The Italian side hopes to bounce back after missing the 2024 playoffs
Games to Watch: Umana Reyer Venice
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Umana Reyer Venice is entering its seventh season in the BKT EuroCup, which makes it somewhat of a veteran club in the competition nowadays.
Its first experience came in the 2015-16 campaign and Reyer has been in each of the last six EuroCup editions – it is one of just six teams to have done so. The Italian club has advanced from the regular season on three occasions, but Reyer missed the EuroCup Playoffs last season.
Here are some key dates for Reyer in its quest to return to the postseason.
Round 2: A well-known trip
Reyer visits Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana on October 1. It will be the seventh showdown between Reyer and Cedevita, and the first time that the Italian side has played against the same opponent that many times in European competition. Last season, Reyer beat Cedevita twice, rallying from a double-digit deficit in the final six minutes to grab a 95-87 home victory, before notching a 93-104 road win. Cedevita is coming off a very underwhelming season and this is its first home game of the season, so Reyer will be eager to spoil the party in the Slovenian capital.
Round 13: The return of the king
In what should be a highly anticipated game, four-time EuroCup champion Valencia Basket visits Venice for the first time in over three years. It will be Valencia's third time heading to La Serenissima. In 2015, Valencia edged Reyer 58-62 at Palasport Taliercio in regular-season action. Both teams met again in Venice in 2021 and Valencia prevailed again, 67-81. Valencia is undefeated against Reyer, so the hosts should see that Round 13 game on January 2, 2025, as an opportunity to cause a shock. It would not only be a chance to finally beat Valencia, but it would see Reyer start 2025 with a notable win ahead of the final stretch of the regular season.
Round 17: Some pending issues
Reyer and Turk Telekom Ankara are expected to be playoff contenders this season, and their Round 17 game on January 29 in the Turkish capital could prove pivotal. It is also an opportunity for a couple of Reyer players to prove their value against one of their former teams. Tyler Ennis played for Turk Telekom for two seasons, leaving the team twice and seeing limited playing time (4.2 ppg., 1.0 apg.) in the 2021-22 EuroCup. Kyle Wiltjer also featured for Turk Telekom for two years, playing a leading role. Both Ennis and Wiltjer know what to expect in what could be a very important game.