Eighthfinals breakdown: Ulm vs. Buducnost

Two teams with contrasting approaches to squad building come head-to-head in the 7DAYS EuroCup Eighthfinals, as a youthful ratiopharm Ulm (11-7) side plays host to the experienced Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (9-9). While Ulm enters this single-elimination knockout game on a three-game winning streak that was worth a third-place finish in Group A, Buducnost failed to win its last three games of the regular season, dropping to sixth in Group B.

Ulm keen to make more noise in the playoffs

Last season, Ulm returned to the playoffs after an eight-year absence, and it didn’t take long for the German team to get people talking. Having snuck into the playoffs as the eighth seed in Group B, Ulm caused the biggest shock of the tournament in the eighthfinals by beating Group A leader Joventut Badalona, one of the favorites to win the championship, 73-79 on the road. It then saw its journey end in the quarterfinals, losing to eventual champion Virtus Segafredo Bologna 83-77, but Ulm had created a new buzz about its program.

The offseason saw plenty of changes, however, with the stars of last season's triumph departing; head coach Jaka Lakovic left for Gran Canaria, and American trio Semaj Christon, Jaron Blossomgame and Sindarius Thornwell all moved on. Ulm decided to look close to home for Coach Lakovic's replacement, promoting Anton Gavel from his position with Ulm's development team, while the signings of exciting guards Yago dos Santos and Juan Nunez were added to by the mid-season addition of Bruno Caboclo. Now, a lot of responsibility will be on Ulm's Brazilian duo of Dos Santos and Caboclo to help the team go as far as possible in the postseason.

Buducnost needs to flip the switch

First-year Buducnost head coach Vlada Jovanovic is able to boast one of the strongest rosters in the competition, yet there are some questions about the team heading into the playoffs. Following three straight defeats to end the regular season – against Dolomiti Energia Trento, Gran Canaria and Turk Telekom Ankara – Buducnost is not playing its best basketball right now, and its 1-4 record on the road in 2023 will not fill its fans with confidence either. Buducnost last won on its travels on January 11, which is not a great sign ahead of a trip to take a red-hot Ulm.

Nevertheless, Buducnost does have plenty of high-level players who have the ability to step up in this eighthfinals matchup. Erick Green, a 31-year-old Turkish Airlines EuroLeague veteran, and J.J. O'Brien, a 30-year-old EuroCup champion with AS Monaco in 2021, both joined Buducnost during the season as the club sent a message that it means business in the playoffs. Together with the likes of Trae Bell-Haynes and Alpha Kaba, they will be expected to hit the ground running in the playoffs; after all, there's no second chance in this do-or-die format.

A series for a surprise hero?

The star power on show across both squads is undeniable, with Ulm's quartet of Dos Santos, Caboclo, Nunez and Karim Jallow on one side and Buducnost's quartet of Bell-Haynes, Green, Kaba and O'Brien on the other, yet this is a series in which a surprise player could end up having a big say on the outcome. After all, the postseason is the best opportunity for a player to write their name into the history books.

For Ulm, Brandon Paul has provided much-needed experience in the backcourt since his mid-season arrival, averaging 11.4 points per night, and he will no doubt play an important role in the playoffs as one of the veterans. Meanwhile, the chance is there for Thomas Klepeisz, Robin Christen or Joshua Hawley to step up and contribute with points, as they have all shown the ability to reach double figures on a fairly regular basis.

In a similar vein, Buducnost has its own group that it can call upon. Like Paul for Ulm, Cameron Reynolds is a regular contributor as a starter for Buducnost, averaging 9.9 points per night, while Coach Jovanovic also has Petar Popovic, Igor Drobnjak and the experienced Marko Jagodic-Kuridza who can catch fire quickly and pour in the points.

Ulm's offense vs. Buducnost's defense

Ulm has been must-watch basketball for the majority of this year, with the playmaking of Dos Santos and Nunez helping the team have the sixth-best offense in the EuroCup at 84.4 points per game. After twice scoring more than 100 points – 106 on the road at Prometey Slobozhanske in Round 6 and 110 at home to Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Round 8 – the offensive potential at Coach Gavel's disposal makes the German side a big threat entering the postseason. What's more, Caboclo's team-high 16.9 points per game from the center position has come as an added boost.

On the other side of things, Buducnost boasts the EuroCup's worst offense (78.7 ppg.) and best defense (76.2 ppg.). Ulm, for comparison, gives up an average of 84.4 points per game – the exact same number it averages for points scored. Buducnost's defense has been anchored all season by the commanding presence of Kaba, who averaged a competition-high 10.5 rebounds, as well as 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks. The additions of Green and O'Brien have helped defensively, too, as they are both averaging 1.1 steals per game. Ultimately, this series will come down to which side of the floor is able to come out on top: Ulm's offense or Buducnost's defense.