"They wanted to make a statement," Spain's Pau Gasol said. "And they've made it. They wanted to send a message to the other teams in this tournament, and they've sent it."Really, when you eyeball the assortment of talent wearing red, white and blue, it's readily apparent that only a re-run of 2004 can submarine their pathway toward the gold medal. Those players hated playing for Larry Brown, and Brown loathed coaching them.

The resulting festering wound was on display all during the Games, and it was awful to witness. This time, things are different. Mike Krzyzewski, owner of an enormous ego in his own right, has fashioned a professional and presentable team that looks for the open man, gets after teams viciously on defense, forces turnovers and plays ridiculously hard.

"I want people to say we play basketball the way it should be played," said Chris Paul, another supreme talent who starts the game in warm-ups. "I think, so far, that's what you'd have to say about us."

And, so far, here's what you can ask of everyone else in this tournament: Who's going to win the silver medal?

News » Sorry, world ... you had your shot at Team USA
Sorry, world ... you had your shot at Team USA
Not this time, world. Sorry. Check back in four years. 2008 Olympic Games --> Vaccaro: China should forfeit gold Sherman: Time to ignore Hank Mushnick: Mike & Mad Dog made history More from The New York Post