--Until Luol Deng came along, the greatest moments in British basketball history could probably have fit on an index card. Great Britain hasn't participated in Olympic basketball since 1948 (going 0-7 that year) and had never qualified for the European championships. The drought finally ended on Sept. 17 when Britain beat the Czech Republic 67-63 to clinch Group D and earn a spot in next year's European championships, which will be held in Poland.
During the first five qualifying games, Deng averaged 24.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Britain's only loss during that stretch was in overtime at Israel on Sept. 3. Great Britain will now wait to see if FIBA will grant an automatic berth as host nation in the 2012 London Olympics. The sport's governing body had said England needs to show some competitiveness in the sport before being given the spot. --The Bulls will play three sets of back-to-back games during their preseason schedule and won't venture very far from home. Their preseason opener will be against Dallas on Oct. 9 at the United Center, followed by a meeting with Indiana in Fort Wayne the following night. The Bulls will face Utah on consecutive nights Oct. 17-18. The first contest, held at the University of Illinois, is billed as a homecoming for Jazz point guard and former Illini star Deron Williams. The Bulls will take a two-game road trip to Dallas and Minnesota on Oct. 21-22 before closing the preseason at home on Oct. 24 against Milwaukee. The same two teams will play again four days later at the United Center to begin the regular season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "As a kid growing up in London, I would try and find the European championships on TV and wished we could have a team in it. It always hurt not seeing a (British) team playing there. Now we are going to be there next summer." --Forward Luol Deng, after leading Great Britain to its first-ever berth in the European championships, which will be held next summer in Poland.
