Point guards Will Cummings of Boulogne Metropolitans 92 and his Umana Reyer Venice counterpart Jordan Theodore figure to play prominent roles in their eighthfinals matchup. 

Major matchup: Metropolitans’ Cummings vs. Reyer’s Theodore 

Cummings, who won the EuroCup in 2018 with Darussafaka Istanbul, has been a force for Metropolitans all season long. He has averaged 17.4 points, 4.7 assists and 1.3 steals while starting all 18 games for the club this season. Cummings has been very consistent - scoring in double figures in all but one game – and twice flirted with a triple-double. Although Metropolitans have many weapons, the attack begins with Cummings.

Keys to victory: Virtus vs. Lietkabelis

### Virtus’s ball movement is central to its success

Virtus leads the EuroCup in assists with 22.4 per game and is fourth in two-point shooting percentage at 56.3%. Those numbers are very much related as the passing of Milos Teodosic and Alessandro Pajola and even mid-season addition Toko Shengelia allow big guys Mam Jaiteh and Kevin Hervey to get their points inside and for Isaia Cordinier and Kyle Weems to do their damage, too. If the ball keeps moving and Virtus keeps the Lietkabelis defense on its heels, it should be in great shape.

### Forcing turnovers is critical for Lietkabelis

Lietkabelis has been one of the best defenses in the competition this season, allowing just 75.3 points per game, which is second-best among all defenses. Amazingly, that number is even better (72.6 ppg.) on the road, although Lietkabelis has only won three of its six road games thus far. One big reason for the team’s success on defense has been the high number of turnovers it has forced: 14.6, which is fourth-most in the EuroCup. If Lietkabelis can cause Virtus to turn the ball over more than usual, it will have a better chance of scoring an upset. 

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Lietkabelis Panevezys (2022-04-20T18:45:00.000Z)

Gediminas Orelik - Lietkabelis Panevezys (photo Karolio Kavolelio - Lietkabelis) EC21-RS17

Four-time champion Valencia Basket hosts EuroCup debutant Hamburg Towers with a spot in the quarterfinals at stake.

Keys to victory: Valencia vs. Hamburg

### Valencia should keep the ball moving

Some of Valencia's main strengths are Hamburg's glaring weaknesses. Valencia ranks third in assists (20.7 apg.) and third in two-point accuracy (56.4%) this season, while Hamburg's defense has allowed a EuroCup-high 59.3% shooting on two-pointers and a third-most 19.6 assists per game this season. Valencia has plenty of experienced players who will need to set the tone by establishing the ball movement that sets up plenty of opportunities to score and can keep the pressure on Hamburg's offense.

### Hamburg must fire away

Hamburg must stay true to its brand of basketball and play with a quick pace and not be afraid to shoot whenever the opportunity presents itself. Hamburg will need a good shooting night in Valencia to have a chance of an upset and that cannot happen unless Hamburg keeps firing from long range. The team leads the competition in three-pointers made (11.4 per game) and attempted (32.2), and Hamburg should not back off from the fun-to-watch style it has displayed throughout its debut EuroCup season.

Valencia Basket v Hamburg Towers (2022-04-20T18:30:00.000Z)

Maik Kotsar - Hamburg Towers (Photo Marvin Contessi) - EC21-RS15

Partizan NIS Belgrade will look to protect its home floor when it hosts Frutti Extra Bursaspor in the 7DAYS EuroCup eighthfinals.

Keys to victory: Partizan vs. Bursaspor

### Partizan must use its energy

Partizan is undefeated in front of its fans this season and the team must use the energy and noise from what is expected to be a filled Stark Arena to pressure the visitors from the start and try to build an early lead, a situation that Partizan is comfortable and used to playing with. In addition, Bursaspor allows a league-high 40.6% shooting on three-pointers and a second-most 58.3% on twos. Partizan is not a stellar three-point shooting team (34.2%), but ranks fifth averaging 21.5 two-point shots made and converts on 56.0% of two-point attempts. The team needs to show patience and keep going inside in this contest. 

### Bursaspor to minimize mistakes

Partizan will come out with energy and Bursaspor must stay calm and collected early on and try to avoid playing from behind. Bursaspor also must pick its poison and have Derek Needham and Andrew Andrews slow the game down when needed, because against Partizan, games can get out of hand quickly. What will be important for Bursaspor is to limit its turnovers the way it has done all season long. Bursaspor commits the fewest turnovers in the EuroCup, 11.7 per game, and that number must stay low for a team looking for success in the Serbian capital. 

Partizan NIS Belgrade v Frutti Extra Bursaspor (2022-04-20T18:30:00.000Z)

Andrew Andrews - Frutti Extra Bursaspor (photo Bursaspor) - EC21-RS11

The first game on the second night of the EuroCup Eighthfinals will see Boulogne Metropolitans 92 host Umana Reyer Venice.

Keys to victory: Metropolitans vs. Reyer

### Metropolitans

Metropolitans have lost only one game at home this season and its shooting has been exceptional in France. The team has knocked down 40.8% of its three-pointers at home and 55.7% of its two-pointers. That home-court boost is important against a Reyer squad that has held opponents to 33.8% three-point shooting and has blocked 3.1 shots per game; both numbers are fourth in the competition. If Metropolitans can use their home-court boost to shoot well, they will be hard to stop. 

 

### Reyer needs to step up on the boards 

Rebounding has been an issue for Reyer all season; the team has been outrebounded by 5.2 boards per game and its 8.5 offensive rebounds are among the lowest in the competition. Reyer can ill afford to get chased off the glass in this win-or-go-home game. Metropolitans have outrebounded their opponents by 1.2 rebounds per game. Reyer has the big bodies to crash the boards in Mitchell Watt, Jeff Brooks and Martynas Echodas and controlling the rebounding battle could make all the difference. 

Jordan Theodore - Umana Reyer Venice (photo Ales Ferves - Cedevita) - EC21-RS16

Group A winner Joventut Badalona will try to put its home-court advantage to use when it hosts ratiopharm Ulm in their eighthfinals clash on Tuesday.

Keys to victory: Joventut vs. Ulm 

### Joventut must crank up its defense

Joventut possesses the best scoring defense in the competition, allowing just 71.0 points per game and that number drops to 69.0 points on its home floor. Joventut has kept five opponents at 67 points or fewer in home games and such strong, aggressive defense is the way to go for Joventut against a dangerous Ulm offense that features four players who can score in bunches. Joventut must not allow the likes of Semaj Christon, Jaron Blossomgame or Sindarius Thornwell to build up confidence and it going.

### Ulm needs to move the ball

Ulm has great potential on offense, and that offense has been the most productive when the team shares the ball. Ulm has scored 84 or more points in nine games this season, and in eight of those games, Ulm dished at least 18 assists. Playing against the competition's top defense, Ulm will need to find a way to score and, as witnessed during the regular season, the way to do it for Ulm is to move the ball well.

Joventut Badalona v ratiopharm Ulm (2022-04-19T18:30:00.000Z)

MoraBanc Andorra and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica are set to clash in the single-elimination eighthfinals and these are a few things they want to focus on.

Keys to victory: Andorra vs. Buducnost

### Andorra wants to jump in front

Andorra has been a team that knows how to play with the lead this season. It led at halftime in nine games during the regular season and won eight of them. On the other hand, Andorra managed to win only two games when it trailed at the break. Having that in mind, it makes it even more important for Andorra, against a veteran opponent like Buducnost, which shoots free throws better than any team in the competition (80.2%), to start the game strong. With the help of its fans, it might end up being a key to success.

### Buducnost needs to win inside

Only one playoff team gets to the free-throw line more often than Buducnost and no team in the competition is better at making free throws than Buducnost. But to make those count, Buducnost must not fall too far behind. It has often been the case this season that Buducnost wins when it does well close to the rims. As a matter of fact, Buducnost is 9-0 when it has scored more two-point shots than its opponent. Considering that Buducnost shot just 31.9% from long range for the season, Buducnost needs to get to the rim if it wants to get through to the next round.

MoraBanc Andorra v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2022-04-19T18:45:00.000Z)

Justin Cobbs - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (photo Matteo Marchi - Virtus) - EC21

The perimeter clash between Pau Ribas and Semaj Christon will be the one to watch when Joventut Badalona hosts ratiopharm Ulm.

Major matchup: Ribas, Joventut vs. Christon, Ulm

Few players in the competition know how to set the tone and get their teams into a rhythm like Pau Ribas does with Joventut. Whether it is starting or coming off the bench, Ribas has a knack for hitting important shots, finding his teammates at the right time and using his leadership to keep the team calm and collected. His 10.6 points on 44.1% three-point shooting and 4.3 assists have helped Joventut finish the regular season with the best record and he is poised to keep the team winning in the post-season, too.

What Ribas will have to do in this clash is also use his experience to deal with the athleticism and aggressive play of Ulm's playmaker Semaj Christon, who finished the regular season ranked fourth in scoring (17.4 ppg.) and assists (6.6 apg.). Christon will try to get himself and his teammates going, but he will also have to deal with Ribas, who knows a thing or two about how to slow down his opposition.

Pau Ribas - Joventut Badalona - (photo David Grau - Joventut) EC21-RS17

Two players who know what it takes to win a EuroCup title, veteran centers Alen Omic and JaJuan Johnson, will be one of the most important matchups in the eighthfinals tie between Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana and Turk Telekom Ankara.

Major matchup: Omic, Cedevita Olimpija vs. Johnson, Turk Telekom

Omic has been a big part of Cedevita's success after joining the team in November. Starting in each of his 13 appearances, Omic has been the team's top rebounder with 6.8 boards, while also contributing with 8.3 points and 2.2 assists. Omic has been near unstoppable around the rims (72.7%), which has opened up many clean looks for his teammates on the outside and that is what his team will need of him in this do-or-die game.

On the other side, Johnson has been Turk Telekom's most consistent performer, the team's top scorer with 12.3 points per game, and second-best rebounder with 5.4 per contest. He has also delivered 1.1 blocks, and he will need to bring all of that - and some more - against the crafty Omic. If Johnson can win that battle and help Turk Telekom hold the fort inside, it would go a long way in having an opportunity for an upset in the Slovenian capital.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Turk Telekom Ankara (2022-04-19T17:00:00.000Z)

Alen Omic - Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (photo Ales Ferves - Cedevita) - EC21-RS17