USA - Rose: Teamwork can win us the Worlds

MADRID (FIBA World Championship) - Derrick Rose believes the United States can end their FIBA World Championship drought through team-work.

While they can boast about being Olympic champions, the United States have not won gold at the FIBA World Championship for 16 years.

Four years ago, a star-studded team that included the likes of LeBron James and Dwayne Wade had to settle for bronze in Japan.

This year in Turkey, the United States will be shorter on star power, but Rose believes greater teamwork can take them further.

"They didn't gel together," Rose said of the 2006 team. "With the team we have, we're young, but we like playing together. We have passion for the game. We can make history right now."

Several members of this year's team were yet to even start college when the 2006 World Championship took place, as coach Mike Krzyzewski has five 21-year-olds in his 13-man squad.

But that can help build a team too, according to USA Basketball president Jerry Colangelo.

"Their aren't many big egos here, and we've already told them where to show off their personal egos - on the court," he said. "These guys are low maintenance."

They may not have big egos, but they do have pride, and Rose is determined to prove they are more than just reserves for the Olympic players not heading to Turkey.

"It makes us go out and play even harder knowing everyone is calling us the B-team, and not thinking we're going to win,'' Rose said. "Some people say this is bigger than the Olympics, having to get through more teams. It's going to be very hard.''