CB Gran Canaria was able to lean on Caleb Homesley, Mike Tobey and Nico Brussino as it beat Dolomiti Energia Trento 70-81 in Round 10.

Homesley, Tobey and Brussino showed they are a cut above at Trento

Just three [Dreamland Gran Canaria](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/dreamland-gran-canaria/can/) players reached double digits in points at Dolomiti Energia Trento on Tuesday night, as [Caleb Homesley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/caleb-homesley/011251/), [Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/) and [Nico Brussino](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/nicolas-brussino/008121/) ensured the Spanish team didn’t trip in a potential banana skin fixture.

Gran Canaria led by as many as 16 points in the third quarter – and again in the fourth – before [coming away with a 70-81 win](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/news/gran-canaria-comes-out-on-top-at-trento-70-81/), the side’s third in a row in the BKT EuroCup. Still a game back of the 8-1 Bahcesehir College Istanbul, the leader in Group A, which plays on Wednesday, Jaka Lakovic’s squad now have an 8-2 record and are reminding everybody of their talent.

Tobey was the one who got Gran Canaria going early, netting all 11 of his points in the first half, while Homesley had 13 of his 15 points in the second and third quarters. Brussino, meanwhile, did a bit of everything throughout, finishing with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🔥 Y tan tranquilo. Caleb completa otro gran partido y suma un nuevo MVP <a href="https://twitter.com/toyotacanarias?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ToyotaCanarias</a>:<br><br>✅ 15 puntos<br>✅ 3 rebotes<br>✅ 2 asistencias<br>✅ 19 de valoración <a href="https://t.co/5Ysb6qWJQS">pic.twitter.com/5Ysb6qWJQS</a></p>&mdash; Dreamland Gran Canaria (@GranCanariaCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/GranCanariaCB/status/1864055579997560998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

There are still eight games remaining in the EuroCup regular season, but you would have to be a brave person to bet against Gran Canaria going far this season. Everything is building for a mammoth game in Istanbul against Bahcesehir in Round 12 on December 17, and it seems as though Coach Lakovic has his players fully understanding their roles.

In fact, 10 of the 12 players who featured against Trento on Tuesday night played 12:26 minutes or more, showing the depth of options that Gran Canaria has available and, most importantly, the team’s ability to keep its star players healthy for the decisive stretch of the season.

Even if it was Tobey, Homesley and Brussino who stood out most in Round 10, it could easily be three other players in Round 11. Gran Canaria was unable to retain its EuroCup title last year, but it is eyeing a second championship in three years, and it is certainly on the right track.

Game News

Dolomiti Energia Trento v Dreamland Gran Canaria (2024-12-03T19:00:00.000Z)

Dreamland Gran Canaria has improved to an 8-2 record in Group A after defeating Dolomiti Energia Trento 70-81 on the road in Round 10, with the hosts dropping to a 3-7 mark. Jaka Lakovic’s men led for the final 25:30 minutes of the contest to come out on top, having also beaten Paolo Galbiati’s squad 84-81 back in Round 1.

Caleb Homesley was Gran Canaria’s leading scorer on the night, finishing with 15 points, and he was joined in double figures by Mike Tobey on 11 and Nico Brussino on 10. Trento’s Jordan Ford ended up scoring a game-high 17 points, with Anthony Lamb netting 16, and Myles Cale had 12.

Game Videos

Tobey scored Gran Canaria’s first 4 points of the game, but Cale soon stepped up for the hosts by netting 7 points to make it 10-10. Lamb and Ford helped put Trento five points ahead, 15-10, but Homesley, Brussino and George Conditt helped tie things up at 17-17. However, Trento held a 22-19 lead at the end of the first quarter after a three by Toto Forray and a couple of free throws by Ford and Jordan Bayehe.

When Lamb went a perfect 3 for 3 from the line to start the second period, Trento led 25-19. Yet, 5 straight points by Tobey and a tip-in by John Shurna quickly saw Gran Canaria go 25-26 ahead. Quinn Ellis hit back to give the hosts a 27-26 edge, and Lamb’s three made it 30-29, but that would prove to be Trento’s last lead on the night. A 10-0 Gran Canaria run put the visitors in charge at 30-39, and they did enough to go into the halftime break with a 40-45 advantage.

Gran Canaria swelled the lead with an 11-0 run to start the third quarter, which made it a 40-56 ballgame and completely took the air out of the arena. There was a fightback by Trento after a timeout, with the hosts reducing the gap to eight points, 48-56, but Homesley stepped up to ensure it was 56-66 after 30 minutes.

Carlos Alocen netted the first six points of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 16 points once more, 56-72, and Gran Canaria was rarely threatened from there on out. There was a three-pointer by Lamb followed by 4 points by Ford, which cut the gap to eight points, 70-78, but there were only 30 seconds left at that point. Joe Thomasson sealed the win in style for Gran Canaria by stealing the ball and racing away for a dunk to set the final 70-81 scoreline.

The Spanish side won both of its games against the Italian outfit this season

Gran Canaria comes out on top at Trento, 70-81

ratiopharm Ulm has now won back-to-back games in the EuroCup after beating Trefl Sopot 83-69 in Round 10.

Ulm muscles its way to victory over Trefl Sopot, 83-69

ratiopharm Ulm used a strong second half to register an 83-69 win over the winless Trefl Sopot on Tuesday night. This win improved Ulm to a 6-4 record in Group A, while Sopot is still bottom with 10 losses in as many games. 

Karim Jallow led Ulm with 16 points, and Ben Saraf scored all 15 of his points in the second half. Noa Essengue had 14 points and 7 rebounds before exiting with an injury in the third quarter, and Nelson Weidemann added 13 in a victory. Marcus Weathers had 16 for Sopot, Jakub Schenk netted 14, while Geofrey Groselle scored 11 and Aaron Best finished with 10.

Weidemann hit a pair of long-distance shots for Ulm to open the game, as the hosts kept in front despite Groselle scoring 8 points, all from close range, for Sopot. A layup from Jallow and a dunk from Essengue extended the margin to 15-8, but Nick Johnson nailed a long two and Andy Van Vliet a triple, before Schenk's 4 points tied it at 19-19 at the end of the first 10 minutes.

Weathers scored a pair of baskets at the start of the second to put Sopot ahead. Tobias Jensen had 5 points for the hosts, but Sopot found a way to get to the foul line often, and shot 6 of 6 to open a 25-31 margin. A triple from Justinian Jessup got Ulm's offense going, sparking an 8-2 run to tie the game. But Van Vliet nailed another three-pointer and Weathers a tough jumper, as the visitors took 38-40 into halftime.

The scoring slowed down in the third quarter as Ulm stepped up defensively. A three-point and triple by Jallow restored Ulm's lead, as the hosts went on a 12-2 run. Saraf opened his account with 3:32 left in the third, and after Van Vliet nailed another triple, Isaiah Roby and Saraf made sure the hosts held a 58-50 lead after 30 minutes.

Ulm continued with defensive intensity in the fourth and despite Schenk's crazy banker, Saraf hit a pair of jumpers that helped extend it to 67-57. Johnson had a three-pointer for the visitors and Weathers muscled his way inside, but Philipp Herkenhoff nailed a triple in between Saraf's jumpers to extend it to 76-64. Schenk kept Sopot's hope alive, but only briefly because Weidemann's three-pointer made it a 15-point affair, sealing the deal.

The German team has now chained two wins together in the EuroCup

ratiopharm Ulm v Trefl Sopot (2024-12-03T18:00:00.000Z)

KK Cedevita Olimpija secured its second win in succession in the EuroCup by defeating U-BT Cluj-Napoca 103-96 in Round 10.

Cedevita Olimpija wins shootout with Cluj at home, 103-96

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana started the second half of the regular season with an important 103-96 home victory over U-BT Cluj-Napoca for its second straight win in Group B. Cedevita fought off every challenge to sweep the season series with Cluj, having taken the road game 86-93 to hold the tiebreaker. 

Cedevita improved to 6-4 with Devin Robinson scoring 25 points, Brynton Lemar totaling 23 points and Devante Jones and Jaka Blazic both adding 15 points. Cluj had been in excellent form with five wins in the last six games, but now have a 5-5 record. Mareks Mejeris’s 17 points and Zavier Simpson scoring 16 points were not enough for the road team. 

Cluj started going inside to Zach Hankins early and the big man had six points in opening a 7-11 lead. Lemar answered with seven straight points to put the hosts ahead 14-11. Adam Mokoka came up with six points at the other end and Cluj went up 19-20. Cedevita led 24-23 after 10 minutes. 

The early part of the second quarter saw both teams drain three three-pointers – two each by Mihai Maciuca for Cluj and Blazic for the hosts, who trailed 33-34. There were 10 lead changes before Lemar’s third triple gave Cedevita a 43-39 cushion. And three Aleksej Nikolic free throws extended the margin to 46-40. The home side was up 50-46 at the break. 

Cedevita tallied the first six points of the second half to take the biggest lead of the game at 56-46, as Cluj failed to score for the first 3 minutes of the third quarter. Maciuca and Sasu Salin drained back to back triples at the other end and the deficit was four points. An 11-5 spurt made it a 10-point game again, and triples by Blazic and Martinas Geben pushed the advantage to 75-63 after three quarters. 

Cluj had the better start of the final frame with a 3-10 run to pull within five points. Robinson and Jones combined for 12 points to keep Cedevita ahead 90-82. A DJ Seeley three-pointer and Karel Guzman dunk brought Cluj back within 90-87, but Robinson punched back with a three-pointer and Cedevita made 10 of 10 free throws in the final 119 seconds to lock up the win. 

The Slovenian side sweeps season series with the Romanian outfit

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v U-BT Cluj-Napoca (2024-12-03T17:30:00.000Z)

Check out what the protagonists are saying ahead of Round 10 of the BKT EuroCup, and who might be missing in action.

Round 10: Pregame quotes and injury reports

## Tuesday, December 3

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (18:30 CET)

**Zvezdan Mitrovic, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana head coach**

"Every game is important for us. Cluj is a strong opponent with a great reputation. They had a slower start to the season but have now found their rhythm and are on a winning streak. The team is well-coordinated. We surprised them in Romania in the first round of the competition. I expect a challenging game, especially since Cluj had time to prepare, as they didn’t play in their domestic league, unlike us. We returned to Ljubljana on Sunday from Čačak. We’re trying to prepare well for our opponents and ensure our players are informed about everything. Tuesday’s game will undoubtedly be tougher than the matches against Hamburg and Borac. We need to maintain a good rhythm and respond to all the challenges we’ll face on Tuesday. Our defensive play has definitely reached a higher level after the break. We build our offense from our defense, even if, like against Hamburg, our shooting percentage wasn’t great. On Tuesday, we’re facing players with experience at a higher level, so it will be a tough task. We’re certainly a bit more fatigued than our opponents, so our energy and freshness in defense will be crucial. We have a lot of work ahead of us."

**DJ Stewart, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana guard**

"We know this will be a tough game, and from the first meeting, we know the kind of game they like to play. We’ve watched videos of their games and created a plan for Tuesday, which we need to follow. We’ll need help from the stands. I invite all fans to join us and cheer us on. After the break, we’ve been playing with a lot of energy. Everyone rested well during the pause. Now we’re back in the gym, working hard, motivated, and determined to win."

**Mihai Silvasan, U-BT Cluj-Napoca head coach**

"We are ahead of another important game. We have the same record and they won against us in the first game. We want to bounce back, play well and win this one. We need to have the right mindset in order to get a victory. Everybody is healthy, we are full of energy and we are looking forward to playing there and winning the game!"

**Adam Mokoka, U-BT Cluj-Napoca guard**

"It will be an interesting game, tough for sure. We lost our first game at home against them, so we definitely need this one on the road. It will be a tough match up, they are athletic, they also got our former teammate Andrija Stipanovic. It will be a special feeling about this one, but we have to get the job done."

### ratiopharm Ulm vs. Trefl Sopot (19:00 CET)

**Andy Van Vliet, Trefl Sopot forward**

"They're obviously a really great team, doing well in the German League right now and doing well in the EuroCup. They got us last time. Hopefully we can go over there and get our first win of the season in the EuroCup. It would be big for us. It was a close game last time, so hopefully we can make it a close game again and tip it in our favor."

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (20:00 CET)

**Jordan Bayehe, Dolomiti Energia Trento center**

"For me it will be a special game, because the first game against Gran Canaria was my first game in the EuroCup. On that occasion we had played very well, starting off strong, but then they were able to raise the level and, thanks to a few too many mistakes, we were unable to bring home the win. Gran Canaria is in a very good moment of form and, like us, played on Sunday; therefore, both teams will come to the game with intense rhythms. It will be a very complicated test, but the charge that the victory against Napoli gave us and the warmth of the Trentino crowd will be a fundamental boost to face such a strong and structured team."

## Wednesday, December 4

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (17:00 CET)

**Alessandro Magro, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius head coach** 

"We have to go there and try to compete physically. Bahcesehir is a team that can destroy the flow of the opponents, starting from the defensive side. They have qualities in the offensive players. We need to stay focused, stay together for 40 minutes and not give them the chance to have a run and break during the game. The most important thing from the start of the game is a proper physical and mental approach."

**Arnoldas Kulboka, Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius forward**

"It will be a very tough game. The Bahcesehir team plays good basketball both in the BKT EuroCup and the Turkish League. They have a great roster, with some players who could easily compete in the EuroLeague. We will try to bounce back after last week’s loss. In Istanbul, we need to play physically and communicate better on defense. We cannot lose focus throughout the entire game."

### 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (18:00 CET)

\--

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Joventut Badalona (18:45 CET)

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv head coach**

"We’re facing an opponent that can play in various styles of basketball. They’re extremely well-connected, they have experienced players who are used to competing at the highest level in the EuroLeague, and recently, they managed to beat Real Madrid in the Spanish League. Overall, it's a very demanding game. We are in the process of finding our chemistry and automations in our offensive and defensive game. With all this said, we understand the importance of the game. We are going to fight until the end and compete at the highest level."

**Bar Timor, Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv guard**

"We're heading into the game after an important win in the league, determined to keep the positive momentum going and kick off the second round of the EuroCup on the right track. Badalona is a tough opponent, but our focus is on ourselves and what we bring to the court."

**Dani Miret, Joventut Badalona head coach**

"In the last few weeks they have made a lot of moves. They have added Yam Madar, a EuroLeague-level point guard. They have Patrick Beverley, who we already know, and now we will find a totally different team, because a new coach like Itoudis has arrived. We must be prepared, play well in a game that will be very difficult. They are one of the teams that will be a very competitive project in the EuroCup, and we must go there and do better than in the last game in Europe."

**Injury report, Joventut:** Kaiser Gates, Miguel Allen and Michael Ruzic are out.

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:00 CET)

**Ioannis Kastritis, Aris Midea Thessaloniki head coach**

"It’s a very challenging game with high demands. Reyer seems to be finding their rhythm. \[Tyler\] Ennis is back, and we all know how important player he is for them. They are a very athletic team, especially at the '3' and inside. Given the absences we will have once again, it will certainly be a highly demanding game. We need to be ready to give more than 100%. In any case, we must be as competitive as possible in one-on-one situations, whether it’s individual defense or fighting for rebounds."

**Landers Nolley, Aris Midea Thessaloniki forward**

"We want to capitalize on the momentum we’ve built from the big game we played last Sunday. We could have responded either with a win or a loss, but fortunately, we came out victorious. Now, we aim to respond with another win tomorrow."

**Neven Spahija, Umana Reyer Venice head coach**

"It’s an important game for both teams. They have new players compared to the first leg. Playing in Greece, in front of those fans, is tough for anyone. It’s been a long time since I was last in Thessaloniki, but their support is always a key factor and will put us under great pressure. We must stay on our path, playing solid defense and maintaining pace on offense. This will be our third away game in six days; we’re a bit tired, but we’ve also worked on specific recovery strategies for the players. I believe we’ll continue to play good basketball, but winning there won’t depend solely on us. It will be tough, but as always, we’ll never give up."

**Carl Wheatle, Umana Reyer Venice guard**

"It will be a tough game for us, in a hostile environment and against a team that needs a win. We want to extend our positive momentum; we’re playing well and are highly motivated to win the game in Thessaloniki. Defense is our key and starting point: if we perform well individually and as a system, we’ll have a better chance of taking the win. On offense, we’ll need patience and ball movement to find our rhythm."

**Injury report, Aris:** Vassilis Toliopoulos and Lefteris Bochoridis are out for 3-5 weeks with first-degree strains in their calves.

**Injury report, Reyer:** Xavier Munford (knee) and Juan Manuel Fernandez (thigh) are out; Rodney McGruder (knee) is a game-time decision.

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (19:00 CET)

\--

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:30 CET)

**Frederic Fauthoux, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse head coach**

"Hamburg is a team that likes to attack and is gaining strength in the competition, it won't be easy, but the objective is to seek victory at home."

**Brandon Paul, Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse guard**

"It’s a good team, they are talented and young. Winning against them will be difficult, it's up to us to put in the intensity to get this victory."

**Benka Barloschky, Veolia Towers Hamburg head coach**

"We saw spikes in the first half of the group stage, which were the games against Ankara and Thessaloniki. Good games at the start against Valencia and Bourg-en-Bresse, in which we showed that we can also pose a challenge to the best teams. But heavy defeats were also part of the picture. Across all the games, it's clear that if we play our basketball for 40 minutes with a full line-up, we're very competitive. That's exactly what we want for the second half of the season. Because I think we have the potential to attack again. We also want to give ourselves this outlook. We have goals that we want to achieve."

### Valencia Basket vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (20:45 CET)

**Pedro Martinez, Valencia Basket head coach**

"\[I expect a\] much harder on defense, on offense we are going to find more difficulties and surely tomorrow we will not play with the three-point shooting percentages we had the other day, or the number of shots we had the other day. I assume that it will be a game more in the mud, with a lower pace, we will not be able to run as much counterattack as the other day, because they will not let us. We have to be prepared for a game with fewer points, surely tomorrow the game will go in a different direction and we have to be prepared for the kind of game we will find. They have improved a lot, they are in a very good dynamic. They are a team that defends very well, very aggressive, they are a fantastic team in the back and then these two players, \[Jared\] Harper and \[Khadeen\] Carrington, are really difficult to defend”.

Valencia Basket v Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (2024-12-04T19:45:00.000Z)

Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse v Veolia Towers Hamburg (2024-12-04T18:30:00.000Z)

Aris Midea Thessaloniki v Umana Reyer Venice (2024-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (2024-12-04T18:00:00.000Z)

Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv v Joventut Badalona (2024-12-04T17:45:00.000Z)

7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys v Turk Telekom Ankara (2024-12-04T17:00:00.000Z)

Bahcesehir College Istanbul v Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (2024-12-04T16:00:00.000Z)

In an extensive interview with Javier Gancedo of EuroCupBasketball.com, U-BT Cluj-Napoca star Zavier Simpson discussed how he believes he can keep excelling at both things and just be a better basketball player as his career continues. 

Zavier Simpson, Cluj: 'We are finally starting to click'

[U-BT Cluj-Napoca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/teams/u-bt-cluj-napoca/clu/) rallied from a 0-3 start in Group B to win five of its next six games and climb to 5-4 in the standings. Point guard [Zavier Simpson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/zavier-simpson/013302/) has been at the heart of its resurgence, excelling at both scoring and passing the basketball to help Cluj to a winning record at the midway point of the regular season. 

Simpson has averaged 18.1 points on strong shooting (57.7% 2FG, 41.7% 3FG, 82.7% FT), 3.9 rebounds, a league-leading 7.2 assists and a PIR of 21.6. Though he didn't have his best scoring night in Round 9 against Aris Midea Thessaloniki, Simpson recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 10 assists. 

In an extensive interview with Javier Gancedo of [EuroCupBasketball.com](http://EuroCupBasketball.com), Simpson discussed that he believes he can keep excelling at both things and just be a better basketball player as his career continues. 

**Hello, Zavier. What a comeback! Cluj is 5-4 in the upper part of the standings. What was the key to winning that back-and-forth battle against Aris?** 

"Thank you. We got some stops late in the game and we just ran the transition, getting easy buckets. I felt like some guys, like Adam \[Mokoka\] came up pretty big by knocking down shots, making some plays and just being aggressive. Obviously, in the EuroCup, there are some ups and downs and teams are going to make runs. You may go back and forth like we were doing during the game as well, but just executing the game plan from the coaches and playing together is key, especially down the stretch. And I feel like that's what we did. I feel like now we are finally starting to click. I still feel like we have some room for improvement, but now I feel like we finally found continuity. It feels more in rhythm. 

"I believe in our last 9-10 games, we are 8-2, including our domestic league. So we just want to keep it rolling. We played against a good team, I liked it better than what the record shows. In the EuroCup, every game is important and now, we are over .500. That's the most we can ask for. We just want to take game by game, get better every single day in practice and just be able to play together."

"For the most part, we are rolling right now, which is all we can hope for."

**That was going to be my next question, you started the season with a 0-3 record. Was it bad luck because you played against strong teams right away, or did you guys need time to gel a little bit?** 

"I almost feel like it was a collaboration with a lot of things. We were unhealthy as a team and had just got DJ \[Seeley\] back who was here last year. Pat \[Richards\] was coming slowly off his injury. He wasn't always there. Zach \[Hankins\] was coming and was almost 100% from his injury. Obviously, the starting point guard myself is getting used to this EuroCup style, the atmospheres, things of that nature. So I'm not going to blame it on injuries because I felt like those games were also winnable, but also at the same time, \[Cedevita\] are a really good team, really good coaching staff, really good game plan, phenomenal organization. Valencia came from the EuroLeague so that obviously speaks for itself. And Bourg lost last year in the EuroCup Finals, which also again speaks for itself. So we played against two great organizations, two great teams with phenomenal players, and just with that collaboration, us to kind of get our chemistry with guys coming in, guys kind of like almost there health-wise, a new guy coming in, a new point guard... So I feel like it was a bunch of things. But at the same time, we don't want to tip our hat off to those teams that beat us. We don't want to disrespect them in any way, shape or form or try to say it's because of injuries or things of that nature. But they are really good teams and we were glad we were able to face them early so we were able to see where we were at. But yeah, I felt like we lost two tough games to those teams and kind of just felt like we bounced back but still got some improvements to do, still got some winning, some catching up to do. But for the most part, we are rolling right now, which is all we can hope for."

**Cluj is your first team in Europe, not just in the EuroCup. How much fun is it to play here in general and in the EuroCup in particular?**

"It's really fun. It kind of reminds me of the college basketball atmosphere, as far as just the prep: you have two, three, maybe four days of preparation for the next game. The fans are phenomenal, the energy, the atmosphere is pretty crazy, whether it's a home game or away game. So it's lit, I enjoy it a lot. Obviously, I'm still getting used to it, still adjusting slowly but surely. But for the most part, I'm enjoying myself. Just trying to embrace it every single day." 

**Patrick Richards has been there for a long time and is the team captain, playing point guard like you. How much of a mentor has he been for you?** 

"It's phenomenal having someone who has been there, who is a vet not just on the court, but also off the court, who is able to show me the way and help me out with things that I may know or things I may need help on. Being able to have a guy like him, being the captain of the team like I said is great. I'm very appreciative to be able to have that captain, be able to lead and guide me through ways that I'm still learning as I go."

"Trust me, you will definitely see more hook shots as we go."

**You were nicknamed "Captain Hook" in college for your ability to hit hook shots, something very rare to see in point guards. Truth is, we haven't seen many of those in the EuroCup. How come you are so good at hook shots?** 

"It comes from, I believe, my freshman or sophomore year in college. Our college did an open gym and it kind of felt natural, so I began just to work on it, and that's when it kind of developed. Then it became off the same foot, same hand. I became more creative with it as I progressed and got over to my career to make it a more efficient shot. I haven't done it much this year, but I am definitely taking some hook shots this year, for sure. Not as much as I was usually shooting. It's just still trying to get to my spots and pick and choose my spots and different things on the court. But trust me, you will definitely see more hook shots as we go."

**Over the years, you broke high school and college records in points and assists. What comes first for you, points, assists or it depends on the game flow?** 

"I feel like it depends on the game flow, but I feel like naturally, I'm more of a traditional point guard. And over the last year, maybe a year and a half, I kind of developed into a scoring role. I just felt like I've been working on my game so much. I do a lot perfecting my craft and just kind of studying different players to help my game that it just became easier. It's not like I haven't been scoring in past years, but I have always been a pass-first point guard and now, I continue to add more to my game. And on one part, I feel like what was missing from the past 4-5 years of my career was maybe just scoring the ball from different levels and different angles and different shots. And each year you constantly see me adding new things.

"Since my freshman year of college, I am constantly seeing my stats, improving attempts, improving percentages, improving efficiency from each year, so that's kind of what I've been focusing on, just trying to see what I can do to help my game be better. And I feel like scoring has opened up not just for myself, but also for other teammates because guys know I can pass and things of that nature, but which I still can be doing, which I still obviously do, but at the same time just looking to add more towards my game.

"I just want to be able to reach my potential, reach my peak and be the best basketball player that I can be. And if that leads sometimes to the defense forcing me to score the ball or forcing me to shoot or forcing me to do different things, I want to be able to go into those situations comfortable, because obviously if they are going to be games that you may be hot, you may have a phenomenal percentage from the free throw line, the three line, two-point field goal percentage as well. But then there are also going to be games where it just doesn't fall, not because you are incapable of doing it, just because that's just how it works sometimes. I have been shooting really good this year and having been efficient and in the game \[against Aris\], I didn't have so much of an efficient night for us maybe scoring the ball, but still being able to get in there and have 10 assists and being able to lead my team with defensive stops and having energy and making sure we get the dub, which is much more important. It's just something that you just have to realize with basketball, and just with life in general, that there are gonna be some good days. There are going to be some high days, some low days. Just got to be in there to find a way to stay consistent with your routine and just being able to get through it to the best of your ability."

**Let's talk about Cluj, then. We see 10,000 fans in the stands in every game. How cool is it to play in such an atmosphere?** 

"It's phenomenal. Our fans show up pretty much day in, day out. Just being able to go into an arena like that where you know your fans are going to be very supportive, they are going to be going crazy for you in the crowd and just cheering you on, it's always phenomenal. So I am very appreciative of our fans, shout out to the Cluj fans and hopefully they can continue to show up. Well, hopefully we can continue to win, continue to keep giving them a reason to come and support us. But for the most part, it's been phenomenal having a crowd, a fan base that we have."

**You have always been around basketball ever since you were a kid. How was your life growing up in Lima, Ohio?** 

"Basketball was very important. That's all I pretty much knew was basketball. My dad was a high school coach, freshman high school coach, JV coach, ABA coach, college coach at a small college in the area, varsity coach. My coach! He was my coach growing up since maybe fourth grade. So I was around it pretty much my whole life and kind of knew that the steps I'm taking now was going to be a part of my journey, and I'm just looking to continue to progress forward in the best way I can."

<center>
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**Now you will play the next three teams against those teams that beat you in the beginning of the season: Cedevita, Bourg and Valencia. How much are you looking forward to it now that the team is ready and playing much better than before?**

"I'm looking forward to it. Those are really good teams, but we want to just take it one game at a time. So we got Cedevita on Tuesday and we want to be able to just go into practice over the few days before we play them, making sure we are sharp, make sure we are going to the arena knowing that they beat us, but also knowing that we want to continue to build a consistent habits amongst our team, amongst ourselves so we are able to use those habits when it's time. But for the most part, just taking one day at a time, not getting too overly hyped up, excited or things of that nature and just being able to execute the game plan from the coaches and go out there and play hard, play smart, play together and hopefully that can lead to a win." 

**Still, there must be some bigger goals. Is that going to the playoffs and being more ambitious than before?** 

"That's definitely the goal. Anything I do, my goal is to be the last person standing, the last team on top, but obviously, it's going to come with some roadblocks and things of that nature in between. I definitely don't want to get ahead of myself and have high expectations, not just for myself, but also for the team this year. But at the same time, I don't want to get too ahead of myself. I want to continue to respect the game, respect the organization and players and coaches who have been here before me, and I'm just really trying to get some wins to put ourselves in the best position. And obviously when that time comes, hopefully we can be in the playoffs. And obviously, when you are in the playoffs, no team is going in there looking to not win the playoffs. So I guess we can just leave it at that."

More Zavier Simpson News

The first-year guard is enjoying a breakout season in the EuroCup

Fantasy expert Javier Gancedo offers his recommendations for Round 9 of the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge.

Fantasy tips, Round 10: A new start in many ways

Round 10 is a special one in the 2024-25 BKT EuroCup season. Other than a postponed game, every team has played against each and every opponent in their group, which means scouting reports will be better from now on and finding advantages will be more difficult. 

There are still some very interesting players in the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge. Here are my recommendations for this week.

Kyle Wiltjer, Noa Essengue, Jared Harper, Landers Nolley and Jean Montero are featured in this week's article.

EuroCup Fantasy tips: Round 10

### Jean Montero, Valencia Basket (11.6 credits) 

[Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/) is the man of the moment, leading high-scoring Valencia lately. He comes off a tremendous performance against Bourg: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists and a career-high PIR of 28. After being off-target from downtown at the start of the season, Montero buried 6 of 14 three-point shots in the last two games. If Montero keeps hitting long-distance shots, the sky is his limit. 

### Jared Harper, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (15.5 credits) 

Montero may be the man of the moment in the EuroCup but [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) is the man of the season, leading the competition in scoring at 23.1 points per game, burying 47.1% three-pointers and 88.2% free throws (despite taking over 10 attempts per game). He is also sharing the ball (5.8 apg.), leading the EuroCup in PIR (29.2). Harper plays against Valencia, his former team, in Round 10. 

### Landers Nolley, Aris Midea Thessaloniki (9.4 credits) 

After missing a couple of games due to injury, [Landers Nolley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/landers-nolley/013249/) returned with a spectacular performance against Cluj, getting 22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and a PIR of 25 despite missing all six of his shots from beyond the arc. Nolley has proved to be able to score in many different ways and also contributes in a lot of aspects of the game. He's a very good option in fantasy. 

<center>
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBHDf6sMDmx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBHDf6sMDmx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBHDf6sMDmx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Landers Nolley II  Promise ❤️Korbyn💙 (@thatschez)</a></p></div></blockquote>
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### Noa Essengue, ratiopharm Ulm (9.4 credits) 

[Noa Essengue](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/noa-essengue/011391/) turns 18 this month and his numbers are amazing for a player his age. He is also shocking everyone with his versatility, quickness and jumping skills. Essengue averages 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.9 blocks and a PIR of 18.0 in less than 24 minutes per night. He had a PIR of 20 or higher in five games this season. At 9.4 credits, Essengue is a must-have player.

### Kyle Wiltjer, Umana Reyer Venice (11.3 credits) 

[Kyle Wiltjer](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kyle-wiltjer/008052/) has been rock-solid in the last three games, averaging 18.7 points on 14-of-15 free throws, 4.0 fouls drawn and a PIR of 19.3. He stepped up against Lietkabelis, getting 22 points on 7-of-8 two-pointers and 8-of-9 free throws, 6 rebounds, 7 fouls drawn and a PIR of 24. Wiltjer is being more aggressive and it is showing in his stats. He's still cheap at just 11.3 credits. 

Fantasy expert Javier Gancedo offers his recommendations in this latest round of the EuroCup Fantasy Challenge

The second half of the BKT EuroCup regular season gets underway on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here’s your guide to Round 10’s action.

## Tuesday, December 3

### Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. U-BT Cluj-Napoca (18:30 CET)

A pair of direct rivals in Group B meet for a crucial game as Cedevita (5-4) welcomes Cluj (5-4). The first game between the teams was won by Cedevita, 86-93, so the Romanian team needs a road win of 8 points or more to claim the crucial head-to-head advantage. Cedevita’s key performer in that game was forward [Devin Robinson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/devin-robinson/012042/) (20 points), who has scored in double digits in six straight games. But Cluj is in excellent form with five wins in the last six games so will be confident of getting the result it needs, especially if backcourt star [Adam Mokoka](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/adam-mokoka/012698/) can repeat the form which saw him score 24 points in last week’s victory over Aris.

### ratiopharm Ulm vs. Trefl Sopot (19:00 CET)

Ulm (5-4) will look to at least maintain a share of third place in Group A by overcoming Trefl (0-9), the only winless team in the EuroCup. The German team has struggled for consistency in recent week but boosted its morale with last week’s vital road win at Hapoel, powered by 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists from do-it-all forward [Justinian Jessup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/justinian-jessup/013290/). He also top scored with 20 points when Ulm grabbed an overtime victory over Trefl in Round 1, so needs no introduction to the visitors. Trefl needs to boost an offense which only mustered 58 points in last week’s loss at Gran Canaria, and will hope for a strong performance from [Andy Van Vliet](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/andy-van-vliet/003885/) (10 points per game), who did not play in the Round 1 meeting.

### Dolomiti Energia Trento vs. Dreamland Gran Canaria (20:00 CET)

Trento (3-6) will look to boost its playoff ambitions by overcoming a strong Gran Canaria (7-2) which has won four of its last five games. The Spanish team boasts the second-best defense in the EuroCup, allowing only 73.7 points per game. Trento came close to taking a road win in Gran Canaria in Round 1, eventually losing 84-81 despite [Jordan Ford](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-ford/013270/) pouring in 32 points, while Gran Canaria was powered by 20 points and 8 rebounds from [Mike Tobey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mike-tobey/008966/). Ford is looking to bounce back after a season-low 1 point in last week’s loss to Besiktas, and Gran Canaria will know that keeping him quiet will be a major factor in strengthening its position in Group A’s second place.

Round 10 Head-to-Head: Zukauskas vs. Shurna

## Wednesday, December 4

### Bahcesehir College Istanbul vs. Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius (17:00 CET)

Group A leader Bahcesehir (8-1) will look for a seventh straight victory with a visit from dangerous Wolves (5-4) – one of the four teams tied for third place. Bahcesehir’s competition-best defense (71.7 points per game) will present a severe test to a Wolves offense powered by [Anthony Cowan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/anthony-cowan-jr/012003/) (14.9 points per game), who scored 18 points in last week’s loss at Buducnost. That game saw the Lithuanian team allow 107 points, so improved defense will be the major focus. Bahcesehir’s latest victory, over Joventut last week, featured 13 points from [Axel Bouteille](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/axel-bouteille/003840/) on 3-of-5 three-point shooting, and the forward has now made 46.2% of his shots from beyond the arc this season.

Round 10 Head-to-Head: Ponitka vs. Taylor

### 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys vs. Turk Telekom Ankara (18:00 CET)

In a crunch clash of the edge of the Group B playoff positions, Lietkabelis (2-6) needs a return to form against visiting Turk Telekom (4-5). Both teams have lost their last two games, with Lietkabelis falling last week at home to Reyer despite 16 points and 8 assists from playmaker [Dovis Bickauskis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/dovis-bickauskis/009898/). After shipping 94 points in last week’s home loss to Hapoel Jerusalem, Turk Telekom will look to repeat the defensive performance that earned a 72-66 victory over Lietkabelis in Round 1, also featuring a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds from the consistent [Anthony Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/anthony-brown/009025/), who ranks fourth in the EuroCup in scoring with 18 points per game.

### Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv vs. Joventut Badalona (18:45 CET)

Hapoel (5-4) will look to retain its current third place in Group A and establish a three-game margin on visiting Joventut (3-6). Both teams have struggled for consistency in recent weeks, and this should be another close game, similar to the 78-75 victory for Joventut in Round 1. [Ante Tomic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/ante-tomic/002507/) was inevitably pivotal to that triumph with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds, and he faces a good battle in the paint with Hapoel’s [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/bruno-caboclo/012096/), who averages 7.3 rebounds in the last three games. The hosts will again lean heavily on star man [Patrick Beverley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/patrick-beverley/001927/), who has scored in double digits in seven of this season’s nine games, while Joventut poses a threat through recent signing [Sam Dekker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/sam-dekker/009672/), who scored 22 in last week’s loss at Bahcesehir.

Round 10 Head-to-Head: Ginat vs. Dekker

### Aris Midea Thessaloniki vs. Umana Reyer Venice (19:00 CET)

Time is running out for Aris (2-7) to launch a push for the playoffs as it faces a must-win home game against a Reyer team (4-5) aiming for a third straight success. The Italian team boosted its confidence with a crucial overtime victory at Lietkabelis last week, and will hope that dominant big man [Mfiondu Kabengele](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/mfiondu-tshimanga-kabengele/012796/) can stay hot after pairing 21 points and 11 boards in that victory. The Round 1 meeting between the teams was taken easily by Reyer, 95-75, paced by 17 points from [Jordan Parks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jordan-parks/011909/), while Aris had 14 points from [Landers Nolley](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/landers-nolley/013249/), who returned to action after injury in last week’s loss to Cluj by draining 22 points.

### Buducnost VOLI Podgorica vs. Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul (19:00 CET)

After last week’s impressive win over Wolves with 104 points on the board, Buducnost (4-5) will look to climb into the top six and claim a third win in four by overcoming direct rival Besiktas (5-4). A double-double by big man [Kenan Kamenjas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/kenan-kamenjas/008325/) was one of the keys for Buducnost last week, and he faces a good battle with Besiktas forward [Conor Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/conor-morgan/009680/), who averages 10.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Besiktas won by 18 points when the teams met in Round 1 behind 18 points and 6 assists from guard [Derek Needham](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/derek-needham/008945/), who is looking for a return to form after being held to 2 points in last week’s win at Trento.

Round 10 Head-to-Head: Magee vs. Mathews

### Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse vs. Veolia Towers Hamburg (19:30 CET)

Third-placed Bourg (5-4) will look to cement its position in the Group B playoff places by overcoming rock bottom Hamburg (2-7). Bourg has lost two in a row but easily won the first meeting between the teams this season, 80-100, with 18 points from [Adrian Nelson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/adrian-nelson/013264/). Hamburg has the next-to-worst defense in the competition, allowing 89.9 points per game, whereas Bourg takes better care of the basketball than any other team with just 11.2 turnovers per game and should therefore have plenty of chances to expose the visiting defense. Hamburg needs another strong game from [Jordan Barnett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/jordan-barnett/013312/), who hit 23 points in last week’s loss to Cedevita.

### Valencia Basket vs. Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (20:45 CET)

A big battle of title contenders ends the round in style as unbeaten Valencia (8-0) hosts second-placed Jerusalem (7-2). Competition leading scorer and Round 9 MVP [Jared Harper](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jared-harper/011970/) (23.1 points per game) will relish the chance to take on his former club, but Valencia also boasts precocious talent in the backcourt with [Jean Montero](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/eurocup/players/jean-montero/010042/), who paired 19 points with 9 assists in last week’s win over Bourg. Valencia has won four in a row and Jerusalem four straight, so both teams will be high in confidence but the visiting team will need its usually strong defense – allowing just 75.6 points per game – to be on top form against a Valencia offense averaging a spectacular 96.9 points.

Round 10 Head-to-Head: Montero vs. Harper

Round 10 marks the start of teams facing each other for the second time this season

At a glance: The second half of the season is here!

The BKT EuroCup has reached its mid-point with Valencia Basket remaining undefeated, four teams tallying seven wins over nine rounds, and the margin for error at the cut line in both groups remaining razor-thin. 

The graph above depicts the league’s efficiency landscape, with each team’s placement corresponding to how much better or worse than average they have performed on both sides of the floor in points per possession. As the labels suggest, the top right quadrant features teams that have played at an above-average level both offensively and defensively. 

As it stands, the teams with the four highest efficiency differentials - the number of points per possession they have scored less those they have allowed - correspond to the four teams with seven wins or more.  They have taken different routes to get there, with Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and Dreamland Gran Canaria excelling defensively and Bahcesehir College Istanbul and Valencia Basket finding good balance, but there are no teams sneaking into the top of the standings on luck this season. 

From there, things get interesting with Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv and Cosea JL Bourg-en-Bresse making headway on both ends of the floor and sitting at the top of a dense grouping of teams in the standings. Five teams in both groups sit at four or five wins heading into the second half ranking between fifth and 18th in efficiency differential. The team at the far end of that spectrum, ratiopharm Ulm, picked up a road win over Hapoel in Round 9 as the league’s youngest team has struggled at times defensively, but proven very formidable in spots as well. With Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius rattling off five wins before their blowout Round 9 loss to Buducnost VOLI Podgorica, several teams in the middle of the standings have shown the ability to get hot and punch above their weight class, but consistency figures to be the key differentiator among teams potentially looking to challenge for a bye in the eightfinals.   

Joventut Badalona has the best efficiency differential among the teams on the outside looking in to that group. With an extra home game in the second nine games, they’ll have a prime opportunity to jump back into the mix in 2025. 

What can we learn about teams based on their points per possession scored and allowed?