Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, July 9, 2012
Team USA finalized its 2012 men's basketball roster Sunday, and the Big Ten will be represented in Illinois' Deron Williams. Williams, who helped the "Redeem Team" win gold during the 2008 games, will team with 11 other NBA superstars in search of another gold medal, starting July 29. Fifteen Big Ten players have suited up for USA and won a gold medal, not counting coaches, but Williams could become the first to win two. Check out the Big Ten's history in the Olympics in this post.
2008
Location: Beijing, China
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 118, Spain 107
Big Ten Players: Deron Williams, Illinois: 8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.8 apg; Michael Redd, Ohio State: 3.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg
2004
Location: Athens, Greece
Medal: Bronze
Record: 5-3
Bronze Medal Game: USA 104, Lithuania 96
Big Ten Players: None
2000
Location: Sydney, Australia
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 85, France 75
Big Ten Players: Steve Smith, Michigan State: 6.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.4 apg
1996
Location: Atlanta, Ga.
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 95, Yugoslavia 69
Big Ten Players: None
On the Bench: Assistant Clem Haskins, Minnesota head coach
1992
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 117, Crotia 85
Big Ten Players: Magic Johnson, Michigan State: 8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.5 apg, 1.3 spg
1988
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Medal: Bronze
Record: 7-1
Bronze Medal Game: USA 78, Australia 49
Big Ten Players: None
On the Bench: Assistant George Raveling, former Iowa head coach (1983-86)
1984
Location: Los Angeles, Calif.
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 96, Spain 65
Big Ten Players: Steve Alford, Indiana: 64 FG%, 10.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 64 FG%*
On the Bench: Head coach Bob Knight, Indiana; assistant George Raveling, Iowa; trainer Tim Garl, Indiana
1980
Location: Moscow, Soviet Union
Medal: DNP – Qualified, but did not compete due to protest of Soviet invasion.
Record: 5-1 – all games were part of "Gold Medal Series," a series of games against NBA All-Star teams
Big Ten Players: Isiah Thomas, Indiana: 9.7 ppg, 2 rpg, 6.2 apg*
1976
Location: Montreal, Canada
Medal: Gold
Record: 7-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 95, Canada 77
Big Ten Players: Quinn Buckner, Indiana: 50 FG%, 7.3 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg; Scott May, Indiana: 16.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2 apg; Phil Hubbard, Michigan: 52 FG% 4.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg
1972
Location: Munich, West Germany
Medal: Silver (Players unanimously refused medals due to controversial ending)
Record: 7-1
Gold Medal Game: USSR 51, USA 50
Big Ten Players: Jim Brewer, Minnesota: 7.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg*
On the Bench: Assistant Johnny Bach, Penn State head coach
1968
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Medal: Gold
Record: 9-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 65, Yugoslavia 50
Big Ten Players: Bill Hosket, Ohio State: 63 FG%, 8.6 ppg; John Clawson, Michigan: 52 FG%, 3.6 ppg
1964
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Medal: Gold
Record: 9-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 73, USSR 59
Big Ten Players: None
1960
Location: Rome, Italy
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 90, Brazil 63
Big Ten Players: Walter Bellamy, Indiana: 7.9 ppg; Terry Dischinger, Purdue: 11.8 ppg; Jerry Lucas, Ohio State: 17 ppg*
1956
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 89, USSR 55
Big Ten Players: Charles Darling, Iowa: 9.3 ppg; Carl Cain, Iowa: 1.5 ppg
1952
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 36, USSR 25
Big Ten Players: Howard Williams, Purdue: 3.4 ppg
1948
Location: London, England
Medal: Gold
Record: 8-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 65, France 21
Big Ten Players: None
1936
Location: Berlin, Germany
Medal: Gold
Record: 5-0
Gold Medal Game: USA 19, Canada 8
Big Ten Players: None
* — Indicates team leader in category
Brent Yarina is a web editor and blogger for BTN.com. Find all of his work here and follow him on twitter at @BTNBrentYarina.
