After capturing the silver medal in 1985, the 1987 USA World University Games team had hopes of returning the USA ways to gold. Guided by Duke University's (NC) Mike Krzyzewski, and featuring promising basketball talents like Sean Elliott, Danny Ferry, Billy King and Mitch Richmond, to name a few, the USA was considered one of several contenders for the World University Games gold medal in Zagreb, Yugoslavia.

However, the United States did not win the gold as Yugoslavia managed to slip past the Americans in the finals, but the U.S. put forth an impressive effort and finished 7-1 and in possession of the silver medal.

Opening the 1987 Games facing Austria, the U.S. squad behind 16-point efforts from Mark Bryant and Troy Lewis marched to a 105-47 win. Belgium fell two days later 98-57 and Perry McDonald led the U.S. attack with 18 points.

Behind Ferry's 20 points and 11 rebounds, the USA narrowly escaped an upset by Spain with an 83-82 victory. Led by Lewis' 13 points, six U.S. players scored in double digits as the U.S. disposed of stubborn Brazil 88-81 and pushed its record to 4-0.

Richmond accounted for a team high 13 points and 11 of the 12 USA players scored in a 69-57 victory over Czechoslovakia. Canada challenged the U.S. men all the way, but the U.S. prevailed 93-83 thanks to B.J. Armstrong's 15 points and 13 more from Lewis and Richmond. Standing 6-0 and in need of a win over Cuba if the U.S. was to earn a shot at the gold medal, Richmond again led the U.S. attack scoring 19 points while McDonald added 18 as the U.S. dropped Cuba 88-70.

Facing also unbeaten Yugoslavia in the gold medal game, who was playing in front of its home crowd, the U.S. fell behind early and by half Yugoslavia was in control 50-38. Despite the efforts of Richmond, who finished with 19 points, Yugoslavia went on to hand the Americans a 100-85 loss. Yugoslavia's Drazen Petrovic, who would go on to NBA stardom, finished with a game high 35 points. Yugoslavia shot a blistering 61.5 percent from the field, while the U.S. shot 49.2 percent from the floor and just 47.6 percent (10-21FTs) from the foul line. In the bronze medal game, Spain narrowly defeated Cuba 80-79.