The Big Ten player of the year race began in Greece this week. Too bad only a few Americans were on hand to witnessed the coming out parties for Dee Brown and Paul Davis.

Team USA won't medal in the World Junior Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece after losing to Australia 106-85. But Michigan State's Davis and Illinois' Brown emerged as two of the top scorers -- if not players -- entering the 2004-05 season.

	Michigan State's Paul Davis is showing off his shooting range while a member of the U.S. Junior World Champinoship squad.

That is, if they can duplicate what they've been doing in Greece. And, to some extent, if each receives some of the same freedoms that U.S. coach Ernie Kent of Oregon allowed the pair during the international tournament.

Davis, a 6-foot-11 sophomore forward, discovered aspects of his game even he didn't know he had prior to leaving the States. Davis, who played in all 35 games for the Spartans last season, averaged just 7.8 points while playing mostly inside.

But, while in Rome (well, close to Rome), Davis did as the Romans -- emulating the international players who are dominating the NBA draft.

Davis said he wanted to get a better understanding of why Europeans are having so much success convincing NBA scouts to draft them each year. So, through six games, Davis averaged 17.3 points by stepping outside and hitting 37.5 percent of his 3s. And, he got better as the tourney went along, leading the Americans in scoring twice with games of 24 and 28 points.

"The players over here are not as physical as us, but they have a great understanding of how to play the game, the little passes, the different moves," Davis said by phone Thursday from Greece. "There's a smoothness to the game that we don't see as much in America."

Davis took mental notes as he watched players from Slovenia, Croatia, Lithuania and a dozen other countries. He saw how the big men handle the ball, took more shots from the perimeter and weren't afraid to drive to the basket from the 3-point line.

"If our big men had as much understanding of the game, were still physical but had the finesse to the game they do, then we would see more (American big men) in the draft," Davis said.

As well as Davis shot the ball in Greece, (9 of 24 from 3-point range), he still might have to take a hiatus from playing the perimeter until he gets to the NBA. Davis, who attempted just nine 3s last year for the Spartans, figures to remain close to the paint when he turns his Team USA jersey in for Spartan green.

"It's no knock against Michigan State, but they didn't really allow Paul to play the way he's playing here," said Brown. "But if they do, he can have a breakout season for Michigan State. He's one of the best big men in the country. Paul would come down and shoot the ball but when we scouted him he was strictly inside."

"Coach runs his thing and it has worked at Michigan State," said Davis, who shot just under 44 percent from the field as a freshman and grabbed 4.7 rebounds a game. "And I'll stick with that. But I can shoot. We're not going to spread the court and run motion. We've got set plays at State. But this will be a plus for me and the other 11 guys here."

Brown certainly has benefited from his first international experience. But, he may never have another night like the one he enjoyed Tuesday against Lithuania when he put up a USA Junior World Championship record 47 points (9 of 15 on 3s) in an 87-84 victory.

Brown was leading the U.S. in scoring through six games (19.0 ppg), making 52.4 percent of his 3s. Brown was the second option to Big Ten player of the year Brian Cook last season, but he'll likely be the first look for new coach Bruce Weber, who replaced Bill Self when he went to Kansas. Weber was known for giving his Southern Illinois players freedom and Brown, who excelled as a freshman (12.3 ppg, 5.0 apg) will likely get even more looks as a sophomore, if not as many as he's getting under Kent.

"Dee Brown is getting the green light and looking to score," Kent said. "He's having a breakout summer. Both he and Paul are taking the pressure shots and they're growing immensely from this experience."

Brown, a 6-1 combo guard who started 31 of 32 games for the Illini, isn't thinking so much about the NBA draft or changing his game to mimic the foreigners. But he did witness how unselfish the Europeans are on the court. He admitted that if the future Team USA squads at any level looked to be more team-oriented, they would have a shot to win these international tournaments.

"Making the extra pass and doing things together are things that we need to learn," Brown said. "This tournament has helped my confidence. Brian Cook was our go-to guy, but this really helped my confidence do that next season."

It also hasn't hurt the Illini's Big Ten title hopes that Brown has teamed up with Deron Williams on the U.S. team. His Illinois backcourt mate continues to feed Brown in Greece like he did in Champaign. Williams is averaging just over five assists and 8.8 points for the Americans.

"I'm learning more about his game and he's learning about mine,'' Brown said. "We're picking up our strengths and weaknesses and where to be when he's penetrating."

Greece may seem an odd place to begin talking about Big Ten honors and titles. But when Davis and Brown return to U.S. soil, the Big Ten won't ignore what both did overseas this summer.

What else we're hearing
On why the U.S. is out of the medal round ... Advancing to the medal round in the 19-and-under Junior World Championships is done on a point system. The U.S. had only one loss (to Australia, 106-85) but won't finish higher than fifth because of the margin of defeat. Lithuania, which lost to the U.S. by three points, and Australia, a nine-point loser to Lithuania, advanced out of the Americans' group.

Kent, however, isn't bitter that the U.S. won't medal for the second straight World Championship (The U.S. finished fifth place at the Worlds in Indianapolis last August with an NBA roster).

"For us to turn this around, and be the feared country, we need to make these competitions important again in the U.S.," Kent said. "It has to be a bigger deal than the recruiting camps (adidas and Nike) in July. We have to send the best to the trials, too."

On the international rules ... College basketball is expected to go to the international lane and 3-point line in 2004-05. Davis and Brown had no problems playing with those particular rules, although Kent isn't in favor of making the change.

"It's better because it gives you more space," Davis said. "It gives you more room to work and will give college basketball a better look to free up space."

On incoming international players to college basketball ... Missouri-bound Lithuanian Linas Kleiza was a big hit. Davis called him a "great player," who can dribble, shoot from NBA range and was definitely impressive as a 6-7 wing. Brown said Kleiza was strong, physical and will definitely help the Tigers. Kent added, "he's awesome. He really is. He's a throw-back player. He's very physical and goes after every rebound. He's crafty around the basket, sort of like Darius Songalia (formerly of Wake Forest). He's got great foot speed but will have to change his game a bit since he has the green light over here to be the go-to guy."

Utah-signed Australian big man Andrew Bogut also impressived the Americans. Kent said Bogut needs to add strength, but is mobile enough to be successful in Rick Majerus' system. He can make 3s and is active. Davis said he's got a great feel for the game and good hands to be successful in college basketball.

On a few other members of the U.S. team ... Kent said UCLA sophomore center Ryan Hollins' confidence has skyrocketed since the team got together in June. Hollins (7.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg for Team USA) should be able to help Ben Howland now that he has a better understanding on how to play in the post. Oklahoma guard DeAngelo Alexander (14.2 ppg) is starting to be more of a breakout scorer, putting up 23 against Puerto Rico. Arizona's incoming freshman point guard Mustafa Shakur (14 assists, nine turnovers and six steals through six games) didn't have any issues adjusting to the international game.

On the advantages of coaching recruits ... Kent signed Aaron Brooks last November after coaching him on the under-19 U.S. squad last summer. Kent is trying to do the same with Chris Burgess out of California. But this one might be more difficult. Burgess is also being wooed by UCLA and BYU. And Burgess is rooming with Hollins on the trip. Kent is coaching USA Basketball for his third straight summer and is a bit drained from the travel and overload of work. He'll get out on the road for last week of July recruiting, heading to Las Vegas at the end of next week and then Los Angeles for the open-recruiting period's final days in July.

On Oregon senior guard Luke Jackson ... Kent said Jackson's work ethic changed once teammate and close friend Luke Ridnour went No. 14 in the NBA draft to Seattle. "He's no longer in Ridnour's shadow," Kent said. "This is his team and he's treating it like that." Jackson was one of the hardest workers at the Nike camp in Indianapolis last week, working out into the late evening hours by himself.

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com. His Weekly Word on college basketball is updated Fridays throughout the year.