
Two of the premier rim protectors in the EuroCup will do battle this week with Vince Hunter of Boulogne Metropolitans 92 facing Turk Telekom Ankara’s Octavius Ellis.

Marquee matchup: Metropolitans’ Hunter vs. Turk Telekom’s Ellis

 Hunter is enjoying a superb season in which he is second in the EuroCup in rebounding (7.8 rpg.), fourth in steals (1.9 spg.) tied for fourth in blocks (1.1 bpg.) and second on his team in scoring (14.4 ppg.). Ellis leads the competition in blocks (2.0 bpg.) and is third in two-point shooting (71.0%), while leading his team in rebounds (5.9 rpg.). The Turk Telekom center has averaged 8.4 points per game, too. Their tussles in the paint are sure to play a big role in this contest.

Metropolitans, Turk Telekom square off in Group A

Both teams will be looking to bounce back from Round 9 losses. Metropolitans (4-5) came up short at Lietkabelis Panevezys last week despite 19 points and 11 rebounds from Miralem Halilovic. The French club has played its best basketball at home this season, where it is 3-1. Turk Telekom (5-4) was blasted by Hamburg Towers in Germany in Round 9. Anthony Clemmons was a bright spot in the loss with 14 points, 8 assists and 5 steals. The Turkish side is 1-4 on the road this season. When they met on opening night, Turk Telekom claimed a 73-65 victory thanks to 18 points and 13 assists from Alex Perez.

MoraBanc Andorra should keep doing what it does well to get a better chance to beat Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in Round 10.

Keys to victory: Andorra vs. Lokomotiv

Andorra limits opponents to less offensive rebounds than anyone else (8.4 orpg.) and forced them to shoot the ball poorly from downtown (32.0% 3FG). It leads the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup in blocks (4.1 bpg.), ranks fourth in assists (18.6 apg.) and fifth in two-point shooting (56.3% 2FG) but also averages 14.4 turnovers. Stopping Alan Williams down low should be mandatory, and Andorra relies on its deep, physical frontcourt to do so.

Lokomotiv should keep running its offense through Errick McCollum and Darius Thompson. Lokomotiv has averaged 13.1 turnovers per night, which is a low average considering it plays transition offense most of the way, attempting 42.4 two-point shots and 23.0 shots from downtown per night. Other than speeding up the game tempo, Lokomotiv should focus on stopping Codi Miller-McIntyre, and relies on Thompson and Ivan Paunic for this important, very physical matchup.

MoraBanc Andorra v Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar (2022-01-19T19:00:00.000Z)

Two of the most experienced guards in the 7DAYS EuroCup are ready to battle against each other when MoraBanc Andorra takes on Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar in a Round 10 showdown in Group A.

Marquee matchup: Andorra's Hannah vs. Lokomotiv's McCollum

Clevin Hannah is Andorra's floor general and its first option in crunch time. In his fifth EuroCup season, Hannah is averaging 10.0 points on 45.5% three-point shooting and 3.7 assists as a part-time starter. Hannah needs to play physical against Errick McCollum, the competition's top scorer at 22.8 points per night. McCollum has scored 23 points or more in each of Lokomotiv's last four games and is ready to keep making the difference for the Russian powerhouse.

Errick McCollum - Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar (photo Fedor Aebor - Lokomotiv) - EC21

In a big battle in Group A, MoraBanc Andorra (5-3) hosts Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar (6-3). Andorra is undefeated at home this season.

Lokomotiv visits Andorra again

 Codi Miller-Mcintyre (14.4 ppg.) has been its top scorer, followed by Drew Crawford (11.3 ppg.) and Clevin Hannah (10.0 ppg.). Lokomotiv has lost its last three road showdowns and is looking to bounce back, but it will be without big men Johnathan Motley and Gregg Whittington. Errick McCollum (22.8 ppg.), Darius Thompson (11.4 ppg., 6.7 apg.) and Alana Williams will be expected to lead the way. Lokomotiv is 3-0 against Andorra in European competitions. In Round 1, Lokomotiv topped Andorra 93-82 behind 29 points by Motley.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica ranks fifth in the EuroCup is steals with 7.9 per game and its aggressive wing players enjoy racing the court to get easy buckets off turnovers.

Keys to victory: Buducnost vs. Ulm

ratiopharm Ulm has committed the most turnovers in the competition, 16.4 per game, and that number skyrockets to 18.5 on the road. It is critical for Ulm to take better care of the ball if it wants to leave the Montenegrin capital with a win.

Strong play in the paint has been a trademark of Buducnost’s success this season; it outrebounds opponents by 5.0 rebounds per game on average and has held opponents to 49.7% shooting on two-pointers. Ulm has dangerous big men to contend with in Cristiano Felicio and Jaron Blossomgame, but if the hosts can shit them down, the road to another home win will be that much shorter.

Buducnost VOLI Podgorica v ratiopharm Ulm (2022-01-19T18:00:00.000Z)

Christoph Philipps - ratiopharm Ulm - EC21

Two of the best point guards in the competition will meet when Buducnost VOLI Podgorica faces ratiopharm Ulm.

Marquee matchup: Buducnost’s Cobbs vs. Ulm’s Christon

Justin Cobbs has been outstanding for Buducnost as he leads the competition in PIR with 24.2 per game and ranks fifth in scoring with 18.6 points per game. Cobbs also leads his team in assists (4.7 apg.) and steals (1.7 spg.). His Ulm counterpart, Semaj Christon, is eighth in the EuroCup in scoring with 17.1 points and sixth in assists with 6.3 per game. He leads Ulm in steals (1.3 spg.), too. These two players are critical to their respective teams’ success and their matchup will have a big say in the way this game plays out.

Group B leader Buducnost VOLI Podgorica targets its third straight win when it takes on ratiopharm Ulm on Wednesday.

Top-ranked Buducnost takes on Ulm

Buducnost (7-2) has had a knack for winning close games this season; four of Coach Dzikic’s team’s victories have come by 4 points or less, including last week’s come-from-behind thriller against Frutti Extra Bursaspor in which All-EuroCup center Willie Reed shined with 18 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. Ulm (4-5) has lost its last two games and gave up a 15-point lead in falling to Valencia Basket in Round 9. Justin Cobbs scored 18 and dished 6 assists to lead Buducnost to a 79-86 victory at Ulm when these teams met in Round 1. Jaron Blossomgame paced Ulm with 17 points and 9 rebounds in defeat.

Justin Cobbs - Buducnost VOLI Podgorica - EC21

Promitheas Patras needs to improve its shooting percentages to be more competitive going forward.

Keys to victory: Promitheas vs. Valencia

The Greek powerhouse ranks 17th overall both in two-point (49.8% 2FG) and three-point shooting (31.6% 3FG). Promitheas should improve its ball circulation and it is up to its playmakers, Kendrick Ray, Abdul Gaddy and Nikos Gkikas, to do so. Jerai Grant, Dimitris Agravanis and Dario Hunt have the tough mission to go against a physical Valencia Basket frontcourt led by Bojan Dubljevic, Jasiel Rivero and Mike Tobey. The battle in the paint should be critical in this game.

Valencia Basket leads the 2021-22 7DAYS EuroCup in offensive rebounds (13.2 orpg.) and should keep powering the glass against a physical team like Promitheas. Valencia is third in two-point shooting (57.4% 2FG) and free throw percentage (81.6% FT), but also fifth in turnovers (13.7 per game). Valencia needs to avoid easy mistakes and get its frontcourt involved, forcing Promitheas to double-team and allowing shrarp shooter Klemen Prepelc and Xabi Lopez-Arostegui to find open shots from beyond the arc.

Promitheas Patras v Valencia Basket (2022-01-19T17:30:00.000Z)