NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - I am hoping that the 2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship is going to be a slow burner and gather some serious momentum down the stretch.

That is because the first couple of days have not exactly set pulses racing - more like set alarm bells ringing.

Trying to avoid having a knee jerk reaction to the inauspicious start in Chekhov and Vidnoe is proving quite difficult.

The potential growth and success of women's basketball is immersed in the effectiveness of its fundamentals. With above the rim action negligible and non-existent at youth level, the quality of the passing and shooting is everything.

So far, this tournament has mirrored the concerns expressed both during and after the 2014 FIBA U17 Women's World Championship.

The free-throw shooting has been generally abysmal, the three-point shooting has been mediocre at absolute best and never before have I seen such ridiculous disregard for the care of the actual basketball.

That latter trait is the most concerning and not least because some of the worst offenders have been the big-hitting nations of USA, Australia and Spain. With due respect to others, you just don't expect these countries to throw the ball away around the 30 mark [yes folks, three-zero!] in any game.

Assuming that the standard improves this week (because quite simply it must), it's time to give some quick early thoughts on the teams and players we have seen so far.

I have really enjoyed watching some of the youngest players in the competition making an impact, including the likes of Laura Westerik of Netherlands and Elise Ramette of Belgium.

Egypt and Mali have really pushed teams hard and while they haven't won and the final margins have not reflected it, they have asked serious questions of their opponents. Not least Egypt scoring 40 points in a half against Spain.

Chinese Taipei were humbled in their opening game against Russia, but they have really shown what they are capable of with a nice comeback against Netherlands before just falling short of victory.

The opening ceremony was hugely enjoyable by the way.

It was also great to see so many people watch the hosts.

They could go deep in this tournament and unless they have a very bad game at the wrong time, they look like an absolute lock for a medal.

Watching so many Sparta&K M.R. Vidnoje players in this Russia team really is astonishing and they can be seriously credited for playing a major part in putting the senior team back on an exciting footing for the future if this group is anything to go by.

So, it has only been a couple of days and I genuinely do hope that I will have many more bright points to talk about over next week.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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