Depth and unity: Crocs strive for World Cup success

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Australian Crocs head coach and former NBL big man Greg Vanderjagt believes his team's strength heading into their FIBA Under-17 World Cup opener is "the team itself", just like most successful green and gold teams on the international stage.

The Luke Paul-led Crocs start their campaign in Turkiye against world powerhouse, Serbia, tonight from 9.45pm (AET) before clashes with Venezuela and the Ivory Coast in Group D of the tournament.

Australia has prepared for the tournament tip-off with warm up games against the USA and the hosts Turkiye and Vanderjagt said they were ready to start their tournament with a big performance.

"I think our preparation has been outstanding. We've had a really deliberate build over the past 12 months, from the Asia Cup through selection camps and now into the World Cup," he told basketball.com.au in an exclusive interview on the eve of the tournament.

"Every phase has had a purpose, and we've challenged the players in different environments. The games against the USA and Turkey were incredibly valuable. You don't often get the opportunity to play against that level of athleticism, physicality and pace before a World Cup.

"They exposed areas where we needed to improve, but they also reinforced some things we're doing really well. More importantly, they gave our group confidence that we can compete with anyone when we play to our identity.

"Serbia are exactly what you'd expect from a traditional basketball nation. They're disciplined, they're highly skilled, they move the ball exceptionally well and they play with great poise.

"For us, the focus isn't trying to match Serbia at their strengths - it's making sure we're consistently playing to ours. At this level every team is good, so it's going to come down to execution, discipline and who can impose their style of play for longer."

Boasting a team featuring the likes of Next Star Paul, who recently committed to the Cairns Taipans, as well as Victoria Country duo Will Hamilton and Lucas Byrne as well as Antonio Browne from New South Wales and Queensland guard Andrew Watene - Vanderjagt said the Crocs had a deep roster full of versatility.

"Our greatest strength is the team itself," he said.

"We've got a group that genuinely enjoys competing together. They're connected, they trust each other and they're willing to sacrifice for one another. That gives you a chance in every game.

"We've also developed real versatility. Different players can impact games in different ways, and I think our depth allows us to adapt depending on what's required.

"For us, success starts with living our standards every day, not chasing outcomes. If we're tough, if we're disciplined, if we communicate and compete for every possession, then we'll give ourselves the best chance to perform.

"World Cups are won by teams that can be consistent under pressure, not by teams that produce one great performance. Our challenge is to stay present, keep improving each day and trust the identity we've built over the last year. If we do that, we'll put ourselves in a position to achieve something special."

All of the Crocs' FIBA U17 World Cup games are streamed live on FIBA's YouTube channel.