Three Pirates in London
8/1/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
LONDON, ENGLAND - The 2012 Summer Olympics have brought the eyes of the world to London, England, captivating the hearts and minds of fans from around the globe. The Games are truly an event that transcends sport, evoking pride and passion worldwide through a spectacular display of the spirit of competition.
Seton Hall University, which has a proud history of producing Olympians, again possesses a decided and diverse presence at the Games. Three renowned figures in SHU's athletics history, Rimas Kaukenas (Men's Basketball - Lithuania), Kelly Smith (Women's Soccer - Great Britain), and Andrew Valmon (Head Track & Field Coach - United States) will feature prominently in their respective nations' push for gold.
One of the great foreign players in Seton Hall history, Kaukenas put together an impressive career as a member of the men's basketball program from 1996-00. He currently ranks fourth all-time in career free-throw percentage, 10th in three-point field goals made and among the top-20 in games played in school history. He is also a member of the elite 1,000-point scorer list, finishing his career with 1,292 points.
Kaukenas was a member of the same class that brought former Pirate great and current associate head coach Shaheen Holloway to South Orange. Together, the two helped lead SHU on a run to the "Sweet-16" in 2000.
"Rimas was a guy that, when he first came in as a freshman, some people doubted whether he could play at this level," said Holloway. "The progress he made from his freshman season to his senior year is unrivaled by anyone I have ever been around. His work ethic is what enabled him to take his game to the next level; nobody wanted it more than him. The fact that he is still playing at a high level is not surprising, and is a true testament to his commitment. "If anyone deserves success, it's him, and I wish him the best."
Since his days in blue and white, Kaukenas has gone on to become one of the most decorated players on the European basketball scene. Most recently, he has guided Mens Sana Basket, more commonly referred to as Montepaschi Siena, to consecutive "Serie A" titles, the highest level of Italian basketball. At 35 years old, he is in his second go-around with Montepaschi Siena, an organization that had already previously retired his number 13 after he had led the squad to three-straight league crowns from 2007-09.
A native of Vilnius, Lithuania, Kaukenas is enjoying his second Olympic stint on the hardwood for his nation. During the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Lithuania finished atop their group in pool-play and narrowly missed out on earning a medal after falling to Argentina in the bronze medal game.
Thus far in London, the veteran guard has helped his squad earn a split in their first two games. In the opener against Argentina, Kaukenas came off the bench to add four points in 16 minutes. For much of his time on the floor, he was locked in a head-to-head matchup with three-time NBA champion and two-time All-NBA performer Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs. Lithuania rebounded for a comfortable 19-point win over Nigeria yesterday, spurred by 10 points from Kaukenas who was one of three players to score in double-figures for the team.
With three games remaining in pool play for group A, Lithuania sits in a four-way tie for second place with Argentina, France and Nigeria. The team will have a chance to separate themselves from the pack with games against France, group leaders United States and a winless Tunisia squad remaining.
Kelly Smith and host nation Great Britain could not have drawn up a more perfect start to their Olympic debut on the pitch. The team concluded group play with their third consecutive win yesterday, a 1-0 triumph over world-power Brazil, and is the only squad that has yet to concede a goal. By virtue of their performance, Great Britain has secured one of the top-two seeds in the quarterfinal stage, the other belonging to the United States, the top-ranked women's team in the world.
Long heralded as one of the premier women's players in the world, Smith first established herself as one of the most prolific players in NCAA history as a member of the Pirates' squad from 1997-99. In three years at Seton Hall, Smith tallied a school record 76 goals and 174 points in just 51 matches. The first and only player in the program's history to receive All-America honors, she was named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year three times. The NCAA statistical champion in goals and points per game in 1998 and 1999, Smith currently holds two NCAA records in career points per game (3.41) and goals per game (1.49).
A member of the SHU Athletics Hall of Fame, Smith was the first and remains the only female student-athlete outside of the basketball program to have her number (6) retired.
A native of Watford, England, Smith has played a central role in Great Britain's unblemished run through Group E, which also included shutout victories over New Zealand and Cameroon. In a 1-0 win over New Zealand in the opener, Smith, donning the famed number 10 jersey, engineered the British attack for just under 70 minutes before giving way to a substitute soon after the team had secured the lead.
The second game yielded a 3-0 drubbing over an over-matched Cameroon side and ultimately clinched a berth in the quarterfinals. Smith led an attack that peppered the opposing goal throughout the first half, going into the break with a 2-0 advantage. Seizing the opportunity the opportunity to enjoy some rest in a demanding tournament format, Smith left the game shortly after the second half began.
In a primetime matchup of undefeated teams battling for group supremacy, Smith led the charge as Great Britain upended a star-studded Brazil team. After Great Britain had taken the lead on a second-minute goal, Smith refused to let the attack relent, finishing with a game-high four shots on goal and drawing seven fouls.
Team Great Britain will next take the field against Canada, the seventh-ranked team in the world, in a quarterfinal matchup. Canada advanced to the knockout stage after managing two second half goals against a vaunted Sweden squad to earn a draw and finish third in Group F.
Former Seton Hall track & field standout and two-time Olympic gold medalist Andrew Valmon enters London as the United States Head Track and Field coach after assuming the position on February 11, 2011.
"It is a great honor to have a member of our program go on to become the head Olympic Coach," said longtime Seton Hall coach John Moon upon his appointment. "Andrew is a wonderful individual who is extremely qualified to lead the U.S. to the most competitive Olympics in 2012. His energy and enthusiasm will radiate and bring success for the U.S.A. track and field team."
Valmon's international coaching experience includes a stint as an assistant coach at the 2009 Outdoor World Championships in Berlin, Germany before being promoted to head coach at the 2010 Indoor World Championships in Doha, Qatar. He has also spent the better part of the last decade as the head track and field coach at the University of Maryland where he has coached a number of All-Americans.
On the track, he captured gold in consecutive Olympics in 1988 (Seoul) and 1992 (Barcelona) as a member of the United States' 4x400 meter relay team. Prior to achieving Olympic glory, Valmon accrued a multitude of honors during his time as a member of the team at SHU, highlighted by his three All-American selections.
The U.S. contingent features a number of medal favorites in a variety of events and will kick off competition on Friday, August 3.
Stay tuned to SHUPirates.com for more Olympic updates and don't forget to support these three Pirate greats in their quest for gold in London.
NEXT UP FOR SETON HALL 2012 OLYMPIANS:
| Athlete | Sport / Nation Represented | Opponent | Stage | Date | Time | TV Information |
| Rimas Kaukenas | Men's Basketball / Lithuania | France | Pool Play | Thu., Aug. 2 | 4:00 a.m. | NBC Sports Network |
| Kelly Smith | Women's Soccer / Great Britain | Canada | Quarterfinals | Fri., Aug. 3 | 2:30 p.m. | NBC Sports Network |
* Track and Field competition runs from Friday, August 3 through Sunday, August 12.
