LONDON — Did you see that low blow that Carmelo Anthony took in the Argentina game? If those two teams play again – and they could Friday – it will be well-remembered. Anthony made a three-pointer while taking a cheap shot to the groin from Argentinian Facundo Campazzo.

Assuming the U.S. beats Australia in its men’s basketball quarterfinal Wednesday – and it shouldn’t be close – it will play the Brazil-Argentina winner, in which case Campazzo better not come down through the lane the entire game.

I have watched Brazil for a few quarters during this tournament, though, and I believe Brazil will actually end up being the U.S. semifinal opponent Friday. I think the Brazilians are the second-best team in the tournament behind the Americans.

• Johnson C. Smith alum Shermaine Williams barely missed out on qualifying for the finals of the women’s 100-meter hurdles. In her heat, in which the top two were guaranteed spots in the final, she lost a photo finish for second and finished third with a time of 12.83 seconds.

Williams, who competed for Jamaica, said she lost time by clipping a hurdle. “It was still an honor to represent my country,” she said.

• If you think the Olympics are a little early this year, you’re right. Four years ago on this very day in Beijing, Chinese officials started the Olympics on 08-08-08 (and at 8:08 p.m. local time in Beijing to boot – in Chinese culture, the number “eight” is considered good luck). This time around on Aug. 8, they are more than half over.

• The U.S. women’s gymnastics team has some serious depth. I was only surprised in the individual event competitions when some U.S. gymnast didn’t win a medal.

• Did you know betting on the Olympics – and other sporting events – is legal in London? I walk past a couple of betting parlors on my way to work every day, and they lay odds on everything from basketball to beach volleyball.

• The U.S. swimmers, women’s gymnasts and women’s beach volleyball players have all had superb Olympics. The U.S. boxers, wrestlers and whitewater canoe and kayaking teams have not. American track and field right now is somewhere in the middle – that is the sport U.S. officials are counting on to lead a surge past China in the final medal count. But it hasn’t happened yet.