Here are some insightful comments about the game from the protagonists themselves.

Pre-game quotes: Gran Canaria vs. Buducnost

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica head coach Aleksandar Dzikic:

"They are first in our group, their results are proof of their quality. Both teams are different than they were in our first match. They are an aggressive open court team, with good shooters and players with iso qualities. Their bigs are a challenge for every opponent, changing the game on both ends."

Trademarks by Eurohoops: EuroCup’s key mid-season additions

Jordan Theodore - Umana Reyer Venice (photo Bursaspor) - EC21-RS11

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach Jurica Golemac:

“Umana Reyer is coming to Stozice, and this will be the fourth consecutive visit for our rivals. It is an extremely high-quality team that has greatly changed its composition and, among other things, brought in two new players, Jordan Theodore and the Slovenian national team player Jordan Morgan. In Valencia and Bologna, the Venetians were in the lead for most of the match, but did not hold out until the end. Certainly Umana Reyer is a team that is among the best in our group. They play specifically, with a lot of zone defense and takeovers, so we’re going to have to focus on their game in defense. Our game in defense will have to be physical, better than in previous matches, we will also have to be in the jump, as our rivals have very athletic players. This will definitely be one of the ways to succeed. I invite the fans to join us in as big as number as possible, as we will really need their help. I really hope that the match will be the most visited so far this season, because the guys deserve it.” 

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana player Yogi Ferrell:

“We know Umana Reyer is a very good team. Under both rims our competitors like to play physically and they are very good at it. We are facing a difficult test and we will have to do our best if we want to record a new victory. I invite all the fans to join us. With their energy, the Arena comes to life, it is also easier for us to play. We want them to join us in as big as numbers as possible.” 

### Umana Reyer Venice head coach Walter De Raffaele:

"A great, talented team, even stronger with Dragic. We do have big respect for Olimpija Ljuabljana and their organization. They won five games in a row in EuroCup, 14 of last 16 overall, they are rolling great. It’s an outstanding backcourt team as Ferrell and Pullen talent. We will need to limit their ball movement and crash the boards will be one of our main goals."

### Umana Reyer Venice player Michael Bramos:

"It will be a good test for us. Lubiana is coming off five wins in a row in EuroCup and they are playing really well right now. They score a lot, our defense against their shooters will be really important. We will need to find energy after last three games on the road."

Pre-game quotes: Olimpija vs. Venice

Melvin Ejim - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (photo Alessandro Scarpa - Reyer) - EC21

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Umana Reyer Venice (2022-03-23T19:00:00.000Z)

Salvo scored a season-high 15 points in Round 7 when Gran Canaria bested Buducnost in Montenegro 76-83. For the season he has averaged 7.8 points on 45.2% three-point shooting and 3.6 rebounds as a part-time starter. He’s been even more effective lately, averaging 9.0 points on 6-of-9 three-point shooting (66.7%) over his last four appearances. Another strong game from Salvo could be the difference-maker this week.

Micov, who scored 10 points against Gran Canaria last time, has been worth 8.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game this season. His trusted three-point shooting has abandoned him this season; Micov has made just 22.2% of his attempts from deep, but Micov’s track record shows that he can heat up in an instant. If Micov can do that in Gran Canaria, it could have a major impact and help his team snag a valuable road win. 

Two of the top teams in Group B will clash on Wednesday and small forwards Miquel Salvo of Gran Canaria and Vladimir Micov of Buducnost VOLI Podgorica are sure to be at the center of it. 

Major matchup: Salvo, Gran Canaria vs. Micov, Buducnost

Miquel Salvo - Gran Canaria (photo Gran Canaria) - EC21

Play in the paint will be critical when Boulogne Metropolitans 92 and Joventut Badalona meet on Wednesday and All-EuroCup big man Vince Hunter from the home team and his counterpart Vladimir Brodziansky will surely have key roles. 

Major matchup: Hunter, Metropolitans vs. Brodziansky, Joventut

Hunter had a strong showing for Metropolitans with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals when they met Joventut in Round 7, though the team fell behind early and lost 86-63. For the season, Hunter has been worth 12.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. His PIR of 17.3 is third among big men this season, however, he has hit a rut recently with a total of 8 points and 7 rebounds over his last two games. Hunter will look to bounce back against Joventut. 

Brodziansky has averaged 12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 0.9 rebounds for a PIR of 14.6 in 20 minutes per game. He ranks fifth in the competition in per-minute scoring with 25.1 prorated over 40 minutes. Brodziansky only missed two shots in posting 13 points and 6 rebounds when his team beat Metropolitans earlier this season. After a quiet spell between Round 11 and 15, Brodziansky got back on track with 11 points in 15 minutes last week against Lietkabelis Panevezys and could be critical to his team’s chances in Paris this time. 

Boulogne Metropolitans 92 v Joventut Badalona (2022-03-23T19:30:00.000Z)

Vince Hunter - Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (photo Wojciech Cebula - Slask) - EC21

Jaka Blazic of Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Stefano Tonut of Umana Reyer Venice are certain to have big roles when their teams meet on Wednesday.

Major matchup: Blazic, Cedevita vs. Tonut, Reyer

Blazic has been the top performer on a red-hot Cedevita side which has won five in a row. He is averaging 15.7 points on 41.1% three-point shooting, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals for a team-high performance index rating of 17.9. Blazic only scored 10 points when Cedevita lost to Reyer in Venice, 77-70, in Round 7, though he also grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds. It is safe to assume he will look to get his share of points this time with the game in the Slovenian capital. 

Tonut is a gutsy all-around guard who can compete with Blazic both with his tough defense and offensive savvy. He has helped his team to the tune of 10.1 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists this season and contributed 16 points and 5 assists to his team’s victory over Cedevita. Reyer has lost three in a row and Tonut struggles in particular in the last two games in which he totaled just 10 points, 1 assist, 4 turnovers and a PIR of 4. He will look to bounce back against Blazic and co. 

Jaka Blazic - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (photo Alessandro Scarpa - Reyer) - EC21

The matchup between forwards Nikos Rogkavopoulos of Promitheas Patras and Kyle Weems of Virtus Segafredo Bologna could have a big impact on the outcome this week. 

Major matchup: Nikos Rogkavopoulos, Promitheas vs. Kyle Weems, Virtus

Rogkavopoulos, 20, has been one of the top young players in the EuroCup this season. The forward has averaged 8.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting more than half his shots from behind the arc. Rogkavopoulos was held to 4 points, but chipped in with 6 rebounds and 2 steals when these teams met in Round 7. Virtus won that game, 91-72, at home.

Weems missed just 2 shots in amassing a team-high 18 points and a PIR of 21 in that Round 7 game. He has averaged 13.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 rebounds as one of Virtus’s most consistent players. The 32-year-old will be counted on again as Virtus looks to put last’s week’s home loss behind it and complete a season sweep of Promitheas.

Promitheas Patras v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2022-03-23T17:15:00.000Z)

Kyle Weems - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

Swingmen John Holland of Frutti Extra Bursaspor and Josep Puerto of Valencia Basket will engage in a key matchup when their teams square off on Wednesday. 

Major matchup: Holland, Bursaspor vs. Puerto, Valencia

Holland was a midseason addition to the Bursaspor lineup and went off for 20 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting and 6 rebounds in his first home game, a 96-89 victory over Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse last week. The small forward has ventured out to the three-point line more than ever before over his past two seasons and his ability to knock down shots from deep could be critical to this game’s outcome.

Puerto, 23, is a product of the Valencia youth team and he has started in 11 of his 14 appearances this season. At 2.00 meters, Puerto has both the size and speed to match up with Holland on the defensive end. He has also taken more than twice as many shots from downtown as from inside the arc this season and Valencia has won the last three times Puerto has scored more than 5 points. Puerto has the skills to influence the game on both ends this week. 

Frutti Extra Bursaspor v Valencia Basket (2022-03-23T17:00:00.000Z)

John Holland - Frutti Extra Bursaspor (photo Gran Canaria) - EC21

The matchup between Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse’s big man Pierre Pelos and his ratiopharm Ulm counterpart Philipp Herkenhoff could prove decisive on Tuesday. 

Major matchup: Pelos, Bourg vs. Herkenhoff, Ulm

Pelos plays a major role for Bourg whether starting or coming off the bench. He has averaged 11.3 points and 4.0 rebounds with his shots almost evenly split between the perimeter and the paint. Pelos has made 60.4% of his two-pointers and 49.0% of his threes, the latter of which leads all big men in the league. 

Herkenhoff has had a big role thrust upon him recently with the injury to starting center Cristiano Felicio and he has performed well. Over his last four games, Herkenhoff has averaged 14.3 points on 11-of-24 three-point shooting (45.8%), 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists for a performance index rating of 17.5. Ulm will look to Herkenhoff to play will in France this week to boost the team’s chances on the road. 

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v ratiopharm Ulm (2022-03-22T19:00:00.000Z)

Pierre Pelos - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg) - EC21