Finally, there are certificates in the World Champion League!
SPORT BILD has closely followed the 2023/24 season in the Easycredit Basketball Bundesliga, observing, researching and analyzing on match days and between games. Now the basketball reporters are awarding the BBL final certificate.
Final certificate BBL, part 8: EWE Baskets Oldenburg
For more than ten years, the EWE Baskets Oldenburg were one of the top addresses in the Easycredit BBL. But since the completely botched 2021/22 season, in which they barely managed to avoid relegation, the 2009 champions have been lagging behind their expectations.
This was once again the conclusion of boss Herrmann Schüller (72) this season after the early play-in exit against northern rivals Veolia Towers Hamburg (81:93). “Of course we are not satisfied with the outcome of the BBL season,” said the successful entrepreneur from the glass industry. In the second year under coach Pedro Calles (40) there was actually regression instead of progress – despite a budget of 8.6 million euros, which is among the top group in the league!
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In the BBL Cup, they lost in the round of 16 against FC Bayern (73:101). The Champions League season ended in December after just two wins in six matches, after the group phase. A dramatic 77:85 in Strasbourg sealed the team’s exit.
Only the start (five wins from six games) and the final spurt (eight from ten) were strong. In between, bad luck with injuries struck mercilessly. The “Thunderbirds” had to cope with a total of 18 injuries and played with a mini squad for weeks. At times, the entire first five were missing! “Due to the numerous injuries, we had problems growing as a team over the course of the season,” said Calles.
The most visible example was top star DeWayne Russel (30). In the previous season, the American was named the best offensive player in the league. The Oldenburg team had therefore extended his contract early on until 2025. This season, the point guard never found his old form again – partly due to a hand injury. The consequence: his contract has just been terminated…
Oldenburg is still top class in the BBL, only the fans and the young talent. Despite all the sporting setbacks, the arena (6200 seats) has been sold out for 28 games in a row! Second place behind Alba Berlin (8403) – and ahead of champions Munich (5997). There is a waiting list for those interested in one of the 4000 season tickets!
This has never happened beforeThis superstar wants to make history
Source: AP/imdwhite,Bronny:Instagram/Bild28.06.2024
Schüller: “The loyalty of the fans impressed me most. Although things weren’t going well for a while, their support gave us a lot and kept lifting us up. We feel that the base is getting broader and the positive pressure from below is increasing thanks to social projects that are particularly aimed at children and young people.”
The performance of the junior teams was also pleasing: the U17s became German champions, the U19s runners-up. “It was a bitter-sweet season, especially for me, who is heavily involved in the entire sporting area with the BBL team and the junior division,” said sporting director Srdjan Klaric (51). “On the one hand, I have never experienced such a crazy situation with so many injuries. On the other hand, it is incredibly fulfilling to crown an incredibly strong season performance in the top 4 with both the JBBL and the NBBL.”
His conclusion: “A rollercoaster of emotions.”
Because of their own demands, the top budget and the loss of reputation in the league, they should actually have received an “unsatisfactory” grade – regardless of the bad luck with the many injuries. But fans and the youth department just about save the team…
SPORT BILD rating: 4
2024-07-01 10:58:48
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