This Tuesday, October 17, SIG Strasbourg begins a new European campaign. Traveling to Oldenburg, the SIGmen will open the ball of this 8th season of the Basketball Champions League at 8 p.m. A competition that the capital of Europe and neighbor of the European Parliament appreciates and hopes to do well once again.
The format
This one hasn’t changed. On the starting line, 8 groups of 4 teams. Each team faces each other twice and at the end of the 6 home/away matches of this regular season, the first in each group will join the Top 16 of the competition.
For the second and third in each group it will then be necessary to go through the very dreaded Play-inn at the beginning of January in the best of three matches. The 8 winners of this Play-inn will join their comrades in the top 16 while the BCL adventure will end there for the 8 losers, just like the fourth in each group in the regular season.
We recap: First in the group? Heading to the Top 16, second or third in the group? Heading to the Play-inn and for the fourth of the group? End of BCL’s 2023/24 adventure.
The group
During this regular season, SIG Strasbourg will face in group E, Pinar Kasiyaka (TUR), Filou Oostende (BEL) and EWE Oldenbourg (ALL).
Pinar Karisiyaka is the favorite in this group. Vice-champion of Turkey last June, coach Sarica’s team is built to play leading roles in all competitions in which it participates. Unhappy finalist of the BCL in 2021 against Burgos, this club aims to erase the disappointments in play-inn of the last two seasons against Tenerife in 2022 then Murcia in 2023.
Filou Ostend… This is a club that doesn’t even need to be introduced anymore! The Belgian team is one, like SIG Strasbourg, of the rare clubs to have participated in all editions of the BCL. And this 8th season will be the 4th during which the two clubs compete. Belgian champion for the 12th consecutive time last summer, Ostend is not traditionally an easy match, facing a team that fights blood and water from the first to the last minute of each of its matches.
Oldenbourg… On y arrive…
Focus on the first match
Fourth participation in eight BCL seasons for EWE Oldenburg. Led by his Spanish coach Pedro Callesthe German team counts among its members a former SIGman who surreptitiously joined the club during the 2020/21 season, the Nigerian pivot He looked at Izundu (11 matches).
But if we had to focus a little more specifically on this roster, it would be on the leader Dewayne Russell. Passed by Nancy in 2017/18 during the rookie season, he has since made his place. Top scorer and best passer in the German championship last year, he is the man who makes the team rain and shine. With 15.3pts and 6.3pds in BBL this season, he is the number 1 asset to channel. Another American player to follow, the swingman Charles Manning. A real walking triggerman (16.7pts) he carries his team’s attack while blackening the stats sheet as the complete player that he is: this boy is a full-time job for his defender!
Behind his first guys, two players we know. The interior crossed in Bonn last year Deane Williams is one of the pillars of the German defense. European champion with Bonn last year, he is an indisputable starter and valuable relay to the coach. Outside, on the wing, another player already crossed, Kyle Foster. Under the colors of Roanne last year, this young man from Virginie had a very good rookie year, highlighting in particular his terrible 3-point skill. A sniper to watch like milk on fire! Add a warrior in the paint and solid rebounder Brekkot Chapman or even the young Len Schoormann who is not shy when it comes to planting behind the arc and who has the perfect profile to be voted best young player in the competition, without forgetting a battery of tough local players and his get a truly collective interesting.
Currently at 2 wins and 1 loss in the league, this Oldenburg team can boast of having already taken Bayern Munich into its hunt 15 days ago… but note that the latter has just taken revenge by eliminating EWE of the German Cup in his first match with a clear score (101-73). 48 hours after this setback, there is no doubt that our opponent will want to turn the page by winning at home. SIGmen: distrust, seriousness, toughness and consistency!
3 questions to coach Cancellieri
What is the physical state of the team with this road trip?
M.C : “We have done a lot, but we are at the start of the season so the strength and energy are still there. I think we shouldn’t have any unpleasant surprises in that regard. »
What were the areas of work during these two days?
M.C : “The points we are working on is changing the game plan for Oldenburg because they are a totally different team compared to Roanne. So we made a lot of adaptations. We will see if we can put them in place on the ground consistently. »
What is your view of Oldenburg?
M.C : “It’s a team that looks like the ones we met in pre-season. Oldenburg plays at a very intense pace and with two leaders who really organize the game. You will have to pay attention to the 3pts and especially the offensive rebounds. »
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2023-10-16 19:32:21
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