Group B co-leaders Valencia Basket and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica will meet on Tuesday with first place on the line.

Valencia, Buducnost to battle for Group B lead

Both teams come into the game with 7-3 records and are joined atop the group by Gran Canaria, which also has seven wins, but has played one game less. Valencia has won back-to-back games on the road and returns home where it is 3-2 this season. Last week Valencia came from behind to defeat Promitheas 68-71 behind 22 points and 9 boards from Mike Tobey. Buducnost, which signed Kendrick Perry over the weekend, comes off its worst loss of the season, 68-89 last week against ratiopharm Ulm. Coach Dzikic’s side brings a 3-1 road record into this game. When the teams last met, Buducnost edged Valencia 71-70 in Round 2 in October. Edin Atic scored a season-high 17 points for the winners.

Keys to victory: Slask vs. Metropolitans

Slask, however, was heavily outrebounded by Lietkabelis Panevezys in Round 10, 37-26. Slask pulled down just 4 offensive rebounds, much lower than its season average (11.3 orpg.). The Polish powerhouse needs to improve its two-point shooting percentage to have more options to beat Metropolitans; Slask ranks last overall at 46.9%. Preventing Will Cummings from dominating the game tempo could also be really important and Slask head coach Andrej Urlep can rely on Travis Trice to make the difference at both ends.

Metropolitans has been shooting the ball well (53.8% 2FG, 36.4% 3FG, 79.2% FT) and combines a good, physical presence on the offensive glass (11.8 orpg.) with a controlled offense in which Coach Vincent Collet's players don't make many mistakes (11.8 turnovers per game). On defense, stopping Kerem Kanter and Aleksander Dziewa may be critical, as Slask runs its offense through its starting frontcourt duo. Metropolitans are last in fouls committed (16.1 per game) and may need to be more aggressive against the Slask big men.

Slask Wroclaw v Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (2022-01-25T19:00:00.000Z)

Two of the best rebounders in the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup meet again in Round 11 when Slask Wroclaw takes on Boulogne Metropolitans 92 at Centennial Hall.

Marquee matchup: Slask's Kanter vs. Metropolitans's Hunter

Kerem Kanter, back for the first time in Round 8, ranks second in rebounds (7.8 rpg.) and also averages 9.9 points this season. Kanter must use his power and blue-collar mentality against Vince Hunter, Metropolitans' main frontcourt reference. Hunter has averaged 14.0 points and 7.7 rebounds, which is third in the competition. The battle of the boards should be truly important in that game and both Hunter and Kanter are main characters to take into account when it comes to that battle.

Kerem Kanter - Slask Wroclaw (photo Dragana Stjepanovic - Partizan) - EC21

In an interesting showdown in Group A, Slask Wroclaw (1-8) hosts Boulogne Metropolitans 92 (5-5) at Centennial Hall.

Slask, Metropolitans meet in Wroclaw

Slask is on a three-game losing streak and looks for its second victory of the EuroCup season, led by Travis Trice (11.1 ppg., 6.0 apg.), Kerem Kanter (9.9 ppg., 7.8 rpg.) and Aleksander Dziewa (9.7 ppg.). Metropolitans will try to get its second road win – after defeating Hamburg Towers in Round 5 in Germany. Will Cummings (18.2 ppg.) is its top scorer followed by Vince Hunter (14.0 ppg., 7.7 rpg.) and Tony Crocker (11.3 ppg.). In Round 2, Metropolitans defeated Slask 86-83 at home behind 17 points from Cummings.

ratiopharm Ulm plays at a really high tempo, and that leads to many turnovers sometimes. Indeed, Ulm leads the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup in turnovers at 16.3 per game.

Keys to victory: Ulm vs. Virtus

Being able to reduce this number against another run-and-gun team like Virtus Segafredo Bologna should be one of the biggest keys to this game. Ulm must prevent Kyle Weems and Marco Belinelli from getting good looks from downtown, as Virtus is running its offense through its swingmen. If Semaj Christon can get comfortable in transition, Ulm should have a good chance to win.

Virtus is the highest-scoring team in the competition at 90.4 points per game. Its outstanding shot selection allows the Italian powerhouse to be competitive at almost all times. Virtus ranks third in two-point shooting percentage (58.6% 2FG) and second from beyond the arc (41.7% 2FG). Milos Teodosic remains sidelined but Virtus Isaia Cordinier is back in the lineup and gives Virtus more options on offense due to his one-on-one skills and aggressiveness. If Amar Alibegovic and JaKarr Sampson can stop Jaron Blossomgame, Virtus should have a better chance to win at ratiopharm Arena.

ratiopharm Ulm v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2022-01-25T18:30:00.000Z)

Two of the best big men in the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup are set to face each other when ratiopharm Ulm takes on Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 11.

Marquee matchup: Ulm's Felicio vs. Virtus's Jaiteh

Ulm's Cristiano Felicio is averaging 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 10 EuroCup games until now. He’s been even better over his last four games with averages of 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. Felicio must use his size and experience against Mam Jaiteh, who has stepped up big for Virtus. Like Felicio, Jaiteh has done great until now (10.0 ppg., 6.6 rpg.) and even better in the last four games (12.8 ppg., 7.3 rpg.). Expect high intensity and a lot of energy in this matchup.

Mam Jaiteh - Virtus Segafredo Bologna - EC21

In already a pivotal showdown, ratiopharm Ulm (5-5) hosts Virtus Segafredo Bologna (6-3) on Tuesday in the first Round 11 game in Group B.

Ulm meets Virtus in pivotal clash

Ulm comes off a 21-point road win against Buducnost VOLI Podgorica and wants to keep its momentum going, led by Semaj Christon (17.2 ppg., 6.2 apg.), Jaron Blossomgame (13.6 ppg., 7.4 rpg.) and Cristiano Felicio (12.3 ppg., 7.2 rpg.). Virtus registered an 83-82 home victory against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in its last game and looks for more. Marco Belinelli (14.3 ppg.) is its active top scorer, followed by Kyle Weems (14.1 ppg.) and Mam Jaiteh (10.0 ppg.). In Round 2, Virtus defeated Ulm 87-76 at home behind 20 points off the bench from Jaiteh.

Turk Telekom Ankara is tied for fourth place in blocks this season (3.2 bpg.) and needs to keep that aggressiveness against a deep Partizan NIS Belgrade frontcourt led by Mathias Lessort, Zach Leday and Alen Smailagic.

Keys to victory: Turk Telekom vs. Partizan

Octavius Ellis leads the competition in blocked shots (1.9 bpg.) and JaJuan Johnson is tied for sixth place (1.0 bpg.), so they should have a critical role in this game. On offense, Turk Telekom relies on Alex Perez to dominate the game tempo and share the ball efficiently. Perez ranks second in assists (7.9 apg.) but is also tied for second place in turnovers (3.0 per game).

Other than getting its frontcourt involved on offense, Partizan has to keep excelling in all the hustle stats. The Serbian powerhouse ranks first in blocks (4.2 bpg.), fourth in steals (8.3 spg.) and gets 10.6 offensive rebounds per night. That hustle turns into offensive productivity, as Partizan ranks fourth in scoring (86.0 ppg.) and fifth in defensive rebounds (26.3 drpg.). Partizan must improve its ball circulation to be even more competitive. It ranks 16th in assists (17 apg.) and makes 13.3 turnovers per night. Stopping Aaron Harrison is a big key and Partizan relies on Kevin Punter and Aleksa Avramovic to do so.

Turk Telekom Ankara v Partizan NIS Belgrade (2022-01-25T17:00:00.000Z)

Balsa Koprivica - Partizan NIS Belgrade - EC21

Two of the best scorers in the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup are set to test their skills against each other when Turk Telekom Ankara hosts Partizan NIS Belgrade in Round 11.

Marquee matchup: Turk Telekom's Harrison vs. Partizan's Punter

Aaron Harrison is an outstanding catch-and-shoot scorer with unlimited range and great character. He is proving it this season, averaging 16.0 points on 43.8% three-point shooting while drawing 5.0 fouls drawn per night. He must be ready for a big scoring battle against Kevin Punter, who is also having an outstanding season. Punter leads Partizan in scoring at 17.9 points, hitting 70.2% of its two-point shots and 89.4% of his free throw attempts. He also goes to the foul line often, averaging 5.3 fouls drawn per night.

Kevin Punter - Partizan NIS Belgrade - EC21