SAITAMA -- Coach K said it was a disappointing loss, but the Americans began a long journey with the setback.

"Obviously, Greece did a tremendous job," United States coach Mike Krzyzewski reluctantly said after his team's 101-95 loss to Greece, last year's EuroBasket champion, in the FIBA World Championship semifinals.

Without a question, the U.S. team came to Japan with gold-medal aspirations, having assembled the team early and held camps and tuneup games since June.