PARIS -- Team USA has initiated the "appropriate fear" phrase.
This tradition traces back to Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich, who pioneered the mindset -- a respect for the underdog mantra he brought to the San Antonio Spurs and later as coach of Team USA.
And one that current coach Steve Kerr, one of Popovich's many pupils, has been imparting this week as the Americans prepare to see South Sudan on Wednesday in Olympic pool play. On the heels of an impressive win over Serbia, another U.S. victory would clinch a spot in next week's quarterfinals.