Another meeting of direct rivals sees Olympiacos Piraeus (16-11) welcome Virtus Stegafredo Bologna (17-10) as sixth faces fifth. 

 Olympiacos, Virtus stage top-six showdown 

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/olympiacos-piraeus-virtus-segafredo-bologna/E2023/247/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-game-facts-oly-vir/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-game-notes-oly-vir/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-prequotes-oly-vir/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-28/)

Virtus showed a good collective game to overcome Valencia last week, dishing 23 assists with just 8 turnovers orchestrated by [Alessandro Pajola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alessandro-pajola/006739/) with 6 helpers, and will need a similarly controlled effort to gain a vital road victory. But that won't be easy against an Olympiacos defense marshalled by the outstanding ball-hawking skills of [Thomas Walkup](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/thomas-walkup/008855/), who powered last week's win at Zalgiris, and the Italian team will also have to find an answer to the shooting prowess of [Alec Peters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/alec-peters/008829/). December's meeting between these teams was a close encounter, taken 69-67 by Virtus after a game-winning shot by former Olympiacos player [Daniel Hackett,](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/daniel-hackett/001844/) and this pivotal showdown should be another hard-fought battle.

[Olympiacos Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/statistics/oly/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Virtus Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/statistics/vir/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Isaiah Canaan vs. Marco Belinelli: Two stellar shooters will be loaded for scoring on Thursday.

Offensive production is becoming a major issue for Olympiacos, who average 76.4 ppg (third worst in the league) and were held to just 56 in a loss to Valencia. They could be outgunned by Isaia Cordinier, who has made six of his last eight attempts from deep for a Virtus team which ranks second for assists.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna-Olympiacos Piraeus | Round 15 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Olympiacos, Virtus stage top-six showdown

Olympiacos Piraeus v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2024-03-07T20:00:00.000Z)

Fresh from a morale-boosting win in Madrid, third-placed Panathinaikos Aktor Athens (17-10) will look to keep on rolling by overcoming LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (6-21), which also lifted its spirits by overcoming Milan last week. 

Preview: Panathinaikos Aktor Athens vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-aktor-athens-ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/E2023/251/#roster) | [Facts ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-game-facts-pan-asv/)| [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-game-notes-pan-asv/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-prequotes-pan-asv/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-28/)

We can look forward to a classic backcourt tussle between Greens leader [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/kostas-sloukas/001926/) and ASVEL veteran [Nando de Colo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/nando-de-colo/002100/), who returned from injury to net 13 points in the win over Milan. The French team will also have to handle powerhouse [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mathias-lessort/003842/) after his MVP-worthy exploits in Madrid. His fellow French center, [Joffrey Lauvergne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joffrey-lauvergne/004194/), will look to counteract Lessort by repeating his double-double (10 points and 11 rebounds) from the Greens' 81-89 victory between the teams in December.

[Panathinaikos Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/statistics/pan/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [ASVEL Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/statistics/asv/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Kostas Sloukas vs. Nando De Colo: A pair of EuroLeague legends will cross paths on Friday.

ASVEL playmaker Paris Lee, who's averaged 6.8 assists in the last four, tries to dominate the backcourt against the team he represented in 22/23. Meanwhile, the Greens hope Kendrick Nunn continues his excellent form after scoring 19, 13 and 24 points in the last three to boost their playoff-ambitions.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | Round 14 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Panathinaikos aims to hold serve against ASVEL

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2024-03-08T19:15:00.000Z)

Playoffs-chasing Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (14-13) will look for home comforts against an ALBA Berlin team (5-22) that has only won once on the road all season. 

Baskonia seeks to defend its home vs. ALBA

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz-alba-berlin/E2023/252/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-game-facts-bas-ber/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-game-notes-bas-ber/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-prequotes-bas-ber/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-28/)

Both teams need to improve defensively, after ALBA allowed 106 points against Maccabi last week while Baskonia fared even worse, conceding 111 at Fenerbahce. The Spanish team's backcourt dynamo, [Codi Miller-McIntyre](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/codi-miller-mcintyre/009048/), top-scored with 17 points in an 86-91 victory in Berlin in Round 2. That was also helped by 13 rebounds from [Tadas Sedekerskis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/tadas-sedekerskis/007230/), who returned from injury in last week's loss at Fenerbahce. He will now look to regain his top form and combine with [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) to overcome the challenge of ALBA big man [Johannes Thiemann](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/johannes-thiemann/003958/) and give his team the physical edge at Buesa Arena.

[Baskonia Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/statistics/bas/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [ALBA Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/alba-berlin/statistics/ber/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Chima Moneke vs. Johannes Thiemann: Two stylistically different big men will have a say underneath on Friday.

ALBA Berlin-Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz | Round 2 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v ALBA Berlin (2024-03-08T19:30:00.000Z)

A meeting of coaching legends will see Ettore Messina's EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (11-16) attempt to overcome Zeljko Obradovic's Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (13-14) in a big battle just outside the postseason places.

 Iconic coaches meet as Milan welcomes Partizan 

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/ea7-emporio-armani-milan-partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/E2023/250/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-game-facts-mil-par/) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-game-notes-mil-par/) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs28-prequotes-mil-par/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-challenge-tips-round-28/)

A meeting of coaching legends will see Ettore Messina's Milan (11-16) attempt to overcome Zeljko Obradovic's Partizan (13-14) in a big battle just outside the postseason places. The Serbian team ended a three-game losing streak by downing Efes last week thanks to a career night from [Aleksa Avramovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/aleksa-avramovic/003983/), with 30 points, and a big game from the athletic [Zach LeDay](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/zach-leday/008987/), while Milan's inconsistent season took another blow with a loss at Bayern. LeDay also shined with 15 points as Partizan comfortably beat Milan, 83-69, in December, and the visitors will now look to control the threat of Milan leader [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/) to potentially push into the all-important top ten.

[Milan Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/statistics/mil/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Partizan Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/statistics/par/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Shavon Shields vs. Kevin Punter: Former teammates clash at small forward on Friday.

After consecutive thrilling home wins, fast-rising Partizan bid to make it three in a row against a Milan team longing to bounce back from two straight losses. Energy reserves are to be tested with both fresh from overtime showdowns with Partizan overcoming Monaco, while Milan feel to defeat at Bayern.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | Round 13 Highlights | 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague

Iconic coaches meet as Milan welcomes Partizan

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2024-03-08T19:30:00.000Z)

In addition to leading AS Monaco Basket to three key wins in February, Mike James is closing in on the EuroLeague's scoring record.

Mike James, Monaco Basket, February MVP: ‘I’m trying to enjoy all the love and support I’m getting’

Ahead of what could be a record-breaking occasion on Thursday night, AS Monaco star [Mike James](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mike-james/005985/) reflected on winning the [MVP of the Month award for February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/february-mvp-mike-james-monaco/), which is his fifth such award and the fourth season in a row he has been secured this honor, a new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague record.

James led Monaco in points (20.3), rebounds (6.0), assists (3.7), steals (1.7) and PIR (22.6) over the team’s three wins in February, all of which were above the Monegasque outfit coming into those games: Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, Virtus Segafredo Bologna and FC Barcelona. He was instrumental in each, too, as he came to the fore late on to ensure Monaco came out with the victory.

### Closing in on the EuroLeague scoring record

What’s more, James now finds himself just 12 points off breaking the EuroLeague’s all-time scoring record, which he is expected to achieve on Thursday night as Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade. James has had his eye on this record for some time now but, as he told Geoff Gillingham of the EuroLeague’s official website, part of him just wants to focus on basketball again.

"I kind of knew I could break it last year or the year before. One of my ex-teammates, Chris Singleton, has been telling me that I was going to break it,” James explains. “I was like, 'Ah, that seems so farfetched, I don't know.' But, you know, going into this season, I knew it was possible. 

“I was kind of wary because Nando \[De Colo\] was really close and obviously he can score with the best of them. I think him going down just kind of helped me surpass him and just with his injury problems this year in general. So when I got closer and closer, it was like, okay, my friends are coming and they're like, 'Are you going to do it this game? Are you going to do it this game?' And I'm like, 'I don't know.' 

“Hopefully I can stay healthy and it will happen. I'm trying not to dwell on it too much. I'm not like an attention\[-seeking\] person, so I kind of want for it to be over and for this whole thing to pass, but I'm trying to enjoy it and enjoy all the love and all the support I'm getting from people."

### Becoming wiser with age

At age 33, James seems to be playing better than ever, contributing in various ways to keep Monaco towards the upper echelons of the EuroLeague standings. While he makes the point that he has been doing these things ever since he came into the EuroLeague, he is now smarter with what he does on the court, thus allowing him to maintain a consistently high level of play.

"I think that I've always been able to do certain things – I’ve \[always\] been able to rebound, pass, steal the ball and just play defense,” James notes. “I think as I've gotten older, I've gotten more responsibility and figured out where it's easier for me to play and pick spots and play in spots. 

“When I was younger I just had more energy, so I used to do a little more things when I had the opportunity. Now I'm older, I think I just pick my spots and the way I expend my energy a little bit better."

### Monaco on a roll

Thanks to James’s MVP-caliber performances in the month of January, Monaco now finds itself in the midst of a six-game winning streak which has seen it surge up to fourth spot in the standings. Of those six wins, three have come against sides currently in the top five: Real Madrid, Virtus and Barca. Now, James and Monaco want to make sure they end the regular season on a high.

"At the beginning of the year everyone had us picked to finish in the top four and, through injuries and some of our better players not playing up to their full potential, we struggled at times during the beginning of the season,” James comments. “But I think people are getting back into form, people are stepping up, people are settling into their roles and, you know, people are setting into what they're going to be doing. 

“I think we're starting to come together at the right point towards the end of the season. Hopefully we can keep some momentum going, win some games and finish high in the standings to have home-court \[advantage in the playoffs\]."

Watch the video above to see the Mike James interview in full.

In addition to leading his team to three key wins in February, the 33-year-old is closing in on the EuroLeague scoring record

Mike James, Monaco, February MVP: ‘I’m trying to enjoy all the love and support I’m getting’

Over his six seasons in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Pete Mickeal earned a reputation as a skilled, physical and intelligent player. He spent the last four of those seasons wearing the FC Barcelona uniform and was a force on Barça’s 2010 EuroLeague-championship-winning side when he either led the team or was second in scoring (12.0 ppg.), rebounding (5.1 rpg.) and PIR (14.1).

Pete Mickeal: ‘Ricky looks already in great shape’

That season was also the first with the club for the then-basketball prodigy Ricky Rubio, who was just 18 years of age when he first teamed with Mickeal. The two built a lasting bond, which Mickeal spoke about this week with Javier Gancedo of the EuroLeague’s official website.

How Rubio helped save Mickeal’s career

Mickeal revealed that Rubio, whom he said he considers to be like a son, helped revive his career with a phone call. It came after Mickeal’s final season with Barcelona came to a premature end when he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.

“I was at my worst moment in 2013 and when he called me, he gave me confidence. And from that confidence, I restarted my career because at that point I was going to retire. But I ended up playing another four years because I had people like Ricky… who cared about me and lifted my spirits up,” Mickeal said.

Mickeal on what Rubio brings to Barcelona

After retiring, Mickeal spent some time as an NBA scout and now runs the NTX International Combine, so he knows a thing or two about talent. And Mickeal is convinced that Rubio has exactly what Barcelona needs to make a run at some silverware.

“I think in May, you'll see the effect that he has on his team between May and June,” Mickeal explained. “It's the most important times of the year, April, May and June. And to have that type of experience that he has, I mean, there's no dollar price you can put on that.”

The Milan center is joined by one fan representing Partizan and another representing Crvena Zvezda

A Quarter with Kyle Hines: Serbian fans edition

The Eternal Derby between Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade is known right around the world, and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan center Kyle Hines spoke with two fans – one from each team – on the latest episode of A Quarter with Kyle Hines to learn more about the similarities and differences between the two clubs. Crvena Zvezda fan Dusan Jovanovic and Partizan supporter Dusan Mihajilovic, together with Hines, discuss what makes the two fan bases so great, how supporting one of the two can have an impact upon your day-to-day life, and how someone’s love of Crvena Zvezda or Partizan is often passed down from one generation to another. All three also touched on how good it is to have this derby in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague at long last and how the two clubs are pushing each other to be the best that they can be.

After five seasons out of the EuroLeague, the Virtus boss swiftly made his presence felt again.

Luca Banchi, Virtus: 'As a coach, you have to adapt'

In just its second season after returning to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Virtus Segafredo Bologna has emerged as arguably the most surprising team in the competition thanks in great part to a new man at the head of the bench, Luca Banchi.

Banchi arrived to Bologna rather unexpectedly on September 15, a couple of weeks before the start of the regular season, before which all had pointed to Sergio Scariolo continuing as the team's head coach. After the initial shock, Banchi's system started to sink in little by little.

"My first mission was not to change too much," Banchi explains. "I was conscious of the power of the roster (...) I decided to understand as soon as possible the pillars of the system (...) and, little by little, add some changes that made our style more familiar with my vision." 

Virtus started the EuroLeague season with a narrow home loss, but after that reeled off a string of five wins that sent the team's morale through the roof. Since then, Virtus has been hovering over the playoff spots with no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

 "He gave us a lot of confidence," Virtus big man Toko Shengelia says. "He also understands the players that we are. At this level, we know pretty much what we can do on the court. He just gives us the confidence."

Banchi's return to the continental elite came after a five-year absence since his last stint in the EuroLeague, in 2017-18 with Brose Bamberg. Most recently, he was also named Best Coach of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 after leading Latvia to an unexpected fifth-place finish. Banchi himself believes that one of the keys to this success is evolving with the game. 

"Basketball is evolving," Banchi says. "And, as a coach, I believe you have to adapt your style, your ideas, to personnel changes."

In just its second season after returning to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, Virtus Segafredo Bologna has emerged as arguably the most surprising team in the competition thanks in great part to a new man at the head of the bench, Luca Banchi.

Round 27 was a strong one for the co-hosts of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast. Can Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs keep it up this week? Despite Gancedo being on the other side of the Atlantic, they bring you Episode No. 25 of the podcast!

Fantasy Challenge Podcast: Where in the World is Javier Gancedo?

Round 27 was a strong one for the co-hosts of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast. Can Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs keep it up this week? Despite Gancedo being on the other side of the Atlantic, they bring you Episode No. 25 of the podcast!

What can you expect to hear this week aside from which players they consider must adds? How about players to avoid, thoughts on Aleksa Avramovic’s monster night, takes on the returns of Nando De Colo and Ricky Rubio, and much, much more. Join the [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) community and get the best advice on the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast.