Boulogne Metropolitans 92 comes travels to Lithuania this week to face Lietkabelis Panevezys right before the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season's halfway mark. Its undeniable leader until now has been playmaker Will Cummings, a EuroCup champion with Darussafaka Istanbul in 2018 and a very experienced player in this competition. Cummings ranks sixth in PIR average (20.0) and seventh in scoring (17.5 ppg.) this season. He has also averaged 3.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 5.9 fouls drawn until now. Cummings has scored in double digits in all of his games with Metropolitans and credited the special relationship with his coach, Vincent Collet, as one of the reasons why he is doing so well this season. "You have a lot of coaches that are controlling. They want to make every play call and control the game, but with him, he lets you play and trusts you," Cummings told EuroCupBasketball.com. "He gives you that freedom on the court to just be yourself, and trusts you to make the right plays out there."

Will Cummings, Metropolitans: 'Coach Collet has helped me a lot'

**Hello, Will. Congratulations on a great season. Was it what you were looking for when you joined Metropolitans, to lead a team the way you are?**

"Oh, definitely. I mean, that was one of the main things of joining Metropolitans. I talked to Coach Collet before the start of the season and he wanted me to be the experienced guy, helping the team win as many possible games as we can and try to take advantage of our roster that they were going to build. So we wanted to come in and just have a better year than they did last year and just put ourselves in a position to do well in the EuroCup and succeed in the French league as well."

"These games are super important for us going forward."

**Now that we are almost midway through the regular season, what is your take on the new format? Is it the strongest EuroCup you have been a part of?**

"It's hard to say. It's different. Right now, with the new format, you don't really notice it just because you are still in the group stage where you are playing teams home and away. I think it'll really take effect in showing people different things. People notice it when you go to the next round, when it's a single game and all those types of things, you know? But I think right now, everybody is still used to it because it's the same as the pool play. You just play more regular-season games in the first stage. But right now, it's hard to say."

**Metropolitans travel to Lithuania to go against Lietkabelis Panevezys, which is right behind you in the standings. Is it a critical game already in the battle to go to the playoffs?**

"Definitely. All the games, for the rest of this phase in the EuroCup I mean, for the rest of the group, are important for us. These are the games that we really have to lock in and try to get wins on the road against teams that are right next to us, you know, because all that will come into play towards the end of the year when the point differential and all that stuff matters. Anytime that you can get a win on the road is really beneficial to your success in qualifying for the next round. These games are super important for us going forward."

"Coach Collet has been the guy that has helped me the most towards trying to be a more well-rounded point guard."

**Your team has two very talented, yet very different centers in Vince Hunter and Miralem Halilovic. How great is it to have two high-quality centers and how different is it to play with them?**

"It's great because sometimes we play both of them at the same time. They both bring two different... they are kind of the same player, but they are definitely not, you know? Mickey [Halilovic] is great on the short roll. and Vince is great in the short as well, but Vince is higher above the rim and they make it and Mickey gets the floater a lot more. But they are both high IQ players that can make reads out of the pick-and-roll, so they help us a lot on the defensive end; Vince is kind of our rim protector. Mickey's always in the right spot on defense. So with those two guys on the floor at the same time, it really helps us a lot and gets that defensive presence, trying to go on runs."

**You seem to have a great connection with Vincent Collet, a very experienced coach. What is the best thing about him, on and off the court?**

"On the court, the best thing is that he just lets you play. He trusts us, and me as a point guard. There are times when we call the same play at the same time and a lot of other times he'll just let me just control the game and make the calls and the reads and who to get involved and stuff like that. That's the main thing. You have a lot of coaches that are controlling. They want to make every play call and control the game, but with him, he lets you play and trusts you. He gives you that freedom on the court to just be yourself and trusts you to make the right plays out there. Off the court, he is a great guy. He's super relaxed off the court. I mean, at this stage of his career, I'm not really sure how he was in the past, but he's a great guy. You can talk to him about anything, he is a well-rounded, calm guy. You will never really see him emotional or just frantic or anything like that. He is always calm."

**Most of your coaches in the EuroCup - David Blatt, Evgeny Pashutin, now Collet were point guards. How did they help you develop your game?**

"They taught me a lot. I would say, so far, Coach Collet has been the guy that has helped me the most towards trying to be a more well-rounded point guard or getting your teammates more involved in balancing out scoring. So he has helped me a lot and put me in a position to succeed and develop my game even more."

**Your fouls drawn average has gone up in each EuroCup season. You now rank fifth this season with 5.9 per game. Are trying to be more aggressive each season, or does it come with experience?**

"I would say it just comes with experience, I think I played the same - I would say probably my fouls drawn would have been more in other seasons if I were to play more in those situations that I was in, but I would say it just comes with experience, just knowing where to be, how to draw fouls, what the referees will actually call... Those types of things come with playing, being experienced and having the referees know your game and what you like to do. So I would say that's the biggest thing, just experience and knowing the calls that the referees will make."

**You had a great game against Lokomotiv in Krasnodar. How special was it for you to return to Basket Hall?**

"Well, it was cool just to see my former teammates, but the fans weren't in the gym because of the COVID protocols. I think they had a lockdown. But other than that, we lost, so it wasn't too much of a fun trip, you know? But it was great to see your former teammates and see those guys that I've been with for two years: all the young Russians and some of the Americans were still there. But overall, we lost, so it wasn't too much of a great trip."

"We are really just focusing on qualifying for the next round and then... anything can happen."

**Looking back to 2018, what do you remember about the EuroCup Finals and the way Darussafaka celebrated the title?**

"It was great! I mean, that run was really unbelievable because we swept everybody in the playoffs and we only had to play two games against this team. That was the most memorable part. And for me, I didn't play that much through the semifinals and the quarterfinals, but Coach Blatt played me a lot in the finals and I had a really big impact on that series. We stole Game 1 on the road against Lokomotiv and then we were able to beat them again, in our home court, in the second game. Overall, that was one of the best experiences I have had in Europe with that group of guys. I still talk to all those guys today, stay connected with them. So that was, overall, probably one of the best teams I played with. I remember the big play, with the steal and that three by Scottie Wilkebin because I was thinking he was going for a layup and he shot the three. I was going to yell at him to go for the layup, but he pulled up for the three, which is normal, what he would do. But it was a crazy, crazy experience just being a part of that and playing with Scottie. I think I took over in overtime, if I'm not mistaken, scoring a lot of points and giving us that extra cushion to have a comfortable win in overtime. But yes, it's definitely a memorable experience being able to play in the finals and win a championship in Europe, just because not too many people really get to achieve that."

**Metropolitans made it to the EuroCup Quarterfinals last season. What would make it a good season for you and your team?**

"Right now, we are really just focusing on qualifying for the next round and then we get to the next round and anything can happen. I'm not really trying to speak on our goals or anything that we have said in the locker room, but for us, we are just trying to take it one game at a time and put ourselves in the best position to win games and keep advancing. At the end of the day, that's the goal: to keep advancing and play as long as possible. So for us, we just try to focus on these next games coming up, to qualify for the next round and then after that, anything can happen because if I'm not mistaken, it's single-game elimination after that. That's when everything gets tricky and you just want to see your draws and try to put your best foot forward for one game at a time."

Joventut Badalona emerged from a competition-worst defense in EuroCup to a defense tycoon in the 2021-22 campaign with impressive consistency so far.

Trademarks: Joventut Badalona's transformation to a defense tycoon

Good basketball always starts with a good defense. That’s a staple in coaching tactics and there’s one team in the 7DAYS EuroCup that appears to have mastered the art this season. Joventut Badalona has transformed into a defensive juggernaut with no signs of slowing down. The Group A co-leaders are playing the best basketball this storied club has displayed in many years.

**[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1293349/joventut-badalonas-transformation-to-a-defense-tycoon/)**

Virtus Segafredo Bologna will be without superstar Milos Teodosic for an estimated 20 days after the point guard suffered a knee injury in a domestic league game on Sunday, the club announced.

Virtus loses Teodosic to knee injury

Teodosic, 34, hyperextended his left knee and tests revealed a bone bruise for which he has already started receiving therapy. Teodosic, the MVP of the last two 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Seasons, leads the competition this season in assists, with 8.1 per game. He is also putting up 13.3 points and 17.3 PIR per night for Virtus, which is tied for second place in Group B with a 5-3 record. Teodosic joins a list of players whose knee injuries have slowed Virtus. Another former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion, center Ekpe Udoh, has yet to debut after tearing his patellar tendon in preseason. Forward Awudu Abass had knee surgery in late September and is not back yet. And Kevin Hervey, who was the team's top performer through the first five EuroCup games, had a knee operation in mid-December and is not due back in action until February.

Milos Teodosic 2- Virtus Segafredo Bologna (photo Virtus) - EC21

The following 7DAYS EuroCup Round 9 games, originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday, January 11, and Wednesday, January 12, have been suspended:



Round 9 suspended games

**Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Promitheas Patras –** Local legislation imposing quarantine measures on the team after several Slask members tested positive for COVID-19.

**MoraBanc Andorra vs. Slask Wroclaw –** Local legislation imposing quarantine measures on the team after several Slask members tested positive for COVID-19.

**Umana Reyer Venice vs. Gran Canaria –** Local legislation imposing quarantine measures on the team after several Gran Canaria members tested positive for COVID-19.

Olimpija, Slask and Gran Canaria requested the suspensions.

Following the Special Regulations due to COVID-19, approved by the ECA Shareholders Executive Board, each game can be rescheduled up to three times, if there are available dates. Euroleague Basketball will coordinate with the affected teams the best options to reschedule the games. Alternative dates will be announced on official Euroleague Basketball platforms.

The following 7DAYS EuroCup Round 9 games, originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday, January 11, and Wednesday, January 12, have been suspended:

The 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season Round 9 game Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Promitheas Patras, originally scheduled to be played on Tuesday, January 11, has been suspended. 

Round 9 game, Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana vs. Promitheas Patras, suspended

Olimpija requested the suspension due to local legislation imposing restrictive measures on the team after several team members tested positive for COVID-19, which leaves the team without the minimum eight players on the Authorization List fit to play.

Following the Special Regulations due to COVID-19, approved by the ECA Shareholders Executive Board, each game can be rescheduled up to three times, if there are available dates. Euroleague Basketball will coordinate with the affected teams the best options to reschedule the games. Alternative dates will be announced on official Euroleague Basketball platforms.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana v Promitheas Patras (2022-01-12T19:00:00.000Z)

The MCS Group has obtained the rights to broadcast a selection of 7DAYS EuroCup games during the rest of the 2021-22 season through its dedicated basketball OTT channel MCS Basket.

MCS acquires 7DAYS EuroCup broadcast package in France

MCS Basket will offer all French basketball fans a selection of the best games of the 7DAYS EuroCup, including select games of French representatives Boulogne Metropolitans 92 and Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse, as well as do-or-die showdowns from the eighthfinals, quarterfinals, semifinals and the most crucial moment of the season, the 7DAYS EuroCup Final.

7DAYS EuroCup games will join a wide basketball offering on MCS Basket as the OTT platform already offers the Spanish, Italian, Israeli and Turkish domestic leagues.

Multi Channel Sport Group (MCS) joins a stable of broadcasters offering French fans the best in European basketball. The Olympique Lyonnais OTT platform OLPAY broadcasts all LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne games in the French territory. Monaco TV – the public television of the Principality of Monaco – airs all AS Monaco games. L'Equipe airs a selection of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games. And EuroLeague.TV, the league's official OTT platform, offers all Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games.

Round 9 will complete the first half of the 7DAYS EuroCup Regular Season and five teams enter this week’s games with 6-2 records. Here’s a look at some of the storylines to follow in Round 9.

This Week's Games: A round of reunions

### 6-2 derby in Badalona

Five teams enter Round 9 with 6-2 records and two of them will clash in Group A when Joventut Badalona hosts Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar on Wednesday. The hosts sport the EuroCup's top defense, which holds opponents to 68.8 points per game, but now faces its biggest test against the competition's best attack, which has been worth 92.5 points and is on pace for the EuroCup's single-season scoring record. Lokomotiv has scored at least 82 points in each road game this season, but has lost two straight away from home.

So far this season, half of the eight MVP of the Round honors have been to Lokomotiv players Errick McCollum and Johnathan Motley, who have won two apiece. The two, along with Loko playmaker Darius Thompson, have posted a PIR of at least 26 eight times this season. Meanwhile, Joventut has allowed opposing players a PIR of more than 25 only once this season. Joventut is unbeaten at home, having won each of its four games by at least 9 points. Joventut allowed 80 points against MoraBanc Andorra (5-3), but held every other team at 67 or fewer points. But Joventut is not all about defense as it dishes 21.1 assists, which not only currently ranks second this season, but is 10th best in EuroCup all-time. It's a must-see clash on Wednesday night.

### Coach Roedl visits home

Turk Telekom Ankara (5-3) head coach Henrik Roedl took over the team ahead of Round 7 and has led it to two wins in as many games. His next challenge will be in his native country against an opponent he knows well. Roedl has served as German national team coach since 2017 and knows just about everything about Hamburg Towers (3-5), especially about the likes of Justus Hollatz and Lukas Meisner, who have played under him for Germany.

What Roedl also knows well is that Hamburg is coming into this game hot, having performed well both in the EuroCup and domestically. A debutant in the competition, Hamburg won back-to-back games in Rounds 7 and 8 behind an offense that scored 100 points against Lokomotiv and then 99 against Dolomiti Energia Trento. Caleb Homsley is the EuroCup's third-best scorer with 20.3 points, and in-season addition Ray McCallum has proven to be what Hamburg needed and is posting 10.0 points and 2.7 assists off the bench. One team will continue its winning run on Tuesday night and whoever that ends up being, it will surely be able to say it reached its goal halfway through the regular season.

### Obradovic vs. Molin

It will be a special Wednesday night for veteran coaches Zeljko Obradovic of Partizan NIS Belgrade (6-2) and Emanuele Molin of Dolomiti Energia Trento (1-7), who are set to go against each other as head coaches for the first time in their long careers. The two go way back, all the way to the late 1990s when Molin was Obradovic's assistant at Benetton Treviso. They spent three years together, during which they guided Benetton to the 1998 Final Four and won the 1999 Saporta Cup.

Since then, they have faced each other many times on the biggest stages, including the EuroLeague Final Fours, with Molin serving as an assistant for over two decades with Virtus Bologna, Benetton, CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid. Molin has won three EuroLeague titles as an assistant (2001, 2006 and 2008) and also was on the losing end in championship games against Obradovic's Panathinaikos in 2002, 2007 and 2009.

### Repeat matchups

Interestingly, Wednesday’s clash between Partizan and Trento will mark the fourth consecutive season these two teams play each other. Partizan holds a 4-2 edge in those games. Last season, the teams split double-digit home wins in the Top 16. That is one of three Round 9 games between teams that faced each other last season.

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (3-5) beat Promitheas Patras (2-6) twice last season. Cedevita team captain Jaka Blazic scored 18 points in each of those two games. He will be aiming for a repeat against a familiar opponent on Tuesday as it is trying to start 2022 on the right foot and make a move towards the middle of Group B. Virtus Segafredo Bologna (5-3) will try to put its injury woes aside against Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse (2-6). Virtus beat Bourg twice by double digits in the Top 16 last season and will hope to repeat those performances to get a winning start to the calendar year.

Partizan NIS Belgrade celebrates (photo Dragana Stjepanovic - Partizan) - EC21

Valencia Basket shrugged off a two-week break in action and cruised to a comfortable 86-68 victory at home over Frutti Extra Bursaspor in a Round 7 make-up game in Group B. Valencia, playing its first game in any competitions since December 23, raced ahead 19-3 in the early going and never allowed Bursaspor to get within nine points the rest of the way. 

First quarter carries Valencia past Bursaspor, 86-68

Jasiel Rivero led the way with 24 points, while Xabi Lopez-Arostegui scored 14 and Klemen Prepelic 11. Bojan Dubljevic contributed 12 rebounds and 7 assists as Valencia bounced back from its Round 8 home loss to Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana to improve to 5-3, tied for third place with Virtus Segafredo Bologna. Bursaspor fell to 3-5 despite Allerik Freeman scoring 25 points and Egemen Guven tallying 18. 

Post-Game Quotes: Valencia 86-68 Bursaspor


### Joan Penarroya, Valencia Basket
"It's the first victory for us in 2022, which is important. We came from these days with lots of practice, which was good for us, but we had the handicap of missing [Nenad Dimitrijevic] with COVID. He had been doing well at practices. But we did something we had talked about a lot, and that was starting the game stronger. We had not been starting games well, but I believe we did so today. It's also true that Bursaspor's shooters missed some open shots they could have scored, but that first quarter marked a little what happened in the game. We controlled the rebounds well, on defense as well as offense, which gave us important second chances. And it ended up as an important victory for us to stay in the top part of our group."



### Dusan Alimpijevic, Frutti Extra Bursaspor
"We didn't start good. We played soft and gentle from the beginning. When you play against Valencia, with all these talented players, of course, the result is 23-7. The, in the second, third and fourth quarters, we found the rhythm, we found the flow, but it wasn't enough because when you are chasing someone the whole game like this, of course, you cannot have enough energy in the crucial times. You make childish mistakes and it's very difficult. We held Prepelic to his average level. We put Dubljevic and Tobey to a decent level, but they showed aggressiveness with the rest of the positions. And like I said, in games like these, when you are down 10 or nine and fighting for the result to go down, then in these moments, energy and some small things like boxouts become really important."



### Bojan Dubljevic, Valencia Basket
"The most important thing is the victory. We had time to prepare for the game. Of course, our game was up and down, but this is normal. We started well and just kept fighting and did a great job today."


Klemen Prepelic - Valencia Basket (photo Miguel Angel Polo - Valencia) - EC21