Basketball: Depleted Tall Blacks can do it again says Baldwin

ISTANBUL - Tall Blacks coach Tab Baldwin is confident his under-prepared team can repeat their monumental upset of world champions Yugoslavia when the teams meet tomorrow morning.

It is almost a year to the day that New Zealand sprung their first surprise on the world basketball fraternity, an 81-79 upset of Yugoslavia at the Super Cup in Germany.

The Tall Blacks went on to shock more nations at the world championships in the United States before Yugoslavia ended their dream run in the semifinals.

With the ledger 1-1, the two teams face off again in the Tall Blacks' opening game at the World Cup tournament in Istanbul.

New Zealand are without starting point guard Mark Dickel, shooting guard Kirk Penney and forward Sean Marks, who are all unavailable because of overseas commitments.

They have gained a genuine tall man, 2.13m Tony Rampton, back from a lengthy injury layoff.

Yugoslavia, now known as Serbia and Montenegro, are the tournament's defending champions. They have a dangerous line-up, despite their rebuilding and younger-looking side.

They still boast four NBA players, including world championships and NBA All-Star forward Predrag Stojakovic from the Sacramento Kings.

At 2.08m, Stojakovic is expected to have a huge presence and is one of the best outside shooters for his height.

Marko Jaric, of the LA Clippers, Igor Rakocevic, of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Seattle Supersonics centre Predrag Drobnjak are the other NBA players.

But they are without two key men, Dejan Bodiroga and Vlade Divac, who were instrumental in the world championships win last year.

Baldwin said they were beatable.

New Zealand have to back up quickly when they meet Italy early on Saturday.

It will be the second time that the Tall Blacks have played the Italians after losing 78-66 in their first match of the Sydney Olympics three years ago.

New Zealand must finish in the top-two in their pool to progress to the semifinals on Sunday.

- NZPA