Partizan NIS Belgrade was outrebounded in both of its losses this season and this week it faces a Dolomiti Energia Trento team that has some great rebounders. If Partizan can neutralize the Trento bigs to get second-chance baskets on offense and start the transition game going from defense, it will be tough to beat at home.

Keys to victory: Partizan vs. Trento

Trento has struggled on the offensive end this season due to its shooting; the team is last in the EuroCup in both assists (14.3 apg.) and three-point accuracy (29.8%) and second-bottom in two-point shooting (46.8%). Those numbers won’t cut it, especially on the road, against Partizan so the visitors will need to move the ball better and get good looks to have a good chance to leave Belgarde with a win.

Marquee matchup: Partizan’s Smailagic vs. Trento’s Caroline

Smailagic has averaged 9.8 points with good shooting numbers and 5.8 rebounds for Partizan this season. Caroline leads the EuroCup in rebounding with 8.3 per game and is second on Trento in scoring with 13.9. Smailagic operates on the perimeter a bit more than Caroline, but both players are effective all over the court and their matchup will surely have a say in how this game turns out.

It will be top against bottom in Group A when Partizan NIS Belgrade hosts Dolomiti Energia Trento on Wednesday.

Partizan seeks bounce-back win against slumping Trento

Partizan is tied for the group lead with a 6-2 record, while Trento is tied for last place at 1-7. Partizan has a pair of three-game winning streaks this season, but lost its last game of 2021 at Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar. However, Partizan is undefeated at home this season in four games. Trento has lost three in a row and is winless on the road this season. This is the fourth season in a row that the teams have met and Partizan is 3-0 at home in those previous encounters.

Zeljko Obradovic - Partizan NIS Belgrade (photo Fedor Aebor - Lokomotiv) - EC21

Virtus Segafredo Bologna's will be without star point guard Milos Teodosic, who was injured in Italian League action earlier this week.

Keys to victory: Virtus vs. Bourg

 Alessandro Pajola and Michele Ruzzier should see extended playing time from now on and their defensive work against CJ Harris could be one of the biggest keys to defeating Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Round 9. Virtus ranks second on two-point shooting (58.5%), first on three-point shooting (42.6%) and also leads the competition in assists (23.4 apg.). Being able to keep sharing the ball at that excellent level without Teodosic is Virtus's next challenge.

Bourg needs to improve its defense to be more competitive. The French powerhouse allows a league-low 63.5 points in victories, but 87.0 points in losses. It allowed opponents to hit 60.4% of their two-point shots and 41.6% from downtown in its six losses and posted much better numbers in the two wins (54.4% 2FG, 23.9% 3FG). If Bourg plays defense, it can get going in transition and its star backcourt, Harris and Rasheed Sulaimon, can make things happen on the offensive end. Preventing Mam Jaiteh and Jakarr Sampson from getting second-chance points should also be an important key.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2022-01-12T19:30:00.000Z)

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

Two very different big men are set to face each other for the first time when Virtus Segafredo Bologna takes on Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse in Round 9.

Marquee matchup: Virtus's Jaiteh vs. Bourg's Pelos

Mam Jaiteh is an old-school center - fast, strong, with good post skills highlighted by a very effective jump hook. He is averaging 9.3 points and 6.4 rebounds so far this season. Jaiteh must be ready to play physical against Pierre Pelos, a fast, mobile big man with deep shooting range and off-the-charts basketball IQ. In his second EuroCup season, Pelos is averaging 12.0 points on 60.0% three-point shooting, 4.7 rebounds and a PIR of 14.3.

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

For the third time in less than a year, Virtus Segafredo Bologna (5-3) and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2-6) are set to face each other.

Virtus, Bourg meet again

Virtus beat Bourg twice last season, 83-62 in Bologna and 87-99 on the road. Both teams have significant absences, as Virtus added Milos Teodosic to its long list of injured players, and Bourg is without center Eric Mika. Marco Belinelli (14.4 ppg.), Kyle Weems (14.0 ppg.) and Mam Jaiteh (9.3 ppg., 6.4 rpg.) are leading Virtus right now. CJ Harris is Bourg's top scorer (16.8 ppg.), followed by Rasheed Sulaimon (13.3 ppg.) and Pierre Pelos (12.0 ppg.).

Marco Belinelli - Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Virtus) - EC21

ratiopharm Ulm is shooting the ball well from downtown and from the foul line, and needs to do the same to have a better chance to beat a true contender like Valencia Basket.

Keys to victory: Ulm vs. Valencia

The German powerhouse ranks fourth in three-point shooting (40.0% 3FG) and third in free-throw accuracy (81.0% FT). Ulm, however, also leads the competition in turnovers at 17.0 per night. Cutting down the turnovers and preventing Valencia's playmakers, Sam Van Rossom and Neno Dimitrijevic, from dominating the game tempo should be two big keys to this game.

Valencia ranks third in two-point shooting (57.3% 2FG) and is also strong (80.4% FT, fourth overall) from the foul line. That allows Valencia to rank third in scoring (87.3 ppg.). Getting Cristiano Felicio into foul trouble should be a big key to this game and Valencia has two very experienced big men, Bojan Dubljevic and Mike Tobey, to make the difference in the paint. Valencia also needs to power the offensive glass and cash in for second-chance points; it is tied for first place in offensive rebounds at 12.6 per night.

ratiopharm Ulm v Valencia Basket (2022-01-12T18:30:00.000Z)

Semaj Christon- ratioharm Ulm (photo Larry Langer - Ulm) - EC21

Two very different, yet very effective playmakers are set to face each other when ratiopharm Ulm takes on Valencia Basket in Round 9. Semaj Christon is an all-around player who makes things happen due to his ballhandling, driving skills and court vision.

Marquee matchup: Ulm's Christon vs. Valencia's Van Rossom

He is averaging 17.4 points and 6.6 assists this season in almost 32 minutes per night. Christon must use his physicality and quickness against veteran playmaker Sam Van Rossom, a two-time EuroCup champion with Valencia. Van Rossom's numbers are strong (9.8 ppg., 5.3 apg.) and his high basketball IQ and great ability to choose the right play could be critical in this intriguing matchup.

A pair of long-time 7DAYS EuroCup clubs will meet on Wednesday when ratiopharm Ulm (4-4) hosts Valencia Basket (5-3) at ratiopharm Arena.

Ulm hosts Valencia in EuroCup classic

These teams have faced each other six times in EuroCup action and Valencia has a 5-1 record against the German powerhouse. Ulm's only victory against Valencia, 92-84, came on November 26, 2013, behind 18 points from Cameron Long. Semaj Christon (17.4 ppg.) has been Ulm's top scorer this season followed by Sindarius Thornwell (14.7 ppg.) and Jaron Blossomgame (14.1 ppg.). Klemen Prepelic (14.3 ppg.), Jasiel Rivero (12.1 ppg.) and Mike Tobey (10.0 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) are Valencia’s go-to guys.

Cristiano Felicio - ratiopharm Ulm (photo Gran Canaria) - EC21