Gregory Echenique is watching the Olympic basketball competition with mixed emotions.

As a basketball player, the Creighton senior wants to keep track of how the United States team fares against the world. At the same time, Echenique will be dogged by thoughts that he could have been in London if things had worked out differently.

"I've reflected on that a lot,'' Echenique said. "But what happened motivates me. I'm young. If I can stay healthy and keep playing, maybe I'll have a shot at it another year.''

Echenique hoped to play in London as a member of the Venezuelan national team, one of 12 that competed in the final Olympic qualifying tournament earlier this month in Caracas.

Three spots in the London field were at stake, but the host country failed to get out of group play even though it had the same record as the two teams - Nigeria and Lithuania - that did.