came together on June 20 in Colorado Springs, Colo., for a week-long training camp stateside. On June 27, the group departed for Seoul, South Korea, where it would spend a few days before continuing on to the World University Games.
On Monday, June 29 the USA had the opportunity to practice at U.S. Army Garrison Yongson, a military base home to more than 21,000 service members, families, civilians, contractors, retirees, Korean augmentees to the U.S. Army, Korean military, Korean service corps and Korean national employees. It also serves as headquarters for United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea and Eighth Army.
During the session, the Red, White and Blue had the opportunity to meet with a few prominent figures, including Rear Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the head of the U.S. Naval Forces in Korea. Franchetti is a proud Northwestern alum. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and she was commissioned in 1985 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at NU.
Franchetti's personal decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards).
Below, Franchetti poses with some Wildcats gear alongside Coach McKeown, his wife Laura, and daughter Allie.
The team's journey continued to Gwangju, site of the 2015 World University Games, on July 1. The following day, the USA had the opportunity to scrimmage the team from Russia. After winning that unofficial contest, 71-58, the team had a final tune-up on tap on July 3.
After spending the last four years wearing Northwestern's colors together, McKeown was pitted against a familiar face, Karly Roser, and her Canadian squad. The teams went back and forth through the entire first half, but the United States pulled away in the final 20 minutes, winning 68-51.
"I'm so proud of Karly and excited for her to be here," said McKeown. "She did so much for us at Northwestern, she's representing her country on the Canadian National Team and she's signed a contract to play professionally in Europe. I'm so happy for her.
"To play against her was very surreal," added McKeown with a laugh. "I didn't know whether to cheer for her and try to steal the ball from her. I thought she played great and she made so many of those great plays she made for us over the last four years."
With the scrimmage in the rearview mirror, the delegation was able to participate in the Opening Ceremonies later Friday evening.
The World University Games women's basketball competition will be held July 5-13 and the USA opens Group C play against Italy on July 5, before playing China on July 6 and Czech Republic on July 7. The first game against Italy can be viewed on live on ESPNU on July 4 in the United States at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT. The second game against the Chinese will also air on ESPNU on July 6 at 4:30 a.m. ET/3:30 a.m. CT.
Playing in Group A will be Canada, Hungary, Mozambique and South Korea; Group B includes Japan, Mexico, Russia and Sweden; and Group D features Australia, Brazil, Taiwan and Uganda.
The quarterfinals will be played on July 9, the semifinals are on July 11, the bronze medal game is on July 12 and the gold medal game is set for July 13.
Players Mentioned
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