In a change to the usual scheduling, games will take place on Thursday and Friday this week
At a glance: The EuroCup is back with a bang!
Article
8 Mins read
After a brief break, the BKT EuroCup returns on Thursday with Round 9 bringing the regular season to its midway point. Here’s the state of play ahead of the action.
Thursday, November 28
Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Joventut Badalona (17:00 CET)
Group A leader Bahcesehir (7-1) will attempt to keep hold of first place by downing dangerous Joventut (3-5). The Spanish side revived its fortunes before the break, ending a four-game losing streak by battling past Buducnost. That victory owed a lot to 26 points from backcourt star Devon Dotson, who faces a good battle on Thursday with the dynamic Sehmus Hazer, who is in the best form of his career with 23 and 20 points in the last two games. Bahcesehir boasts a five-game winning streak partly thanks to the best three-point shooting game in the competition, converting 39.3% beyond the arc. So Joventut’s perimeter defense must pay attention to the likes of Axel Bouteille, who averages 12.0 points on 44.1% three-point shooting.
U-BT Cluj-Napoca vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki (18:00 CET)
Cluj (4-4) is aiming to stay in Group B’s all-important top six by downing struggling Aris (2-6), which is desperate to climb away from a share of last place. Cluj has won four of its last five games thanks to an excellent offense, averaging 88.1 points per game – second best in the EuroCup. Aris, conversely, has the worst scoring output in the competition with just 74.0 points per night. The Greek team could boost its playmaking by giving a debut to new signing Sharife Cooper, and also needs enough defense to restrict the influence of outstanding Cluj playmaker Zavier Simpson, who runs his team with averages of 18.6 points and a top-ranked 6.9 assists.
-
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Umana Reyer Venice (18:00 CET)
Two teams just outside the Group B playoff places go head to head as Lietkabelis (2-5) welcomes Reyer (3-5). The Lithuanian team likes to crash the glass, averaging 12.4 offensive rebounds (second best in the EuroCup) behind 2.7 per night from Marko Pecarski. That intent will be resisted by Reyer big man Mfiondu Kabengele, who averages a competition-high 10.4 boards per game. The Italian team boosted its confidence before the break by claiming a vital home victory over Turk Telekom thanks to 20 points from Rodney McGruder, who has quickly become Reyer’s key man with an average of 16.8 points during his four games with the team.
-
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (18:30 CET)
Cedevita (4-4) will look to snap a three-game losing streak as it welcomes a fast-rising Hamburg team (2-6) which won two of the last three games before the break. Cedevita’s recent problems have been defensive, allowing 90, 94 and 109 points in its three losses. That can be exploited by Hamburg playmaker Brae Ivey, who had 15 points and 5 assists in the Round 8 victory over Aris. The German team also offer a major threat in the paint with center Kur Kuath (9.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game), so Cedevita will need outstanding prospect Joan Beringer to continue his strong form after grabbing 8 boards in each of the last two games.
-
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Valencia Basket (19:30 CET)
Valencia (7-0) will look to extend its status as the EuroCup’s only unbeaten team with a trip to last season’s finalist Bourg (5-3). The French team has lost three of its last four games due to an uncharacteristically leaky defense, which will be heavily tested by Valencia’s competition-best offense (95.4 points per game). The Spanish team has been further reinforced by the return of Chris Jones from injury, while the collective ethic was demonstrated by seven players – led by Josep Puerto with 15 points – scoring in double digits last time out against Cedevita. Bourg will look for leadership from Xavier Castaneda, who has scored in double digits every game this season.
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. ratiopharm Ulm (19:30 CET)
Dimitris Itoudis will make his coaching debut for Hapoel (5-3) with a visit from Ulm (4-4) in a key meeting between direct rivals in Group A. Hapoel showed its capabilities with a 29-point thrashing of Trefl in its last game, led by 21 points and 8 rebounds from Marcus Foster. After losing four of its last five games, Ulm must improve a defense which allowed more than 100 points in three of those losses. Offensively, the German team will look for inspiration from Alfonso Plummer, who averages 15.1 points on 44.4% three-point shooting. But Hapoel boasts the league’s best two-point shooting conversation rate, 61.7%, so Ulm’s interior defense must stay strong against the likes of Tomer Ginat (11.0 points per game, 66% on twos).
Turk Telekom Ankara vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (19:30 CET)
Group B high-fliers Jerusalem (6-2) face a tough test from one of the three teams currently tied for fourth place, Turk Telekom (4-4). Jerusalem’s offense should be boosted by a debut for new signing Tarik Phillip, who averaged 12.6 points during his eight games for Trefl Sopot this season. Turk Telekom has faltered recently with just one win in five, and needs better offensive production after scoring just 67 points in the Round 8 loss to Reyer. Expect a fierce rebounding battle, with the visitor ranked second in the league in boards (38.9 per game), while Turk Telekom isn’t far behind with 37.4 per night. Kyle Alexander (8.1 rpg) and Austin Wiley (7.8) lead their respective teams in rebounding and will play central roles again.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (20:00 CET)
Two teams hoping the break will spark a return to winning ways go head to head with a vital matchup between Trento (3-5) and Besiktas (4-4). The Turkish team boasts a potent offense averaging 86.0 points, third best in the competition, with Jonah Mathews in particularly fine form after pouring in 21 and 19 in his last two games. One huge disparity between the teams is three-point shooting, with Trento making just 28.6% of long-range strikes while Besiktas has converted 39.2%, so the Italian team would love shooters like Anthony Lamb – who averages 14.5 points per game but has only made 22.7% of triples – to find better accuracy beyond the arc.
-
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Trefl Sopot (21:00 CET)
Winless Trefl (0-8) will attempt to cause a major upset by gaining its first victory with a trip to Group B’s second-placed Gran Canaria (6-2). Trefl will have to find a new offensive leader following the departure of Tarik Phillip to Jerusalem, with Jakub Schenk set to play an even more prominent role after solid averages of 13.4 points and 4.0 assists per game so far. The Spanish side has won three of its last four games behind a rock-solid defense which has allowed only 75.6 points per game, with plenty of help on the offensive end from John Shurna, who has scored in double digits in three consecutive games on 12-of-15 two-point shooting.
-
Friday, November 29
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (19:00 CET)
In Friday’s only game, the red-hot Wolves (5-3) will aim to keep on climbing the Group A rankings with a tough trip to Buducnost (3-5), which is also still in the playoff picture despite three losses out of four. The Lithuanian team has won five in a row, most recently outshooting Trento largely thanks to 23 points from backcourt star Andrew Andrews, who ranks fourth in the competition with 2.5 three-pointers made per game. Buducnost’s ongoing search for consistency will depend on leadership from veteran guard Rasheed Sulaimon, who averages 12.2 points and 3.4 assists per game but will be looking to improve his three-point shooting percentage of just 29.2%.