By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
The teams had two weeks off in the Basketball Champions League which they used to rest, prepare and make some much-needed changes before a crucial run in the competition.
The regular season is coming to a close and the calculations are gaining on importance as the clubs try to secure a spot in the playoffs.
The schedule continues with Gameday 10 and the games are evenly split between Tuesday (8/1) and Wednesday (9/1) – eight per day.
Day 10 preview
Group A
1. UCAM Murcia (8-1)
2. Sidigas Avellino (6-3)
3. Banvit (5-4)
4. Nizhny Novgorod (5-4)
5. Anwil (4-5)
6. Le Mans (3-6)
7. Ventspils (3-6)
8. MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (2-7)
Anwil and Avellino will play the only Group A match on Tuesday. Both squads arrive in a good mood but the Italians recorded some big wins including one against Olimpia Milano which was the powerhouse’s first loss in the domestic league. Caleb Green posted 17.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his last five Avellino’s BCL games.
Banvit and Ventspils continue on Wednesday. Ventspils won four out of five games in all competitions and was victorious in the previous BCL clash against Banvit. However, the Turks bounced back after three losses with two wins and one came against none other than Fenerbahce after overtime.
Ludwigsburg will host Le Mans which won just two out of last ten away matches in all competitions while the Germans lost only one out of last six games at home.
Murcia and Nizhny play the last game in Group A this week and the Spaniards have a chance to secure their spot in the Round of 16 if they win and Andwil loses to Avellino. However, arrive off four straight losses in the domestic league while Nizhny recorded seven straight victories in all competitions.
Group B
1. Iberostar Tenerife (8-1)
2. Umana Reyer Venezia (6-3)
3. UNET Holon (6-3)
4. PAOK (5-4)
5. Nanterre 92 (4-5)
6. Telekom Baskets Bonn (4-5)
7. Fribourg Olympic (2-7)
8. Opava (1-8)
PAOK and Holon start the show for Group B in Greece. Holon is in a better form at the moment and also won the previous match against PAOK. Interestingly, Holon is the only team to have scored 50% or more of their two-point attempts, 40% or more of their attempted three-pointers and 80% or more of their shots from the free-throw line in BCL this season.’
Fribourg will host Tenerife which holds the longest streak of won away games in the competition (11). Fribourg’s main advantage so far has been the second chance scoring. They lead the league with an average of 15.3 second-chance points.
Opava goes on the road to Venezia and in case they lose they might lose any chance to qualify for the next stage (if PAOK wins). Despite some recent ups and downs, Venezia is a force to be reckoned with in front of the home crowd while Opava is the only team in BCL conceding more than 90 points per game (92.1).
Nanterre and Bonn will close the show for Group B. The tradition is on the French team’s side as they won six out of seven matches against Bonn in the past including the one this season.
Group C
1 AEK (8-1)
2 Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem (7-2)
3 Brose Bamberg (6-3)
4 Telenet Giants Antwerp (5-4)
5 Lietkabelis (3-6)
6 Montakit Fuenlabrada (3-6)
7 JDA Dijon (2-7)
8 CEZ Nymburk (2-7)
Nymburk and Lietkabelis kickoff the week for Group C with the hosts coming off two straight wins in the domestic league while the guests won just one out of their last five games.
Next up are Brose Bamberg and AEK. The reigning champions are in an eight-game winning streak and are very close to qualifying for the next stage. A win would make that happen but in case they lose, if Fuenlabrada and Lietkabelis fall as well the outcome would be beneficial for AEK.
Fuenlabrada will host Dijon as both teams need the win in order to keep realistic chances for a playoff spot. The Spaniards just barely came out on top in the first clash of these two teams (87-85) but they are in a really tough spot recording six losses in a row in all competitions.
Last but not least, Hapoel Jerusalem and Antwerp Giants will close the week for Group C. Both squads won four out of last five games in all competitions and although Antwerp won their previous duel, the Israeli team combined with the home crowd energy might be too big of a bite for them.
Group D
1 Segafredo Virtus Bologna (7-2)
2 SIG Strasbourg (6-3)
3 Promitheas Patras (6-3)
4 Besiktas Sompo Japan (4-5)
5 medi Bayreuth (4-5)
6 Neptunas Klaipeda (4-5)
7 Filou Oostende (4-5)
8 Petrol Olimpija (1-8)
Strasbourg (61) and Besiktas (54) are two of the five teams to have made the least 3-pointers in BCL this season and their clash will be decided in the paint where the French have Youssoupha Fall standing tall averaging most blocks in the competition this season (1.7 per game).
Neptunas will host Oostende and although both teams have some ups and downs recently, Neptunas’ squad managed to prevail against Zalgiris beating the Lithuanian powerhouse second time this season (their only losses in the domestic league). That game featured two overtimes and although its a confidence boost, it might be a problem to recover completely for the upcoming game against Oostende in BCL.
Promitheas and Bayreuth are up next and both squads arrive in a solid form. The Greek squad had a few ‘easy’ double-digit wins while Bayreuth won against Bamberg before falling to Bayern after overtime in quite an exhausting game.
After a record-breaking 7-0 start, Bologna lost two games in a row and are looking to stop that trend. Their opponent is Olimpija which won just one game this season and are desperate to turn things around and try to stay in the competition.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League