All eyes this season will be on last year's 7DAYS EuroCup finalist, Frutti Extra Bursaspor, a team that went on a magical playoff run that was marked by its fearless approach and underdog mentality.
2022-23 Games to watch: Frutti Extra Bursaspor
Playing in Group A, Bursaspor is set to face several of this season's top contenders during the regular season. Here are some of its most intriguing games to watch this season.
Round 1: Tip-off test
The luck of the draw wanted Bursaspor to open its season at Stozice Arena, a place where it achieved one of its most thrilling wins last season. In the 2021-22 quarterfinals, Bursaspor escaped Stozice with an 83-85 win, but not before instant replay determined that Cedevita's Jacob Pullen's game-winning three-pointer came right after the buzzer. The atmosphere in the Slovenian capital should be rocking for this opening-week game and it will be a great test for Coach Dusan Alimpijevic and his men to see where they are at the start of the season.
Round 2: First home game
Last season, Bursaspor went on a magical run to the EuroCup Finals. But it did it all on the road. Each of the three elimination games the team won, and the championship game it lost, were played away from Tofas Spor Salonu. After opening this season on the road, Bursaspor finally gets to play at home in Round 2 and the opponent is the best team from the regular season one year ago – Joventut Badalona. It should be a celebration of basketball in Bursa.
Round 6: A Bourg-en-Bresse trip
Last season in Round 6, Bursaspor suffered its worst defeat since first entering the EuroCup when it visited Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse. The 95-65 drubbing gave Bourg a big confidence boost, while Bursaspor was left reeling. Even though the two teams eventually reversed their fortunes, with Bourg missing the playoffs and Bursaspor going on a Cinderella run, it will be interesting to see what this game in Bourg will bring for both teams.
Round 16: Can Bitim repeat his heroics?
Bursaspor swept Umana Reyer Venice in the two games these teams played against each other last season. In the second of those two games, Bursaspor's 80-66 win, Onuralp Bitim collected 25 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists in 38 minutes on the floor. From there, he built on that performance and was one of the team's key players during its run to the EuroCup Championship Game. Reyer has stacked its roster ahead of this season and this Round 16 match could have huge playoff implications.