Team in focus - Ukraine

KIEV (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is just around the corner. In the lead-up to the biggest international basketball event, we take an individual look at all 24 teams.

Country: Ukraine
FIBA bwin Ranking Men: No. 45
Last participation in the FIBA Basketball World Cup: No past appearances
Best result in the history of the FIBA Basketball World Cup: No past appearances
Result in qualifying tournament for 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup: 6th place at EuroBasket 2013 (6 wins, 5 defeats)

Ukraine surprised nearly everyone last year at the EuroBasket, and not just with their qualification for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The side coached by former NBA boss Mike Fratello revealed itself to be as tough as nails.

Making it safely through Group A as the second-place side behind eventual champions France, Ukraine laid an egg against Latvia but showed a ferocious, unyielding spirit next time out against Serbia and won to stay in the hunt for a World Cup place.

Ukraine later won a vital classification game against Italy to seal a spot in Spain.

After a hard summer of preparations, with the distraction of political and civil unrest in their country, Ukraine's players have travelled to Spain to prove they not only belong in the 24-team field but can win plenty of games.

Fratello has taken 11 of the 12 players who played last year to Spain, including charismatic point guard Eugene "Pooh" Jeter.

The naturalized playmaker was a perfect fit for Ukraine in his first event with the side, in Slovenia.

In the crunch wins over Serbia and Italy, he was arguably their most important player, pouring in 20 points and handing out four assists each time.

Against the Serbians, his three-point shooting ability came to the fore. He nailed 50 percent (four of eight) in the game.

What was very impressive about Ukraine was the contribution of unheralded players.

Maksym Pustozvonov, Olexandr Mishula, Oleksandr Lypovyy, Kyryl Natyazhko, Maxym Korniyenko and Ihor Zaytsev fought like lions when Ukraine's backs were to the wall.

With shooting guard Sergii Gladyr and center Viacheslav Kravtsov doing well as expected, Fratello had a deep and resilient roster at his disposal.

The coach has spiced things up for the World Cup with the inclusion of teenager Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk.

Mykhailiuk who turned 17 in June, was a standout performer for Ukraine's team at the U18 European Championship Division B from 24 July to 3 August.

He will travel to the United States after the World Cup to launch his American college basketball career with NCAA heavyweights, Kansas.

Because of the turmoil back home, Ukraine will not host next year's EuroBasket.

The World Cup will be their chance to grab the spotlight and excite their fans.

Thanks to the luck of the draw, they will play in a balanced and very exciting Group C, in Bilbao, against the Dominican Republic, Finland, Turkey, New Zealand and the defending champions, USA.

If Ukraine show the same sort of grit and fight they had in 2013, the World Cup experience will be a good one.

FIBA