Of the 15 players in the Swedish squad, seven are professionals in Spain, which is considered to have the best league in the world after the NBA in the USA.
The Swedish national team is built around the point guard, star Ludde Håkansson who plays in Spanish Bilbao.
In Badalona, Simon Birgander plays, a 210 centimeter center who is currently third in rebounding in the European WC qualifiers.
Guard Melwin Pantzar is successful in Valladolid in the Spanish second division.
- We learn a lot about basketball IQ, because we train in completely different ways.
They see basketball differently than we do here in Sweden.
Spain has more experience and runs more individual training, says Melwin Pantzar.
- There is a lot of detail and a lot of technology in Spain, says Simon Birgander.
Bright future regardless of WC qualification
Sweden roared against Israel this summer, but is unlikely to reach the WC because it is based on world number five Slovenia starting to lose.
But the future still looks bright, regardless of the result in this weekend's WC qualifiers.
- It is fun.
When I joined the national team a few years ago, we weren't at this level, says Simon Birgander.
- We have many players who are in college, and out in Europe.
I think that basketball in Sweden will get better and better, says Melwin Pantzar.