The overall result was somewhat deceptive of the Boomers performance, however, finishing the pool section equal on wins and points differential with France, who claimed third place, and only a points differential of 6 behind overall winner Greece.

Most pleasing for coach Brian Goorjian was the spirit of his young team, which fought back from double figure deficits in each game, overcoming France and narrowly losing to Greece and China.

After receiving heavy criticism from the Australian media, the Boomers looked a different side to the one that drew 2-2 with the New Zealand Tall Blacks in July. One of the big reasons for this was the presence of experienced point guard CJ Bruton.

Playing in his first full games of basketball since the Commonwealth Games in March, Bruton rarely troubled the scorers, but had a calming effect on the young Australian team, enabling the Boomers to find far more open shots than in the New Zealand series.

Injured Australian centre Chris Anstey is not at all surprised that even a rusty Bruton has made the Boomers a more functional unit.

"CJ is a great player in the fact he can distribute and get his teammates involved but if he needs to do it he can take over and score," Anstey said.

"I think he is special in that he doesn't need to score."

While Bruton's intangibles will be of great value to the side, the absence of big men Anstey, David Andersen and Matthew Nielsen means the Boomers must receive scoring contributions from the backcourt. Bruton and veteran shooting guard Jason Smith shot 58% and 48% respectively from the 3 point line at the Athens Olympics, but could only manage a combined 7/29 in China.

Without an improved shooting performance from the backcourt, opposition defenses will be able to crowd the key and stifle Andrew Bogut and the penetration of Sam Mackinnon.

These two combined to average 25 points and 16 rebounds per game in the tournament. Standing less than 200cm tall and playing away from his regular small forward position, Mackinnon has shown himself more than capable of guarding the world's elite power forwards, as his performance against French star Boris Diaw demonstrated.

"Mackinnon's very versatile and can guard bigs," said assistant coach Rob Beveridge.

"We consider him our best player, our most experienced and best player."

One guard who has performed above expectations has been 21 year old Brad Newley. Considered a star of the future, the South Australian native has looked every bit a player of today.

Newley scored 21 points against European champion and eventual winner Greece, and scored 13 points in the last 11 minutes of the 77-71 victory over France. Where the perimeter had once been considered Newley's weakness, the 199cm shooting guard punished the world class opposition from deep, shooting 9/14 across the 3 games.

Beveridge believes injuries during the Boomers lead-up allowed Newley increased court time, enabling him to adjust to the tough international game quicker than usual.

"If we had a Saville, if Mackinnon was playing (Newley) probably wouldn't have got that opportunity."

Chris Anstey believes the athletic Newley's work ethic has also fast tracked his development.

"Newley has got a lot better, he has been working his butt off. I definitely think he is going to be an international basketballer. "

So can this young Australian side be the medal prospect a full strength Boomers team would have been.

"Its going to be an unbelievably big challenge," says Anstey. "If you take 3 starters away from any team in the world they would struggle."

"Its going to be the toughest challenge they've had in the last 12 years I think. My goal would be to make the last 8, and even that in itself is going to be a huge challenge. When you make the last eight, you then win 1 game and you are playing for a medal."

The Boomers performance in the Stankovic Continental Champions Cup showed that, while low on experience, this Australian team will put itself in a position to win every game they play. From there, anything could happen. Buckle up for the ride.