Returning to the BKT EuroCup after seven seasons away, Aris Midea Thessaloniki is preparing for new challenges with a totally revamped roster. Just three players and head coach Ioannis Kastritis remain from an Aris team that finished eighth in the Greek League last season. The learning curve will be steep for some newcomers, including two who are making their professional debuts, but with the famed Aris fans behind them and a chance to surprise all the established EuroCup teams in Group B, there will be no lack of motivation in Thessaloniki this season.
BACKOURT
Among those remaining players is point guard Vassilis Toliopoulos, who led the team in minutes last season. His familiarity with the ideas of Coach Kastritis will be of huge importance for this squad. Marcus Carr, brings a lot of energy and significant scoring abilities, but will face a learning curve in what is his first pro season. Giorgios Fillios, who just turned 21, was already a contributor last season and stands to do even more in this one.
The youthfulness of the playmakers will be offset in Aris backcourt with a pair of veteran guards, Eleftherios Bochoridis and Dimitris Katsivelis. And while the latter is a former two-time EuroLeague champion with Olympiacos Piraeus, Bochoridis has plenty of EuroLeague experience under his belt. He will have a larger role with Aris than he had with Panathinaikos Athens the past three seasons, but the go-to guy for Aris is expected to be scoring guard Roberto Gallinat, who scored big wherever he has played professionally so far in his career.
