ehh...I don't know about UK being the USA...the US has only been around a few centuries, and has only dominated the last 150 years or so...
Duke is a better fit to be the US...
UK has pretty much been dominant since basketball has begun...so which nation has been powerful since the dawn of man and still thrives? I'm gonna say Rome...
Rome (Catholics) still dominates the globe in terms of population, and Rome has had it's downfall (as did UK throughout the years),
but is still riddled with controversy...
that's my take and I'm stickin with it!