By Bugra Uzar/ info@eurohoops.net
The spring of Turkish basketball is a fact and Besiktas wants to be part of it. The club in which Allen Iverson and Deron Williams had played can’t be left behind and a big step towards the right direction was the hiring of coach Ufuk Sarica.
The Turkish basketball legend talked to Eurohoops about the challenge of being the coach of Besiktas, the goals of the team, the landscape of European basketball and about being the underdog.
You have left Karsiyaka after a successful and thriving term with the team. Could you please a bit talk about your stay at Izmir and your time at Karsiyaka? What do you think were the biggest factors for enjoying such big success there?
“There is always a fan interest in basketball in Izmir. It was just that they are not really familiar with championships. I had faith in the city and I had a dream when I was headed to Izmir. I thought we could do something special there if we put together a hardworking staff. Happily, following the four special years, we managed to get to Euroleague which is a quite hard thing to do. Step by step, day by day, our crowd got bigger and people started to believe more. We succeeded all together, the team, the city and fans”.
Which factors pushed you to leave the team?
“Subsequent to the first year I had in Izmir, I received offers from other teams. However, all I said was that if there are goals set, if there is an environment which is open to development, I am happy in Izmir. Therefore I didn’t want to leave. After four years of success, we have seemingly got the impression of “the success will come regardless” and then our sponsor hinted that they will shrink the support which will eventually shrink the goals of the club. I had the feeling that we cannot go any further than we already did. Besides, I am from Istanbul and when I got the offer of Besiktas, I wanted to take it into consideration”.
Why did you prefer to join forces with Besiktas?
“All my dreams and goals has been centred around Karsiyaka and Besiktas since my assistant-coaching time in Anadolu Efes. I saw them as underdogs who can challenge big-budget teams. We achieved this in Karsiyaka, I feel the same vibe in Besiktas Sompo Japan. Besiktas fans are always into basketball. I think we can create the same atmosphere as we had in the past although some unsatisfying seasons the club had over the last few seasons. This club and fans excite me, make me dream. That’s why I chose to come here”.
Over the last few years, football branch of Besiktas has taken over others, mainly due to financial reasons. However, after the completion of last season, first club’s president Fikret Orman and then other club officials stated they are going to give weight to basketball from the next season on. Up until this moment, how do you like their approach to the basketball branch and to you?
“I talked to the president couple of times before signing the contract. He is also very excited and wants to see Besiktas Basketball go and play for championships. I feel his full support, I am promised the necessary budget levels for the next seasons. Of course, we cannot really double up, triple up our budget immediately but still, I have his promise of at least providing necessary budget”.
You found triumph in the basketball mentality and system you constructed in Karsiyaka. Do you consider using the same mentality and system during your stay at Besiktas?
“Honestly, yes I do. This system was tested in Karsiyaka and did just fine. Playing with quick players yields a rapider game style. In today’s basketball, teams in Turkish league and Euroleague also prefer this style of play. This is the system I have faith in and I have the expertise on. Therefore I will try to apply this system to Besiktas Sompo Japan. Our new additions and the roster we are trying to compose are also considered accordingly. We are still looking for front-court players who again, will be selected according to this basketball mentality”.
Besiktas basketball has been in a recession in recent years, yet there is no denying that they will again be competitive under the helm of Ufuk Sarica. There are also many valuable coaches in the league, also some big budgets. What are your expectations going into the new season?
“I am very familiar with this sort of challenges. That is what we have done the last four years. Fenerbahce and Anadolu Efes again will be playing on a high level, Darussafaka Dogus raised their ceiling to high heights. Galatasaray Odeabank will have around 10 million-budget. My prime target is to get together a competitive team who can challenge opponents. We might accomplish this, we might not. Basketball is not only about money, budget or players. This game is a composure of many different elements. My biggest dream is to be able to create a team that will play until the very last possession, play every game to win, play against every opponent to beat and a team that will not be afraid of anyone. If we can do this, the results will yield on the floor”.
This summer’s transfer market in Europe has been tough for teams but it can be said that Besiktas has made some solid additions to the roster. We know that transfer negotiations are still ongoing in order to present new faces to Besiktas fans. What is the latest situation regarding these negotiations? Could you comment on your new players and your expectations from them?
“Up until this point, all the players we signed and all the players we retained services of are products of well-judged and thoroughly considered transfer policy. All players are carefully selected according to our system in terms of character and technicality. I trust them and trust is a concept that I give too much importance to. I think it is one of the most important building blocks to pave the way to the success. I already worked with DJ Strawberry and had the taste of championship. I know him very well. Our new guard Michael Thompson had a great season last year. He is developing more and more every season. Actually I wanted to sign him in Karsiyaka the last season, however, it did not come off. I know Michael Roll, he knows me as well. He is proved to be a valuable player. Kyle Weems can play both 3 and 4 positions. I think he will be an important part of the team. We are trying to create an aggressive team. We are thinking of adding two, three players to the roster. Two new foreigners and some domestic players we want to add”.
Next season, Besiktas will be participating in Basketball Champions League which will be held for the first time. Could you comment on the continuing tension between FIBA and Euroleague, also on Basketball Champions League?
“We had seen a similar conflict between FIBA and Euroleague in the past. These type of conflicts might turn up, the thing is how you handle them. I find arm-twisting and insistent approaches quite wrong. Organizations should be divided into two or three in order to keep the quality of teams, at most. If we go through the elimination round, our group will possess Belgium champion, French runner-up and Italian semi-finalist. With the inclusion of Italian teams, the competition level got higher. I think there will be some great games. I hope everything goes well with the organization without any issues. Besiktas has got to be participating in European competitions. Hopefully we will get to the higher levels”.
Finally, what are your opinions towards Turkish National Team? In spite of missing out on Rio 2016, Turkey will be the host of Eurobasket 2017. You have an important role within the organization, what sort of a path do you think Turkey is following right now and do you think it is the right way?
“I cannot really say that it looks promising. We do not have many “game-changing star” players right now. Regarding this issue, the foreigner limit in Turkey should be re-evaluated. More foreign players have brought more excitement but the foreigner rule should be disciplined again. It could be limited to 4+1 formula. We have to get domestic players involved, you cannot drag a player to the high levels without having them playing, regardless of their talent”.
Translated by Mete Budak