With Coach Jamie Dixon along with Ashton Gibbs down in New Zealand for the U-19 games, the theme is apparently a rerun.

Let’s call them the Junior Redeem Team. The USA Under-19s, much like Kobe Bryant and co at last year’s Olympics, say they’re in New Zealand for the world championships on a mission to restore some honour for the home of hoops.

Somehow, I don’t think it’s quite the same thing, but hey if it works for motivation.

Team USA, coached by former New Zealand NBL star Jamie Dixon, haven’t won the world under-19 title since 1991 – and where they come from that’s simply not good enough. So the gold medal is their singular focus at this Auckland event which tips off on Thursday and runs through until July 12.

“We have a good group,” said Dixon who was a standout guard for Hawkes Bay in the NBL in 1989-90. “All of our guys have played one year of college so far, so they have some experience playing at the college level. I think we’re really coming together.

“It’s a very unselfish group, we shoot the ball well, and again, I think they’re taking pride in it. We know we haven’t won this tournament since 1991 and so we’ve made that a goal for us. We understand what we’re up against.”

Dixon said the fact that the USA had been denied for so long at these championships made this a “special” tournament for his players.

“When you haven’t won something in 20 years or so, then that means it’s special. Our guys understand that this is something we haven’t done in a while, so we have a goal set.

“This is a tough tournament,” added Dixon, who is now head coach of the University of Pittsburgh. “You’ve got the best teams in the world, the best players. This is important to other teams, and they’ve been together longer than we have.”

New Zealand is not exactly hopeful for their team called — and (with all apologies to Dave Barry) I swear I am not making this up — the Junior Tall Blacks. The name is apparently rugby related.

Not sure on what airline the team flew to get there, but if they did take Air New Zealand I hope they did not get this crew.