Round 10 marks the start of teams facing each other for the second time this season
At a glance: The second half of the season is here!
Članak
8 Min čitanja
The second half of the BKT EuroCup regular season gets underway on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here’s your guide to Round 10’s action.
Tuesday, December 3
Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (18:30 CET)
A pair of direct rivals in Group B meet for a crucial game as Cedevita (5-4) welcomes Cluj (5-4). The first game between the teams was won by Cedevita, 86-93, so the Romanian team needs a road win of 8 points or more to claim the crucial head-to-head advantage. Cedevita’s key performer in that game was forward Devin Robinson (20 points), who has scored in double digits in six straight games. But Cluj is in excellent form with five wins in the last six games so will be confident of getting the result it needs, especially if backcourt star Adam Mokoka can repeat the form which saw him score 24 points in last week’s victory over Aris.
ratiopharm Ulm vs. Trefl Sopot (19:00 CET)
Ulm (5-4) will look to at least maintain a share of third place in Group A by overcoming Trefl (0-9), the only winless team in the EuroCup. The German team has struggled for consistency in recent week but boosted its morale with last week’s vital road win at Hapoel, powered by 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists from do-it-all forward Justinian Jessup. He also top scored with 20 points when Ulm grabbed an overtime victory over Trefl in Round 1, so needs no introduction to the visitors. Trefl needs to boost an offense which only mustered 58 points in last week’s loss at Gran Canaria, and will hope for a strong performance from Andy Van Vliet (10 points per game), who did not play in the Round 1 meeting.
Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (20:00 CET)
Trento (3-6) will look to boost its playoff ambitions by overcoming a strong Gran Canaria (7-2) which has won four of its last five games. The Spanish team boasts the second-best defense in the EuroCup, allowing only 73.7 points per game. Trento came close to taking a road win in Gran Canaria in Round 1, eventually losing 84-81 despite Jordan Ford pouring in 32 points, while Gran Canaria was powered by 20 points and 8 rebounds from Mike Tobey. Ford is looking to bounce back after a season-low 1 point in last week’s loss to Besiktas, and Gran Canaria will know that keeping him quiet will be a major factor in strengthening its position in Group A’s second place.
Wednesday, December 4
Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (17:00 CET)
Group A leader Bahcesehir (8-1) will look for a seventh straight victory with a visit from dangerous Wolves (5-4) – one of the four teams tied for third place. Bahcesehir’s competition-best defense (71.7 points per game) will present a severe test to a Wolves offense powered by Anthony Cowan (14.9 points per game), who scored 18 points in last week’s loss at Buducnost. That game saw the Lithuanian team allow 107 points, so improved defense will be the major focus. Bahcesehir’s latest victory, over Joventut last week, featured 13 points from Axel Bouteille on 3-of-5 three-point shooting, and the forward has now made 46.2% of his shots from beyond the arc this season.
7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (18:00 CET)
In a crunch clash of the edge of the Group B playoff positions, Lietkabelis (2-6) needs a return to form against visiting Turk Telekom (4-5). Both teams have lost their last two games, with Lietkabelis falling last week at home to Reyer despite 16 points and 8 assists from playmaker Dovis Bickauskis. After shipping 94 points in last week’s home loss to Hapoel Jerusalem, Turk Telekom will look to repeat the defensive performance that earned a 72-66 victory over Lietkabelis in Round 1, also featuring a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds from the consistent Anthony Brown, who ranks fourth in the EuroCup in scoring with 18 points per game.
Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Joventut Badalona (18:45 CET)
Hapoel (5-4) will look to retain its current third place in Group A and establish a three-game margin on visiting Joventut (3-6). Both teams have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, and this should be another close game, similar to the 78-75 victory for Joventut in Round 1. Ante Tomic was inevitably pivotal to that triumph with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, and he faces a good battle in the paint with Hapoel’s Bruno Caboclo, who averages 7.3 rebounds in the last three games. The hosts will again lean heavily on star man Patrick Beverley, who has scored in double digits in seven of this season’s nine games, while Joventut poses a threat through recent signing Sam Dekker, who scored 22 in last week’s loss at Bahcesehir.
Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:00 CET)
Time is running out for Aris (2-7) to launch a push for the playoffs as it faces a must-win home game against a Reyer team (4-5) aiming for a third straight success. The Italian team boosted its confidence with a crucial overtime victory at Lietkabelis last week, and will hope that dominant big man Mfiondu Kabengele can stay hot after pairing 21 points and 11 boards in that victory. The Round 1 meeting between the teams was taken easily by Reyer, 95-75, paced by 17 points from Jordan Parks, while Aris had 14 points from Landers Nolley, who returned to action after injury in last week’s loss to Cluj by draining 22 points.
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (19:00 CET)
After last week’s impressive win over Wolves with 104 points on the board, Buducnost (4-5) will look to climb into the top six and claim a third win in four by overcoming direct rival Besiktas (5-4). A double-double by big man Kenan Kamenjas was one of the keys for Buducnost last week, and he faces a good battle with Besiktas forward Conor Morgan, who averages 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Besiktas won by 18 points when the teams met in Round 1 behind 18 points and 6 assists from guard Derek Needham, who is looking for a return to form after being held to 2 points in last week’s win at Trento.
Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:30 CET)
Third-placed Bourg (5-4) will look to cement its position in the Group B playoff places by overcoming rock bottom Hamburg (2-7). Bourg has lost two in a row but easily won the first meeting between the teams this season, 80-100, with 18 points from Adrian Nelson. Hamburg has the next-to-worst defense in the competition, allowing 89.9 points per game, whereas Bourg takes better care of the basketball than any other team with just 11.2 turnovers per game and should therefore have plenty of chances to expose the visiting defense. Hamburg needs another strong game from Jordan Barnett, who hit 23 points in last week’s loss to Cedevita.
Valencia Basket vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (20:45 CET)
A big battle of title contenders ends the round in style as unbeaten Valencia (8-0) hosts second-placed Jerusalem (7-2). Competition leading scorer and Round 9 MVP Jared Harper (23.1 points per game) will relish the chance to take on his former club, but Valencia also boasts precocious talent in the backcourt with Jean Montero, who paired 19 points with 9 assists in last week’s win over Bourg. Valencia has won four in a row and Jerusalem four straight, so both teams will be high in confidence but the visiting team will need its usually strong defense – allowing just 75.6 points per game – to be on top form against a Valencia offense averaging a spectacular 96.9 points.