shore up its inconsistent shooting guard position. Oladipo finished 14 for 24

Thomas Pieters success on American soil has been such that you could be forgiven for thinking he would have a strong affection for the country.After spending formative sporting years at the University of Illinois, during which he won the 2012 NCAA individual title, the Belgian made his first big splash in the game as a record-breaking rookie at the Ryder Cup in Minnesota last week.But becoming the first European to score four points on debut in the biennial contest doesnt mean Pieters has taken a shine to the U.S., or will be joining the PGA Tour any time soon.We have talked about it a little bit, said the 24-year-olds friend Nicolas Colsaerts, another Belgian and the world No.124. I dont think he would want to be surrounded by Americans 365 days a year.People think that because he went to the U.S. that he only wants to play the PGA Tour, but he has shown at the Ryder Cup, with his shushing of the crowd [last Saturday] and the way he plays, that he doesnt like them that much.The years he was there were with [Illinois head coach] Mike Small were very precious and played an important role in his career.But I dont see him moving there and playing any time soon. He is happy living in Antwerp, where he has a life.Colsaerts may have reason to take a blinkered view about playing in America after aborting an attempt to combine playing on the PGA Tour and European Tour in 2014, having spent two difficult years trying to make an impact in the U.S.But Pieters has said he found adapting to life in Illinois difficult, becoming the only player Small has tutored to leave early and fail to graduate.You would have to be blind not to think about playing in the U.S., said Colsaerts. There is big money and events there, but if he goes out and plays he would need to move out of Europe.Colsaerts claimed that Pieters has been inspired by European flair players, while Europes captain Darren Clarke said that he saw the same level of potential in the world No.39 as he did in Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods?when they were young.Colsaerts, whose own sensational Ryder Cup debut in 2012 remains a highlight of his career, said there was more to Pieters than meets the eye.I wasnt surprised by how well Thomas did, he said. I have knocked around with him quite a lot in the last couple of years.He absolutely hates to lose and I knew he would fit well with the atmosphere and the players around him. People have a view that he is pretty cool, but there is a bit of fire in him.He will look back on this and it will sting, but there was nothing more he could have done. It was difficult not to give him A plus. It was a Ryder Cup performance that will be in the record books for some time.What next, then, for Pieters? He was due to arrive in Scotland Tuesday, where he will be staying in a house with Colsaerts and other players involved in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews.Danny Willett, Matt Fitzpatrick and Rafa Cabrera Bello -- other Ryder Cup players who started as rookies at Hazeltine like Pieters -- were among those listed as entrants, too, for the event which starts on Thursday.He is young, very driven and there is a big ambition to play in the big events, said Colsaerts, who would like to see Pieters, the winner of three European Tour titles, start to make his mark in the majors.His market value will have gone up, but he just needs to stay patient and keep doing what he does. It is only a matter of time before he does something really big at a big event. 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It is a cliché dragged out by fans and pundits regularly when discussions take place around which teams are better than others. MADRID -- Life without Kevin Durant began for the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 142-137 overtime loss to Real Madrid in its first preseason game in Spain on Monday.Thunders revamped team was in control for the first three quarters but allowed the nine-time Euroleague champion to rally for the victory in front of a raucous local crowd in the Spanish capital.Russell Westbrook, newcomer Victor Oladipo and forward Enes Kanter led the way for the Thunder in the teams first game since Durants departure.Westbrook had 18 points from 22 minutes, Oladipo added 34 points and five assists from 33 minutes and Kanter had 29 points and 10 rebounds from 33 minutes.Real Madrid trailed by as much as 22 points but was able to send the game into overtime with a three-pointer by Sergio Llull at the buzzer, then pulled away in the final minute of overtime. Llull had five of the 20 threes scored by the hosts. Guard Jaycee Carroll led Madrid with 24 points, two more than Llull.The first half we played a really good game, we played with that identity that we were looking to create, Thunder coach Billy Donovan said. But clearly our defense in the second half was not where it needed to be. But we got a chance to play a lot of young guys, a lot of new guys. I feel like this is going to be a great opportunity for our team to really look at this game and really grow from it.The Thunder made their fourth Western Conference finals appearance in six years last season but Durant, who played eight seasons in Oklahoma, left in July to join the Golden State Warriors as a free agent. Serge Ibaka also departed in a trade to the Orlando Magic on draft night, leaving Westbrook in charge of leading a group of new faces.We definitely have a lot of new faces. We have some things to learn, obviously, some different thinks to pick up on, but we will get there. Right now its preseason, we are trying to make sure we are clicking when the regular season starts, Westbrook said. I thought we did a good job tonight, trying to figure out whats best for us to move forward.dddddddddddd Weve got some things to learn, but Im looking forward to good things out of our team.Westbrook played only in the first and third quarters and finished 7 for 14 from the field.Oladipo seemed to fit in nicely in his new team, doing a good job controlling the game along with Westbrook.He was one of the players traded for Ibaka, along with forward Ersan Ilyasova and draft pick Domantas Sabonis, a move intended to improve the teams depth and shore up its inconsistent shooting guard position. Oladipo finished 14 for 24 from the field.Just to be here in general is a great opportunity for me, the 24-year-old Oladipo said. Im truly thankful to be here and to be able to wear this jersey. Im going to make the most of this situation and the opportunity. Ive still got a lot of room to grow, a lot of room to get better. It was only the first game of the year, so a lot of room to improve and Im looking forward to doing that.The Thunder arrived in Spain with coach Donovan saying the overseas trip would be crucial to help his new group of players bond ahead of the new season.In addition to playing Real Madrid, the Thunder will also face 18-time Spanish League champion and two-time Euroleague champion FC Barcelona Lassa on Wednesday in Barcelona.The Thunder then return to the U.S. to play four preseason games in October. They start their season at the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 26.Durant will be back in Oklahoma City with Golden States jersey on Feb. 11.Also part of NBA Global Games 2016, the Houston Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans will face each other in preseason games in Shanghai and Beijing on Oct. 9 and Oct. 12.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni ' ' '