BRA - Countdown is on for Magnano's Olympic return

RIO DE JANEIRO (Olympics) - Ruben Magnano is in an elite group of basketball coaches.

He has led a national team, Argentina, to a gold medal at an Olympics.

It happened in 2004, in Athens, and helped catapult the Argentinians to the top spot in the FIBA World Rankings.

Now the coach of Brazil, a side he led to the Eight-Finals of the FIBA World Championship in Turkey and to this year's FIBA Americas Championship title game in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Magnano knows exactly what he'll be telling his players before the start of their preparations for the London Games.

"Before any tournament, I tell my players that they should dream of going all the way," Magnano says.

"We know where we can finish at the Olympics."

No side at the Olympics, which will be staged from July 28 to August 12, is going to take this team lightly after the way they played the past two summers.

Turn the clock back to August 30, 2010.

Brazil came within a whisker of upsetting the United States in the Preliminary Round.

Down two with three seconds remaining, the USA fouled Marcelo Huertas and he went to the free-throw line.

Off target on his first attempt, he intentionally missed the second free-throw but chased the ball down in the left corner and passed to Leandro Barbosa in the lane.

Barbosa's lay-up banked off the glass and hit the rim but stayed out as the Americans won, 70-68.

This summer, a Brazil missing NBA big men Anderson Varejao and Nene, and Barbosa, reached the title game.

New players emerged, including Rafael Hettsheimer.

He ended up as the team's fourth leading scorer at 9.2 points per game and was only just named Player of the Week in Spain's Liga Endesa after leading CAI Zaragoza to a victory over Murcia.

Squad selection won't be easy because while a player may have a big reputation, he may not be the best fit for Brazil - especially if injured.

"My biggest challenge is to have the capacity and intelligence that my team selection will be the best for Brazilian basketball," Magnano said.

Nene, who has survived testicular cancer, hasn't represented Brazil since the FIBA Americas Championship in 2007.

He was in the squad for the FIBA World Championship but was dropped late in preparations.

"I have not spoken to any player, not even those that competed at the Pre-Olympic tournament," Magnano said.

"We now need to stop and evaluate the personal situation of all the players. The CBB will make their evaluation and I, as coach, will make mine. I have not started to do this yet."

During the NBA lockout, Barbosa is competing in Brazil with Flamengo.

"I have not seen Leandro play yet for Flamengo," Magnano said.

"I will take advantage now of the start of the league (NBB) to be able to go to games. He is playing because his hand is better.

"For the league, he is a very important reference point."

Magnano would like to play nine to 11 preparation games before the Olympics against top teams.

"I'm not going to give names but I want to play against the best teams," he said.

"Our preparation will be very good, against strong teams."

FIBA