It's do-or-die time in the BKT EuroCup as eight teams go head to head for the right to advance to the quarterfinals. Here's your guide to the action.
This week: The eighthfinals have arrived!
Άρθρο
4 Χρόνος Ανάγνωσης
Tuesday, March 5
ratiopharm Ulm vs. Joventut Badalona
Two teams who struggled towards the end of the regular season, both ending with 10-8 records, will look to recover their form as Ulm hosts Joventut. The Spanish side lost three straight to slide to fifth place, while Ulm suffered three consecutive home losses to sow seeds of doubt ahead of this knockout showdown. A key battle will take place in the backcourt, where the host's precocious talent Juan Nuñez (5.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game) will look to use his creativity to overcome the more direct style of Andres Feliz (5.0 assists, 2.1 steals). Inside the paint, the brutally consistent Trevion Williams (14.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, including double-digits scoring in all 17 regular season appearances) will try to overcome Joventut's wily veteran Ante Tomic (9.4 points, 5.6 boards and 2.6 assists per game).
Wednesday, March 5
Prometey Slobozhanske vs. Aris Midea Thessaloniki
Two teams high in confidence will battle for a quarterfinal berth as Prometey welcomes Aris. The host won three of its last four regular season games to finish with a 10-8 record, while Aris squeezed into the playoffs by winning its last two games for a 9-9 finish. The likely pattern of the game is plain to see: Aris ranked dead last in scoring during the regular season (74.6 points per game), but boasted the best defensive record by allowing an average of just 75.1 points. The task of trying to unlock the Greek team's tight defense will fall to Prometey big man Ondrey Balvin, who allows his team to control the rhythm with his average of 9.1 rebounds. For Aris, the main offensive weapon is Vassilis Toliopoulos, who led his team in both scoring (14.4 per night) and assists (3.5 per game).
London Lions vs. Turk Telekom Ankara
After stuttering into the knockout phase with two defeats in the last four games, London hosts a Turk Telekom team with a directly opposite trajectory. Last season's runner-up rescued an awful start to the campaign by winning five of its last six games to finish 8-10 and will have no fear despite London's superior 12-6 regular season record. The English team ranked third in the league in scoring (90.3 points per game), partly thanks to the potency of guard Matthew Morgan, who averaged 20.2 points over the last four games. He will be challenged by Turk Telekom's dynamo Tyrone Wallace, his team's scoring leader with 17.5 points per game. And another key will be a ferocious battle for inside dominance between London's Gabe Olaseni (15.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game) and visiting Steven Enoch (12.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg).
Dreamland Gran Canaria vs. Besiktas Emlakjet Istanbul
Reigning champ Gran Canaria will attempt to overcome a poor end to the regular season by overcoming Besiktas. Both teams are struggling for form, with the Spanish team losing three of its last four regular season games to finish at 12-6, while the visitor limped into the knockout stages with three straight defeats and a 9-9 record. Besiktas is the competition leader in offensive rebounding with 13.3 per game, while Gran Canaria ranks fourth-worst in protecting its backboard with 23.3 defensive boards per night. So the Turkish team's powerhouse center Angel Delgado (4.0 offensive rebounds per game) could be a key figure, and his battle with Ethan Happ (9.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game) will be crucial. In the backcourt, Andrew Albicy will look to drive a Gran Canaria team that leads the league in assists (23.1 per game) to overcome a Besiktas which bases its game plan on strong defense.