Anadolu Efes Istanbul continues adding players to a roster depleted by injury by announcing that playmaker Ridvan Oncel has joined the team on loan until the end of the season

Efes adds playmaker Oncel on loan

Anadolu Efes Istanbul continues adding players to a roster depleted by injury by announcing that playmaker [Ridvan Oncel](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/ridvan-oncel/010400/) has joined the team on loan until the end of the season. Oncel (1.91 meters, 26 years old) arrives from Darussafaka Istanbul ,where he averaged 9.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the Turkish League this season, as well as 5.4 points and 3.4 assists in the Basketball Champions League.

At Efes, Oncel will reunite with head coach Erdem Can, center Tyrique Jones and injured forward Erkan Yilmaz, who were all together with Turk Telekom Ankara last season, reaching the EuroCup Finals as well as the Turkish League playoff final. Last season in EuroCup, Oncel started in 19 of 21 appearances, playing 12:24 minutes per game and posting 2.7 points and 1.5 assists.

[Yilmaz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/erkan-yilmaz-anadolu-efes-sk-out-for-three-months/) is one of half-dozen regulars from Efes roster currently sidelined with injury who are all due out until beyond this week's game at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, at least: center [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ante-zizic-anadolu-efes-sk-out-for-three-weeks-with-calf-injury/), until mid-December with a calf injury; guard [Rodrigue Beaubois](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-loses-clyburn-beaubois-to-injury/), until late December with a back injury; forward [Derek Willis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-forward-willis-undergoes-finger-surgery/), due out until January with a broken ring finger; and forward [Will Clyburn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-loses-clyburn-beaubois-to-injury/), until early January with a leg injury. Center Tibor Pleiss hasn't played since Round 8, either. One player who might return to action in Round 14 for Efes is Elijah Bryant, who missed seven games, but is listed as questionable for a clash against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Oncel previously played at Galatasaray Istanbul and also with Bahcesehir Koleji Istanbul. Prior to that, Oncel spent eight years with Bandirma Kirmizi, club where he played in junior categories and later made his professional debut. He has also been a member of the Turkish national team, and has helped its U18 squad win a silver medal at the 2015 European Championships. He is now set for his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut.

Efes has found some backcourt help to alleviate its spate of injuries.

Sarunas "Saras" Jasikevicius, the iconic former EuroLeague player whose star rose just as quickly as a head coach, will be the new man at the head of the bench for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, replacing Dimitris Itoudis.

Fenerbahce names Sarunas Jasikevicius head coach through 2026!

[Sarunas "Saras" Jasikevicius](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-barcelona/bar/jasikevicius-saras/?season=E2022), the iconic former player whose star rose just as quickly as a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague head coach, will be the new man at the head of the bench for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, the club announced on Thursday.

Jasikevicius, 47, replaces Dimitris Itoudis, who was let go on Wednesday after a year and a half with Fenerbahce. Jasikevicius and the club signed a contract through the end of the 2025-26 season.

A tumultuous 24 hours, ending a day before Fenerbahce hosts AS Monaco in Round 14 of the regular season, came as the team is tied for 11th place in the EuroLeague standings with a record of 6-7, including a pair double-round losses on the road in Spain last week. A domestic home loss to injury-riddled Anadolu Efes Istanbul over the weekend added to the impetus for change among the club's management.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Fenerbahçe Beko’nun yeni başantrenörü Sarunas Jasikevicius! 💛💙 <br><br>👉 <a href="https://t.co/BydWHDC7Eg">https://t.co/BydWHDC7Eg</a> <a href="https://t.co/RK5CFOfDaO">pic.twitter.com/RK5CFOfDaO</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1735298882442056013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 

"Everything happened very quick in the process of my arrival," said Jasikevicius in an interview with the club's official media channels. "Of course it's not easy, but at the end of the day we are here to do our job: to help Fenerbahce to win games and hopefully achieve great success. I'm definitely very excited to be here. There are so many familiar faces for me, so many familiar sights and places. I realize it's not an easy situation, so we will need everyone's support. But little by little, we will try to implement some new ideas. I am grateful for this opportunity and I am looking forward to this new chapter."

### Saras has taken his playing success on the bench

Jasikevicius came off a legendary playing career, in which he was crowned a EuroLeague champion four times with three different teams, to quickly make his impact in the coaching ranks. He spent a season and a half as an assistant coach at his hometown club, Zalgiris Kaunas, before being elevated to the top position in the middle of the 2015-16 season and compiling a 2-10 record the rest of the way.

In its first full season under Saras, Zalgiris improved to 14-16, falling just short of the EuroLeague Playoffs. But in the next one, 2017-18, Jasikevicius and Zalgiris broke the bank. Not only did Zalgiris reach the playoffs for the first time in more than 15 years, it also upset Olympiacos Piraeus despite lacking home-court advantage and claimed the club's first Final Four qualification since it had been continental champion in 1999. Zalgiris lost to defending champion Fenerbahce in the semifinals but defeated CSKA Moscow for third place. The next season, Zalgiris returned to the playoffs but lost 4-1 to Fenerbahce. In the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, Zalgiris was 12-16 and tied for ninth place when the competition stopped.

Focus on: Sarunas Jasukevicius, FC Barcelona

### Challenging for titles with Barcelona

The 2020-21 season saw Jasikevicius return to FC Barcelona, the club with which he had won his first EuroLeague title as a player in 2003, and continue his success. Barca finished first in the EuroLeague Regular Season, defeated Zenit St Petersburg 3-2 in the playoffs, and returned to the Final Four for the first time in seven years. After beating EA7 Emporio Armani Milan on a buzzer-beater in the semifinals, Barca fell short in the championship game against Anadolu Efes Istanbul. The next year, Barca again finished first in the regular season and again won a five-game playoff, this time against FC Bayern Munich, but was beaten by archrival Real Madrid in the semifinals at the Final Four and settled for third place. Last season, after a second-place regular-season finish, Barca swept Zalgiris in the playoffs, but lost another semifinal to Real Madrid, the eventual champion, and finished fourth after losing the Third Place Game to AS Monaco. After the season, Barca and Jasikevicius parted ways.

All told Saras coached 140 games over parts of five seasons with Zalgiris for a 66-74 record and 118 more with Barcelona for an 82-36 record. His winning rate of 57.4%, based on a 148-110 overall record, ranks 10th among coaches with at least 100 EuroLeague games this century.

### Second stop at Fenerbahce

As a player, Jasikevicius earned Euroleague Basketball Legend status for his winning ways throughout his career. He is the only player in competition history to lift the EuroLeague trophy with three different teams (Barcelona 2003, Maccabi Tel Aviv 2004 and 2005, Panathinaikos Athens 2009) and the last to lift the trophy in three consecutive seasons.

His pro career started with a season each at Lietuvos Rytas of Lithuania and Union Olimpija of Slovenia before he landed at Barcelona, with whom he won the EuroLeague title in the last of his three seasons there. His legend grew over the next two seasons as he guided Maccabi Tel Aviv as point guard to back-to-back titles and lifted the 2005 Final Four MVP trophy in the process. He landed next at Panathinaikos Athens and won the continental crown there in 2009, giving him four EuroLeague trophies in seven seasons. 

Saras played short stints at both Rytas and Fenerbahce in the 2010-11 season before finishing his career with one-season stops again at Panathinaikos, Barcelona and, finally, his hometown club, Zalgiris.

Now back at Fenerbahce, Jasikevicius is due to debut on its bench this Friday against visiting Monaco.

In less than 24 hours, Fenerbahce changed courses by substituting one renowned head coach with another.

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v AS Monaco (2023-12-15T17:45:00.000Z)

Check out these bold predictions from EuroLeague.net staff members for Round 14 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Bold predictions for Round 14

### Zvezda will flip the script against visiting ALBA

#### *by Frank Lawlor*

All signs point to apprehension for the host of [Round 14's tipoff game between Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (4-9) and visiting ALBA Berlin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade-alba-berlin/E2023/124/) on Thursday. Zvezda is just 3-6 since Ioannis Sfairopoulos took over as head coach, albeit with five of those losses by 5 points or less. And while visiting ALBA (2-11) sits in the basement of the standings, the German club is getting back three key players from injury this week. What's more, ALBA has won all four of its road games against Zvezda this decade and has an overall 8-2 advantage against the hosts. All that said, pressure is a good teacher and Zvezda simply can't afford to lose this game. The hosts lead ALBA in every statistical category except steals, blocks and free throw percentage. Keep ALBA off the free throw line and this will be the night that Zvezda comes together with its fan base to show what it can do for the rest of the season.

After ending their winless slump at Maccabi, Zvezda look to boost their top-eight pursuit against an stuttering ALBA team that have lost six in succession and on the brink of being the first team to be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs ALBA Berlin - Round 25 - Highlights

### Partizan steals one in Kaunas 

#### *by Javier Gancedo*

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade may be 1-5 on the road this season but I predict that head coach Zeljko Obradovic's men will bounce back [in their Round 14 game against Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/zalgiris-kaunas-partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/E2023/121/). Partizan already beat Zalgiris last season, 74-88, at Zalgirio Arena and arrives to this game with very good momentum, mainly because Kevin Punter is back to lead the team, hitting one clutch shot after another. P.J. Dozier is also on his way up and should be ready to keep it going against Keevan Evans, one of the hardest guards to play against due to his quickness and talent. Bruno Caboclo's addition gives Coach Obradovic a good option to use against center Kevarrius Hayes, too. Zalgirio Arena offers an energized atmosphere, but if any team knows how to play in front of big crowds, that is definitely Partizan. After three consecutive home wins, it is time for Partizan to win on the road.

### Monaco to end Fenerbahce’s perfect home record

#### *by Geoff Gillingham*

The EuroLeague world was shaken on Tuesday with the news that [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul had decided to part ways with head coach Dimitris Itoudis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-beko-parts-ways-with-dimitris-itoudis/). On Thursday, Fenerbahce announced [Saras Jasikevicius as Itoudis's replacement](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-names-sarunas-jasikevicius-head-coach-through-2026/), and he will lead the team for the first time [on Friday night against AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-as-monaco/E2023/123/). Nevertheless, I expect Monaco head coach Sasa Obradovic and his team to come away with a win from Istanbul in Round 14. Fenerbahce is a perfect 5-0 on its home floor this season and Monaco has lost on both of its previous trips to Ulker Sports and Events Hall, yet I believe star point guard Mike James will put on a show and guide his team to an important road victory. Winning would further cement Monaco’s place in the top six, while Fenerbahce would remain on the outside looking in with regard to the Play-In Showdown race.

### Baskonia bigs have the answers for Toko

#### *by Frankie Sachs*

Tornike Shengelia is a beloved figure in Vitoria-Gasteiz, where he spent six years and led Baskonia to the Spanish crown in 2020. He is also playing his best basketball this season with Virtus, which he has sitting pretty in third place while leading the league in performance index rating with an average of 22.3 per game. 

However, [his return to the Basque Country](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-virtus-segafredo-bologna/E2023/120/) will not be a triumphant one as Baskonia has the depth needed to give Shengelia a tough time for however long he is on the floor. Between starting power forward Tadas Sedekerskis and supersub Chima Moneke, Baskonia has two outstanding players on the rise to match up with the Virtus star. That should be just what the hosts need to win at home and move into a tie for the third-best record in the competition.

Markus Howard and Chima Moneke have impressed for Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz since Dusko Ivanovic took over as head coach ahead of Round 6 in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Best plays of Howard, Moneke since Ivanovic's arrival

### Mirotic-less Milan will shock Palau Blaugrana

#### *by Igor Petrinovic*

This was a fixture everyone was expecting ever since All-EuroLeague forward Nikola Mirotic signed with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan this past summer. However, a flare-up of his Achilles tendon problems has put Mirotic's return to Palau Blaugrana on hold. Even without Mirotic, though, [this still is a classic matchup of two basketball giants](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-barcelona-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/E2023/125/) and two pre-season favorites. Through 13 rounds, however, only one of them has been living up to expectations. FC Barcelona enters this game in second place at 10-3, buoyed by a perfect 7-0 record at home. Milan, meanwhile, has a 4-9 record mark after three consecutive defeats. But Milan has plenty of undeniable quality and was oh-so-close to sweeping two road games last week, but had to settle for losses instead. Shavon Shields has been playing lights-out, scoring at least 18 points and hitting at least 3 triples in each of Milan's last six games. Shields will continue on the same path in Barcelona, but this time, will lead Milan to an upset victory.

FC Barcelona v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2023-12-15T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Valencia Basket (2023-12-15T19:15:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v ALBA Berlin (2023-12-14T18:00:00.000Z)

Real Madrid v FC Bayern Munich (2023-12-14T19:45:00.000Z)

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2023-12-14T19:30:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2023-12-14T20:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2023-12-14T18:00:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2023-12-14T19:05:00.000Z)

Wade Baldwin and Shane Larkin, superstar guards who are among the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's most productive players in recent years, are set to square off once again when Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv hosts Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

Baldwin, Larkin set for another memorable showdown

[Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) and [Shane Larkin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shane-larkin/007200/), superstar guards who are among the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague's most productive players in recent years, are set to square off once again when Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv plays host to Anadolu Efes Istanbul on Thursday in Round 14.

This will mark the seventh time Baldwin and Larkin face each other on EuroLeague courts, and their previous matchups produced some stellar performances and memorable showdowns.

### Larkin went off in their first meeting

None was more historic than the first time the two were on the opposite sides, in March of 2020. Baldwin, then with Olympiacos Piraeus, was a first-hand witness to Larkin making EuroLeague history, scoring 40 points in [a 91-79 Efes win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2019-20/anadolu-efes-istanbul-olympiacos-piraeus/E2019/249/) to become the first EuroLeague player this century with two 40-point games to his name. He also tied the EuroLeague single-game record by making 10 three-point shots that night. 

In March 2020, Shane Larkin scored 40 points and tied a EuroLeague record with 10 three-pointers made in an Anadolu Efes Istanbul win vs. Olympiacos Piraeus.

Shane Larkin's 40 points, 10 triples vs Olympiacos

Baldwin, then a EuroLeague rookie, had 8 points that night, which remains his only single-digit scoring performance against Efes and Larkin.

Baldwin has the edge in victories

Larkin's performance in that first meeting had a major impact on their numbers in six head-to-head games, over which he averaged 18.5 points and 3.8 triples made at a rate of 44.3% for a per-game PIR of 20.3.

Nonetheless, Baldwin owns 4-2 record when Larkin is on the other team, and if that one game is removed from the calculation, he is the one outscoring Larkin, 16.0 points to 14.2.

Baldwin has made just 6 triples in his six career games against Efes and Larkin, but has shot 60.0% on two-pointers and averaged 5.2 assists in those games. That number is boosted by a pair of 11-assist performances.

### Baldwin's double-doubles vs. Efes

The first time Baldwin had double-digit assists in a EuroLeague game was in November 2020, when he posted 15 points and 11 assists while playing for FC Bayern Munich in a 71-74 road win against Efes.

Then, in March of 2022, Baldwin had 20 points and 11 assists in leading Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz to an 87-74 win over Efes, which was both the defending and eventual back-to-back champion at that time. Larkin hit 7 triples and had 21 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in that game.

Wade Baldwin scored 23 points last season vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul, leading Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv to a 64-86 win.

Wade Baldwin scored 23 points last season vs Efes

In their only head-to-head game last season, Baldwin also dominated in [Maccabi's 64-86 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2022-23/anadolu-efes-istanbul-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2022/248/), scoring 23 points and delivering 4 assists.

This season, both players are off to a great start. Larkin is averaging 17.7 points and 5.5 assists this season, while Baldwin is posting 19.7 points and 5.7 assists over the last three games after having missed the first five due to injury.

With both playing well, and Efes heavily depleted by injuries, there are reasons to believe we might be in for another memorable game involving Wade Baldwin and Shane Larkin.

Thursday's clash between Maccabi and Efes also delivers a backcourt showdown between two superstar guards.

Jordan Mickey will be unavailable for Virtus Bologna for the next month after sustaining a quadriceps injury.

Virtus Bologna big man Jordan Mickey to miss a month

Virtus Segafredo Bologna announced on Wednesday that [Jordan Mickey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-mickey/008847/) will miss the next four weeks due to a quadriceps injury. The big man left [Friday’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague victory over Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-virtus-bologna-vs-maccabi-tel-aviv-bc/) with what was later diagnosed as a left rectus femoris muscle injury.

Mickey, 29, has averaged 9.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.8 blocks for a PIR of 10.0 in 10 appearances this season for Virtus. It is his second season with the club and sixth in the EuroLeague. He missed three games earlier this season with an ankle injury. 

More Virtus News

Jordan Mickey of Virtus Segafredo Bologna in action against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Round 13 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The center suffered a quadriceps injury in Friday’s EuroLeague victory over Maccabi.

Virtus big man Jordan Mickey to miss a month

Fenerbahçe Beko has announced the dismissal of head coach Dimitris Itoudis, who had been in charge since the summer of 2022 and led the team to a 27-25 record across the last two seasons.

Fenerbahçe Beko parts ways with Dimitris Itoudis

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul has confirmed the dismissal of Dimitris Itoudis as the team’s head coach. Itoudis had been in charge of Fenerbahce since the summer of 2022 and led the team to a combined 27-25 record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague over the last season and a half. So far this season, the Turkish side is 12th in the standings with a 6-7 record.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Dimitris Itoudis’e teşekkürlerimizle<br><br>2022-23 sezonundan bu yana baş antrenörlüğümüzü yapan Dimitris Itoudis ile yollarımız ayrılmıştır.<br><br>Fenerbahçe Ailesi&#39;ne verdiği katkılardan dolayı Dimitris Itoudis’e teşekkür eder, kariyerinin bundan sonraki döneminde kendisine başarılar… <a href="https://t.co/v9lfvjL6bU">pic.twitter.com/v9lfvjL6bU</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1734961418577801250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The Greek tactician’s first campaign as Fenerbahce boss saw the team reach the 2022-23 EuroLeague Playoffs, sneaking in as the eighth seed. Fenerbahce went on to force Olympiacos Piraeus to the fifth and final game of their series before losing in do-or-die fashion on the road at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

The Greek tactician’s first campaign as Fenerbahce boss saw the team reach the 2022-23 EuroLeague Playoffs, but it only did so after sneaking in as the eighth seed. Fenerbahce went on to force Olympiacos Piraeus to a five-game series, before losing a do-or-die Game 5 at Peace and Friendship Stadium.

### Lofty expectations for Itoudis

Ever since making his head coaching bow in the EuroLeague with CSKA Moscow in the 2014-15 season, Itoudis has been synonymous with success. He ended up staying at CSKA for eight seasons, during which time the Russian team won the 2015-16 and 2018-19 EuroLeague titles. He had a 191-64 record as CSKA boss, too, and led the club to six Final Four appearances.

It was hoped that Itoudis would be able to replicate that level of dominance upon his arrival at Fenerbahce, but the team has often blown hot and cold. Just this season, Fenerbahce is a perfect 5-0 on its home floor but 1-7 on its travels.

The experienced coach reveals his ambitions for they yellow and blue quarter of Istanbul and discusses the attributes he looks for in a player to enable them to be a part of his teams.

Dimitrios Itoudis: Leading Fenerbahçe

Even more recently, Itoudis’s squad ended Real Madrid’s 10-0 start to the season with a thrilling 100-99 overtime win in Round 11, but it then went on to lose at Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and FC Barcelona in the double-round week last week. That lack of consistency, albeit amid a spate of injuries last month, has prevented Fenerbahce from establishing itself as one of the teams at the top of the standings.

### Fenerbahce wants to return to the Final Four

Fenerbahce only made it to the EuroLeague Final Four for the first time in the 2014-15 campaign, but that started a run of success that saw the team reach European basketball’s showpiece event in each of the next four seasons. That five-year run of Final Four appearances came to an end in the 2018-19 season, Zeljko Obradovic’s penultimate year in charge.

Now, Fenerbahce has looked to revive its playoff – and Final Four – hopes with a change of head coach.

More Fenerbahce News

Dimitris Itoudis on the sideline during a Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul game in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The Greek head coach had been in charge of the Turkish side since the summer of 2022.

Fenerbahce parts ways with Dimitris Itoudis

Saski Baskonia (8-5) and Virtus Bologna (9-4) go head-to-head in Round 14 of the 2023-24 EuroLeague Regular Season, with both teams having been transformed under new head coaches.

Two sides on a roll face off when Saski Baskonia, Virtus Bologna meet

Before the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season got underway, not many would have predicted that [Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/carousels/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22bas%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Baskonia%20Vitoria-Gasteiz) (8-5) and [Virtus Segafredo Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/carousels/virtus-segafredo-bologna/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22vir%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Virtus%20Segafredo%20Bologna) (9-4) would be in the top four positions after 13 rounds of action.

Well, ahead of their Round 14 clash at Buesa Arena on Thursday night, fourth-placed Baskonia and third-placed Virtus are firmly in the race to make the EuroLeague Playoffs. And both teams have been on fire since making a change at the head coach position.

### Baskonia is a team transformed

Having begun the season with a 1-4 record through the first five games, Baskonia decided to part ways with Joan Penarroya. Baskonia had a chance at making the playoffs in the final games of last season, but a disappointing start to the 2023-24 campaign saw the club decide that fresh ideas were needed. [Enter: Dusko Ivanovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/dusko-ivanovic-returns-for-a-fourth-stint-at-baskonia/).

Back at Baskonia for a fourth stint in charge of the club, Ivanovic hit the ground running with a memorable 84-83 win against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in Round 6. Then, one week later, Ivanovic’s squad came out on top by 1 point once again in Round 7, beating Olympiacos Piraeus 74-75. After that came a dominant 94-71 triumph over Spanish rival FC Barcelona. In short, it was the perfect start.

Ever since Ivanovic landed back at Baskonia, the team has gone 7-1 and improved to an 8-5 record overall, which has seen it catapult up the standings. The Montenegrin tactician has managed to get [Markus Howard](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/markus-howard/011948/) playing at an elite level once again, with the second-year guard having averaged 13.4 points per game under Penarroya in the first five games of the season before posting 21.6 points per night since Ivanovic’s arrival.

Another player who has thoroughly impressed for Baskonia in recent weeks is power forward [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/), although a look at his numbers makes for curious reading. Coming off his rookie EuroLeague season with AS Monaco, in which his game time was limited after arriving mid-season, the charismatic 27-year-old made an instant impression this season.

Through the first four rounds, having missed Round 5 due to an injury, Moneke averaged 17.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals with Penarroya at the helm. In the last eight games, his numbers have dropped to 14.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 steals, but most importantly he has contributed towards winning with crucial plays during Baskonia’s run under Ivanovic.

Howard and Moneke are just two of a number of Baskonia players who have impressed in this 7-1 stretch, but the Spanish side is playing with so much confidence at present that it heads into any game feeling that it can come out on top.

### The Banchi revolution at Virtus

The same can be said at Virtus. But first, let’s go back to the start of the season. The Italian team had a superstar head coach in Sergio Scariolo in the 2022-23 campaign, with the experienced play-caller having guided Virtus to BKT EuroCup glory and subsequently a place in the EuroLeague one season prior.

Yet, a 14-20 record and a 14th-placed finish last season in the EuroLeague, despite having a roster filled with talent, was very disappointing. Even more so was the way in which Virtus played, with Scariolo’s group often failing to play the team-orientated basketball that had become a trademark of his time with the Spanish national team.

Coming into this season, Scariolo was not happy with the work done by the club’s leadership in its recruitment of players, while he also made it clear that guard [Iffe Lundberg](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/iffe-lundberg/010781/) was not a part of his plans. For Virtus owner Massimo Zanetti, this was the final straw as [he decided to part ways with Scariolo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-bologna-parts-ways-with-sergio-scariolo/) less than three weeks before the 2023-24 EuroLeague season got underway.

The same day that Virtus dismissed Scariolo, September 15, the club also announced [the arrival of Luca Banchi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-bologna-names-luca-banchi-new-head-coach/), who had earned many plaudits at the 2023 FIBA World Cup after guiding a Latvia side missing its best player, Kristaps Porzingis, to a fifth-placed finish. Banchi didn’t have much time before Virtus’s EuroLeague campaign got underway, with the club hosting Zalgiris Kaunas on October 5.

The top plays of Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward Tornike Shengelia in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Shengelia's best plays this season

It wasn’t the best of starts for Coach Banchi, too, as Virtus threw away a 16-point lead and lost that game to Zalgiris, 79-82. Then came the news that forward Achille Polonara, a new recruit over the summer, had [undergone surgery to remove a testicular tumor](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/chemotherapy-will-leave-virtuss-polonara-out-at-least-four-weeks/). Virtus’s season was up in the air just one game in.

However, the entire squad came even closer together and, playing the team basketball that has become a staple of Banchi's Virtus this year, the Italian side ended up thrashing AS Monaco on the road, 59-83, in Round 2. It then won its next four games to improve to a 5-1 record. A humbling defeat at reigning EuroLeague champion Real Madrid came in Round 7, with *Los Blancos* winning 100-74, and since then Virtus has blown hot and cold.

In short, when Virtus plays at home, it wins. When it plays on the road, it loses. That has been the recurring theme since Round 6, when the Italian side beat Anadolu Efes Istanbul, 93-81. Virtus is on a three-game losing streak on its travels at present but is on a two-game winning run overall, having won both games against Final Four-chasing Barca and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in Bologna during the double-round week.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="it" dir="ltr">Buonanotte dalle V NERE 🤍🖤<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarsiAncora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmarsiAncora</a> <a href="https://t.co/uhaNEfwLPW">pic.twitter.com/uhaNEfwLPW</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1733257875689013284?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Virtus last won on the road at LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne in Round 5, back on October 27, so Coach Banchi will hope that the likes of [Toko Shengelia](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tornike-shengelia/001133/), who is back to playing at an MVP level, [Daniel Hackett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-hackett/001844/) and [Marco Belinelli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/marco-belinelli/bcn/) can continue to impress at Buesa Arena on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Lundberg and [Isaia Cordinier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/isaia-cordinier/009549/) will be looking to get back on track after shining against Barca but seeing their impact limited against Maccabi.

The contest between Baskonia and Virtus should be an incredible game between two teams playing some great basketball, and picking a winner is very, very difficult. But given the impact that both Coach Ivanovic and Coach Banchi have had on their respective teams, a hard-fought game is a guarantee.

Toko Shengelia of Virtus Segafredo Bologna in action against Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

They are two of the hottest teams in the EuroLeague at present.

Two sides on a roll face off when Baskonia, Virtus meet

EuroLeague Power Rankings by Eurohoops: Vol. 3

From strength to strength, Real Madrid retains the top position in the Power Rankings for the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, powered by Eurohoops. Los Blancos were first in Volumes 1 and 2, too. Since then, it has been more of the same with the distance from second place in the standings growing to two wins.

The intense competition below and the ties between multiple teams in the table add intrigue to their placement in the Power Rankings.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1596126/euroleague-power-rankings-by-eurohoops-vol-3-5/)

Label it as the third edition of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Power Rankings by Eurohoops… or Real Madrid and the remaining 17 teams.

Pablo Laso will take on Real Madrid Baloncesto with his new team, FC Bayern Munich, for the first time since leaving the club he led to two EuroLeague titles.

Pablo Laso returns to Real Madrid Baloncesto with FC Bayern Munich

Pablo Laso and Real Madrid. Real Madrid and [Pablo Laso](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/laso-pablo/?season=E2023). It is a relationship that will forever be intertwined, but in Round 14 of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, [the Spanish coach heads back to his former side with his new team](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-fc-bayern-munich/E2023/119/), FC Bayern Munich.

During a glittering 11-season stay in the Spanish capital, Laso led Real to two EuroLeague titles (2014-15, 2017-18) and three runner-up finishes (2012-13, 2013-14, 2021-22). Los Blancos reached the Final Four seven times under Laso’s stewardship, too, which is only bettered by one other team in the same period: CSKA Moscow, which went on eight occasions.

Pablo Laso returns to Real Madrid with Bayern: ‘Many years, many experiences, a lot of wins’

### Real Madrid remains in his heart

After leaving Real in the summer of 2022, Laso decided to spend a year away from coaching. But now, having recharged his batteries, he is leading Bayern’s exciting project. Nevertheless, the 56-year-old will always hold a big place in his heart for Real.

“A lot of things. Many years, many experiences, a lot of wins, EuroLeague champions,” Laso responds when asked what Real means to him.

“Real Madrid, for me, has been almost a life. When somebody tells you that you’ve been 11 years at that club, that’s a lot.”

### Seeing old friends at Real Madrid

Almost a year and a half has passed since Real took the decision to dismiss Laso, citing medical reasons after the Spaniard suffered a heart attack during the 2021-22 Spanish League finals, but the current Bayern boss still has lots of old friends at WiZink Center.

“\[Sergio\] Llull is my friend, Rudy \[Fernandez\] is my friend, for sure. Facu \[Campazzo\], Gaby Deck, for sure,” Laso comments. “I had a great relationship with them. All the players that I coached. 

“That’s dangerous, because they might really want to play good against you and they’re great players. I just hope that they’re very anxious and they don’t play that good!

“The best thing that I take \[from my time at Real\] is the friendship I have with a lot of the players there, and at the end it’s what you get \[for your hard work\] – those relationships. I’m really glad that I will have relationships there forever.”

The 56-year-old heads back to WiZink Center for the first time since departing.