After an impressive blowout win over Argentina, the Australian Boomers are one win away from guaranteeing themselves their first-ever Olympic medal.
The Boomers have been in this same position before. At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, a blowout loss to Serbia knocked them off their perch, sending them to the bronze medal game which they lost to Spain in controversial fashion.
This time around the team isn't taking anything for granted, and the task and mission is clear.
MORE: Takeaways from Australia's win over Argentina
"The message to the boys and to the team after (the win) were we're back where we wanted to be," Boomers guard Patty Mills said postgame. "And it's been a long couple of years to get back to this point. But this point is ... and the message to the team is we haven't done (expletive) yet.
"And for us to be able to be the best we have to beat the best, and we have an opportunity in front of us right now to be able to take that step, the next step.
"This is a great challenge and a challenge that we have prepared for a long time. We're experienced in this situation now. And there is no other choice for us here in this situation, so that's what we're dealing with. The focus is still there. And there's only one — there's only one thing that we're focused on. And we just got to get it done."
While medalling would be a monumental achievement for Australian basketball, the Boomers have their eyes set on gold, and rightfully so.
Australia went 3-0 in the group stage, beating three solid teams in Nigeria, Germany and Italy, and they dismantled a veteran Argentinian side in the quarterfinals. The Boomers have star power in Mills and Jock Landale, veteran leadership in Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova, and an experienced coach in Brian Goorjian. All the ingredients are there for Australia to stand atop the podium.
But their biggest test thus far looms large in the form of Team USA in the tournament semifinal matchup.
Australia played the US tough in the round-robin stage in Rio. The 98-88 final score doesn't reflect how close and competitive the game was throughout. This time around, the Boomers aren't just looking to compete, they're looking for a win and a place in the Olympic final for the first time ever.
"It's a great opportunity. This is the Olympic Games and there's no greater opportunity to represent your country than this," Mills told Fox Sports' Gadiel Notelovitz. "So for me to put on the Green and Gold and, you know, represent our country, get us back to where we've been before — this is what you prepare for, the semifinals, to have the opportunity to go to a gold medal match against the best team in the world.
"You know, you dream of this as a little kid. And this is where we're at right now.
"This is going to be good."
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