Kristian Winfield: Previously-winless Team USA 3x3 men's basketball team keeps hope alive with two consecutive victories

Suddenly, the USA Basketball men’s three-on-three (3×3) team has new life.

Suddenly, a team that dropped its first four games and lost its best player to a thigh/groin injury has rattled off two straight victories.

And suddenly, a team staring elimination in the face now has a chance to advance to the knockout rounds and compete for gold, an inconceivable thought early Friday morning.

My, oh my, how things have changed.

First, Team USA defeated France, 21-19. Then, mere hours later, the Americans defeated China, 21-17, to move to a 2-4 record and keep its hopes of continuing in the 2024 Paris Olympics alive on Friday afternoon.

In the blink of an eye, the Americans have vaulted up to fifth place in the standings thanks to both Poland’s pair of Friday losses to Serbia and Netherlands, and France’s additional loss to Latvia.

But in reality, Team USA has supplanted the competition due to the heroics of Canyon Barry, the son of Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer and NBA legend Rick Barry.

Canyon Barry may not have carved the same illustrious professional basketball career as his father, but he will now forever live in Olympic lore after his performances Friday afternoon.

Team USA’s 3×3 star Jimmer Fredette has missed his last four games after sustaining a groin/thigh injury in the loss to Poland, but Barry scored 15 points against France, then another 14 to lead the USA to victory over China.

He hit game-winners in both matches, a driving layup against the French, then a cold-blooded 2 from downtown to stave off a Chinese 3×3 team whose loss cemented their pending elimination from Olympic competition.

Barry hit four 2-pointers on seven attempts against France, then shot 3 of 8 from behind the arc in the victory over China.

He scored 29 of Team USA’s 42 points on Friday.

His team has just one game left on the schedule: Sun., Aug. 3 against Netherlands, the only country Team USA has yet to face in pool play. A win will punch Team USA’s ticket to the knockout rounds, but they can finish no higher than fifth because they lost to fourth-place Lithuania, who holds the tie-breaker.

Sixth-place France, however, is scheduled to play an elimination-bound Chinese 3×3 team unable to finish any higher than seventh place even with a win over the French on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Poland will face the reigning gold medalists, Latvia, who boasts a perfect 6-0 record.

Latvia has the No. 1 seed locked even if they lose to Poland on Sunday.

Which means Team USA can ill-afford to drop the finale against Netherlands, who own a 4-2 record with victories over China, France, Lithuania and Poland, and losses to powerhouses Latvia and Serbia

Fredette’s status for Sunday is uncertain, and he remained visibly inhibited while walking out of the tunnel for pre-game introductions Friday afternoon.

Barry has proven more than capable of shouldering the load until Fredette can return to the floor.

Olympic 3x3 format

The top-two seeds (Latvia and one of Serbia, Netherlands or Lithuania) will receive an automatic bye to advance to the 3×3 semifinals.

The bottom-two seeds (China and one of France, Poland or Team USA) will be sent home.

The knockout rounds then begin in win-or-go-home fashion: The No. 3 seed plays No. 6, and No. 4 faces No. 5. Latvia will face the winner between Nos. 4 and 5, and whichever team claims the No. 2 seed after Sunday will face the winner between Nos. 3 and 6.