The two teams are third and second, respectively, in the standings.
Cluj, Bourg face off in a colossal clash in Group B
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There are still seven games to go in the 2023-24 BKT EuroCup Regular Season, but the matchup between U-BT Cluj-Napoca (8-3) and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (9-2) in Round 12 could go some way towards determining playoff seeding in Group B.
With Cluj currently third in the standings, albeit with the same record as ratiopharm Ulm in fourth, and Bourg alone in second place, something has to give when they go head-to-head at BTarena.
Cluj is a different force at home
A 5-1 record on its home floor shows how dominant Cluj has been at BTarena, with the team’s only defeat coming against the juggernaut that is Dreamland Gran Canaria in Round 8. On the road has been a bit of a different story, with Cluj going 3-2, but Tuesday evening’s clash is a good chance for Mihai Silvasan’s side to make a big statement.
Over the last three games, veteran forward Andrija Stipanovic has increased his scoring average to 16.0 points per game. Cluj’s offense has particularly impressed since Round 9, with a further four players posting a double-digit number of points: D.J. Seeley (15.3 ppg.), Patrick Richard (14.3 ppg.), Jarell Eddie (13.7 ppg.) and Emanuel Cate (11.7 ppg.).
Cluj has scored 80 points in all five of its home wins this season, so ensuring that its offense is firing once again will no doubt be one of the main keys to determining the result against Bourg.
Bourg has been on fire lately
Frederic Fauthoux’s Bourg is currently in the midst of a five-game winning run in the EuroCup, which has seen it surge up the standings. That stretch includes three wins at home and two on the road, and that has in turn improved Bourg to a 6-0 mark at home and 3-2 on its travels.
Like Cluj, Bourg has some weapons of its own on offense. Jeremy Morgan has been very impressive during his team’s five-game winning streak, averaging a team-high 13.4 points per contest. He has had plenty of help, too, as Zaccharie Risacher has posted 12.0 points in the last five games, Isiaha Mike 11.6 ppg. and Maksim Salash 11.6 ppg.
Just three weeks ago, Bourg went on the road and recorded a statement win at Ulm, coming out on top 84-89. If Coach Fauthoux’s squad was to do the same at Cluj, it would not only see it start to pull away in second place but it would deal a blow to Coach Silvasan’s charges, who would find themselves two games back of the French team.
There is always a good atmosphere at BTarena and Tuesday evening is going to be no different, so make sure to tune in from 18:00 CET to see how Cluj and Bourg get on. Playoff seeding is starting to enter the minds of the teams towards the top of the standings, and a win for either Cluj or Bourg would be the perfect Christmas present for whoever secures the victory. Will Bourg pull away or can Cluj make it a three-team fight for second spot? We will find out on Tuesday evening.