Nunez, Dadiet and Risacher made sure to put their fingerprints on the game.
EuroCup prodigies stole the spotlight during Ulm vs. Bourg
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An exciting BKT EuroCup clash between ratiopharm Ulm and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse took place at ratiopharm arena on Wednesday night. In particular, it was an occasion for three future stars to make an impact: Ulm duo Pacome Dadiet and Juan Nunez and Bourg’s Zaccharie Risacher.
Despite Bourg taking a 33-53 lead into the second half, Ulm fought back and took the game right down to the wire, with the guests eventually coming out on top, 84-89.
NBA teams sent scouts to Ulm vs. Bourg
Before the game, Ulm’s managing director Thomas Stoll confirmed on social media that two thirds of the NBA’s 30 teams sent representatives to attend the game. Why? Well, that’s obvious. They wanted to get a glimpse of Dadiet, Nunez and Risacher, three of the most promising players in European basketball.
They are unlikely to have come away disappointed, either, as all three ended up delivering mature displays on the floor for their respective teams.
Risacher shined for Bourg… again
Risacher was one of Bourg’s outstanding players on the night, ending the game with 17 points. The 18-year-old forward went 4-for-5 (80.0%) from beyond the arc, including a late dagger with 01:06 remaining to make it 79-85 for the guests.
Standing 2.06 meters tall, Risacher has made 18 of 29 triples this season. His 62.1% success rater from downtown is the best mark in the EuroCup for players who have featured in six games or more so far. Despite his young age, Risacher is the top scorer for 7-2 Bourg, with an average of 13.4 points this term.
Having recorded double figures in scoring in seven of his team’s nine games, Risacher has proven that he has what it takes to become a difference-maker in the future.
Dadiet, Nunez showed what they can do
Ulm, meanwhile, may have lost Wednesday’s game, but its third loss of the season comes with a few positives. The hosts showed character and even made it a one-possession game late in the final quarter thanks to extraordinary outings by Dadiet and Nunez, who stepped up in the second half.
Notably, the 18-year-old Dadiet scored 9 of his 14 points in the last quarter to inspire Ulm’s heroic comeback attempt. He provided his team with a much-needed energy boost and made a couple of baskets, including a ferocious dunk in transition, before drilling a triple to make it 67-73 with 6:30 remaining.
Heading into crunch time, that’s when Nunez took charge. The 19-year-old guard stole the ball with 02:54 to go (74-79), although Thomas Klepeisz didn’t manage to hit the resulting three-pointer. After Risacher nailed the aforementioned dagger (79-85), Nunez didn’t give up and responded with a three-point play on the other end.
The Spaniard, who ranks fourth overall with 2.1 steals per game, registered his second steal a few seconds later, but Karim Jallow didn’t manage to keep hold of the ball on the break. With just 13 seconds remaining and Bourg leading 84-87, Nunez stepped up to take a triple that could have sent the game to overtime.
However, Nunez missed his effort from downtown, leaving him on 11 points for the night, as Bourg escaped with its first-ever victory against Ulm after four straight losses.
The French side did grab a well-earned victory, but the spotlight on Wednesday night was stolen by three players who could mark an era in European basketball: Risacher, Dadiet and Nunez.