Illini lead Team USA basketball into semis
Division of Disability Resources & Educational Services
The U.S. men’s wheelchair basketball team is a step closer to a record third straight gold medal.
Led by Illini Paralympians Steve Serio and Brian Bell, Team USA routed France 82-47 on Wednesday in Paris.
Serio and Bell each had seven assists as Team USA had 34 assists total and just one turnover.
“They’re not ready for the speed that we can bring,” U.S. coach Robb Taylor told reporters. “It’s probably not something that they can practice. So when they see us coming up in a press Steve, Tre (Jenifer), Jake (Williams), Brian, (John Boie), it’s a formidable five to try to beat.”
From the very start of the game, Team USA was not fazed by the boisterous French crowd. Within the first 70 seconds, the score was 6-0, and France was forced to take a time out.
“Our starting five has been there before,” Taylor said. “A number of them have been around for a couple of Paralympics so they know how to handle crowd size. Those are the guys that we lean on when we need to… and they set the tone for us early.”
The U.S. next faces Canada on Thursday in the semifinals.