Olympic look ahead: U.S. men’s hoops prepared to face Tunisia

If there was one day to go sight-seeing, to check out Big Ben and Buckingham Palace or pick up an Olympic souvenir, this was it.

With a game today against Tunisia – not exactly an international basketball power – the U.S. men’s team could have taken a day off to tour London.

Not this group of Americans. They have to work on a few things.

“We need to get better,” LeBron James said Monday. “We know we don’t have time to waste an opportunity to get better.”

Showing flashes of brilliance and a few flaws during a 98-71 win over France on Sunday, the Americans worked out to prepare for their second preliminary game, a matchup that appears to be as potentially one-sided as any game the U.S. will play in this tournament.

Tunisia, which lost to Nigeria in its first Olympic game, doesn’t figure to be anything more than a punching bag for the Americans to bludgeon. The U.S. might be able to name its score against a Tunisian squad ranked No. 32 in the world.

However, coach Mike Krzyzewski believes the opponent is inconsequential. It’s about the U.S. playing up to its potential – and then some.

“You never want to get into the habit of just getting by, because eventually you don’t get by,” he said.

Today’s highlights

Gymnastics: Women’s team gold medal final. Swimming: Gold medal finals in the men’s 200-meter butterfly and 4x200-meter freestyle relay, and women;s 200-meter freestyle and 200-meter individual medley. Diving: Women’s synchronized platform gold medal final.

See TV schedule on Page B6 for today’s time and channel listings.