Team USA opened its exhibition schedule with a convincing 98‑64 victory over Canada, a result that set an upbeat tone for the upcoming season.
Experimenting with lineups
Head coach Darian DeVries used the matchup to test new rotations, giving several bench players extended minutes and evaluating different starting combinations.
The frontcourt showed marked improvement, with Aiden Sherrell and Samet Yigitoglu anchoring the paint through size and rim protection, while freshman guard Price‑Alexander Moody contributed 13 points and five steals.
Struggles from deep
Despite attempting 40 three‑point shots, the squad managed only 11 makes, shooting a modest 27.5 percent from beyond the arc, highlighting a need for better perimeter efficiency.
Coach DeVries emphasized that the depth of this roster represents a clear upgrade over last year’s group, promising more flexibility and defensive versatility as the team heads into the regular season.