Team USA Basketball has been in the news more for the subtractions than the additions. However, that doesn't mean they will be pushovers in the Fiba World Cup. DeMarcus Cousins may become an unexpected starter in Spain this August.

Team USA was covered by most Sports networks and while the big story was about the return of Derrick Rose, the determined DeMarcus turned some heads. NBC Sports asked "Boogie" of his role on the team: "I believe what (coach Mike Krzyzewski) wants from me is to be a physical specimen, be a defensive anchor, control the paint. Be a dominant force in there....Everything happened so fast out there I don't know who made what pass, we're just playing basketball."

Fox Sports asked him about his preparation: "It was a training camp situation, so it kind of prepared me for this. Training camps are tough, so it's not just something you can walk into, so my main idea was to prepare for this, besides training with the younger guys. I feel confident in my ability, I feel confident in being a piece of this team that will help. I just have to go through the course and do what I can do and wish for the best."

Cousins' talent is a given, but USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo was impressed with his perseverance to make the national team, and the new found maturity he's seen off the court. The 'head case' tag may be behind him: "We give players credit for being here once or twice - or three times - and building equity within the program," Colangelo said. "His attitude has been great the last couple of days. He's matured a lot over the last year or so, or two years. I've tried to encourage him, that this is a real opportunity."

Coach K gives his assessment: "He's had the commitment to come every time, and he keeps getting better as a player, as evidenced by the year he had for Sacramento. We just have to figure out how that's incorporated by what we're doing. DeMarcus brings a different 'big man' than Anthony, just like (Andre) Drummond does, and we have to see how we might be able to incorporate that into what we're doing.

"All the guys are giving a good effort, and today I thought we had a great day."

The final word from Boogie: "I think everybody has something to prove. You never want to just settle for whatever your last accomplishment was, so everybody here has something to prove."

DeMarcus making the team as a starter will disprove a lot of negative tags on his attitude. Perhaps this is what motivates him most.