The Italian League derby in Round 14 brings several stellar matchups. One of them features Stefano Tonut of Umana Reyer Venice and Isaia Cordinier of Virtus Segafredo Bologna.

Major matchup: Tonut, Reyer vs. Cordinier, Virtus

Tonut always makes sure he does a little bit of everything to help Reyer as much as possible. It is shown in his stats as he averages 10.7 points with 84.2% free throw shooting, 3.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and a PIR of 17. Tonut, however, did not have a great night against Virtus in Round 5, finishing the game scoreless and getting a PIR of -1 in a 90-84 losing effort. Tonut is a smart player who finds advantages in one-on-one opportunities, either attacking the rim or finding the open teammate for an easier shot.

Major matchup: Karolak, Slask vs. Flaccadori, Trento

Karolak returned to the EuroCup for the first time since the 2014-15 campaign this season and is playing an important role for Slask, averaging 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and a PIR of 6.3. He has a key defensive role in the team and opens the floor with his shots from beyond the arc (39.3% 3FG, taking 5.0 attempts per night). Karolak, however, has not been that effective inside the arc (25.0% 2FG). He played well against Trento in Round 5, finishing that game with 15 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting and a PIR of 11.

Flaccadori is in his second stint with Trento, playing a key role as one of the most experienced players on the team. At age 25, Flaccadori is in his fourth EuroCup season and also played in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with FC Bayern Munich. He is averaging 10.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 12 games and had a career-high 22 points in Trento's 81-77 home victory against Slask in Round 5. He added 6 rebounds and 4 assists for a PIR of 18. Flaccadori hopes to have another monster game in Round 14.

Slask Wroclaw v Dolomiti Energia Trento (2022-03-09T17:45:00.000Z)

Jakub Karolak - Slask Wroclaw (photo Karolio Kavolelio - Lietkabelis) EC21

Two very different players are ready to battle against each round in Round 14 when Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana's Jacob Pullen and Buducnost VOLI Podgorica's Petar Popovic meet. 

Major matchup: Pullen, Olimpija vs. Popovic, Buducnost 

Pullen is his sixth EuroCup season and has filled the baskets for every club he has played for. He is averaging 13.4 points and 3.7 assists in 12 EuroCup this season, mostly off the bench. In fact, his only start of the season was against Buducnost in Round 5 and he finished that game with 7 points and 9 assists - matching his career-high. Pullen is an outstanding one-on-one player with a great set of skills, highlighted by a deadly step-back jumper. If he finds his rhythm, Pullen can make the difference in any game.

Popovic will try to make sure that scenario does not take place. A great on-the-ball defender, Popovic plays with high intensity at both ends and uses his instinct and determination to make the right move. He is averaging 9.1 points on great shooting percentages (61.5% 2FG, 47.4% 3FG, 100% FT) and 1.9 assists in 10 games thus far. He is the third-best per-minute scorer in the team (20.7 per 40 minutes), only trailing team stars Justin Cobbs and Willie Reed. His contributions at both ends make Popovic an essential player.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Buducnost VOLI Podgorica (2022-03-08T19:30:00.000Z)

Two great scorers are going to test their shooting skills against each other in Round 14: Axel Julien of Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse and Klemen Prepelic of Valencia Basket. 

Major matchup: Julien, Bourg vs. Prepelic, Valencia 

At age 29, Julien is making his EuroCup debut this season, confirming all the good expectations about him. He is averaging 8.8 points on 47.3% three-point shooting and 90.0% on free throws plus 5.2 assists for a PIR average of 11.5. He played well against Valencia in Round 5 at La Fonteta, finishing the game with 14 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting, 3 assists and a PIR of 14. He will try to use his high basketball IQ, quickness and unlimited shooting range against one of the best scorers in the competition.

Prepelic is already a EuroCup veteran; Valencia is his sixth team in the competition. He is averaging 13.5 points and 2.6 assists in 11 games this season, but not shooting the ball well (41.3% 2FG, 31.6% 3FG). Prepelic remains deadly in crunch time and with Sam Van Rossom injured, he should help at both guard spots. He had 15 points, 5 assists, 5 fouls drawn and a PIR of 17 off the bench against Bourg in Round 5. Valencia needs his shooting skills to balance its offense and allow Bojan Dubljevic and Jasiel Rivero to get more space down low. 

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse v Valencia Basket (2022-03-08T19:00:00.000Z)

Axel Julien - Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (photo Jacques Cormareche - Bourg) - EC21

Rogkavopoulos is also able to do a lot of things on the floor, which makes this matchup interesting. He is averaging 8.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 12 games for a PIR average of 11.2. Rogkavopoulos is a mobile forward who can take three-point shots in transition with a quick release. He also helps a lot on the defensive boards, ranking 12th overall with 4.5 per night. At age 20, Rogkavopoulos is one of the best prospects in the EuroCup this season. 

Thornwell arrived midway through the season and did not play against Promitheas the last time. He has given Ulm a boost since his arrival, averaging 12.3 points on 44.1% three-point shooting and 90.6% free throws. Thornwell also posts 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 rebounds and a PIR of 12.9. After four years between the NBA and the G League, Thornwell is showcasing his all-around skills, energy and know-how in the EuroCup, opening the floor with his three-point shots and also attacking the rim with great effectiveness.

Two of the most physical forwards in the competition face each other in Round 14. Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos of Promitheas Patras and Sindarius Thornwell of ratiopharm Ulm should be ready for a big matchup.

Major matchup: Rokgavopoulos, Promitheas vs. Thornwell, Ulm 

Promitheas Patras v ratiopharm Ulm (2022-03-08T17:30:00.000Z)

Nikolaos Rogkavopoulos - Promitheas Patras - EC21

An interesting battle in the paint will take place at Cido Arena in Round 14 when Djordje Gagic of Lietkabelis Panevezys goes against Balsa Koprivica of Partizan NIS Belgrade. 

Major matchups: Gagic, Lietkabelis vs. Koprivica, Partizan 

Gagic is a former Partizan player; he played for his Round 14 opponent from December 2017 until the end of the 2018-19 campaign. He is averaging 9.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 11 games this season. Gagic knows how to use his size in the low post, has plenty of experience and, of course, the extra motivation to play against one of his former teams. Gagic looks to bounce back, too, as he had 2 points, 5 turnovers, 4 fouls and a career-low PIR of -9 against Partizan in an 84-77 defeat in Round 5 in the Serbian capital. 

Koprivica had a strong performance in that game, finishing with 12 points on 5-of-6 two-point shooting, 4 rebounds and 1 block for a PIR of 12. It was just his fifth game in the competition and the first time that Koprivica scored in double digits. He has mainly come off the bench so far this season, averaging 5.8 points on 68.2% two-point shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. On a per-40 minutes basis, Koprivica leads the EuroCup in blocked shots (3.6) and ranks fifth in offensive rebounds (5.1), which says plenty about his potential. 

Major matchup: Gagic, Lietkabelis vs. Koprivica, Partizan 

Lietkabelis Panevezys v Partizan NIS Belgrade (2022-03-08T17:00:00.000Z)

Djordje Gagic - Lietkabelis Panevezys (photo Karolio Kavolelio - Lietkabelis) EC21

In a season of great interest, with Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Partizan NIS Belgrade getting the spotlight by default, a team that is synonymous with the 7DAYS EuroCup success was kind of overlooked. That's not the case anymore, though. Entering Round 14 of the regular season, Valencia Basket sits second behind fellow Spanish club Gran Canaria in the Group B standings, both with 9-4 records.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/eurocup/1317275/the-valencia-empire-strikes-back/)

Valencia really knows how to win the 7DAYS EuroCup, and once more the Spanish club is a solid – albeit overlooked – contender.

Trademarks by Eurohoops: The Valencia empire strikes back!

Valencia Basket celebrates (photo Miguel Angel Polo - Valencia) - EC21

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse will try to protects its spot among the top eight teams in Group B when it faces the group’s co-leader Valencia Basket.

Keys to victory: Bourg vs. Valencia 

### Bourg must keep pace on the glass

After a slow start to the season, Bourg has enjoyed a strong run with wins in three of its last four games. Coach Laurent Legname’s side also enjoys a winning record, 4-2, at home. This week Bourg faces the best rebounding team in the EuroCup. Valencia leads the competition in offensive rebounds (13.0 per game) and total rebounds (40.0 rpg.) while outrebounding the competition by 8.2 boards per game. Bourg has been outrebounded by 2.9 per game. To maximize its chances to beat Valencia, Bourg will need JaCorey Williams, Jalen Jones and Pierre Pelos to stick with Valencia on the glass. 

### Three-point defense could decide the game

Valencia is second in the competition in scoring (86.2 ppg.) so to keep pace, Bourg will likely rest on its EuroCup-best three-point shooting attack. Bourg has made 42.1% of its threes this season. The big problem for the hosts is that Valencia has the best three-point defense, limiting opponents to 31.3% shooting from downtown. This strength versus strength matchup could be key on Tuesday. 

The top two teams in Group A will meet on Wednesday when Slask Wroclaw hosts Dolomiti Energia Trento with both trying to start a run that could carry them into the knock-out stage.

Keys to victory: Slask vs. Trento

### Cleaning the glass will benefit Slask

This game features the two teams with the lowest shooting percentages in the EuroCup and therefore there could be many missed shots. Slask is second in the EuroCup in rebounding with 38.4 and leads the competition in defensive boards with 27.5. If Slask, led by the top rebounder in the EuroCup this season, Kerem Kanter (8.4 rpg.), and Ivan Ramljak (6.0 rpg.), can dominate the glass, it will be in a promising position. 

### Trento must play trough defense to win on the road

Trento, which has lost eight games in a row, won its only EuroCup game this season when it hosts Slask in Round 5. Trento played strong defense that night, blocking 6 shots and holding Slask to 5-of-31 three-point shooting (16.1%) in an 81-77 victory.