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Croatia-Macedonia meet in World Cup final, Eurobasket preview
The dust has mostly settled in Ankara, with Croatia and Macedonia the final two terms standing. Though Croatia should prevail in this one and the “World Cup of Basketball” isn’t really much more than a lot of friendly matches bound together loosely and packaged as a tournament, the game tonight could prove to be crucial […]
Dream Team Europe: The coaches
With an extended roster of 19 all-time players waiting in the wings, Ball in Europe today releases the names of the Dream Team Europe coaching staff. To manage this elite squad, we’ll limit Dream Team Europe to four coaches in spite of reader Simas’ excellent (if unwieldy) solution reckoning that “if you have a coaching […]
First thoughts on first Euroleague outright winner odds
Someone over at online sportsbook and official Euroleague sponsor SportingBet.com doubtlessly cannot wait for the 2009-10 season to begin, though we’re still, as the handy Euroleague.net countdown timer reminds, 67 days, 10.5 hours and change away from opening day. Already posted are odds for the upcoming season and whoo boy, is it some fodder for […]
Betting on basketball: EuroBasket 2009 Group C odds
In our ongoing look at the odds on EuroBasket 2009 (herein presented by Euroleague/Ball in Europe partner SportingBet.com), BallinEurope.com takes a few notes on the current odds and trends in Group C. Group C is the pool which is getting officially overhyped in this tournament as the “Group of Death” sports journalists so often seek […]
Team Russia disarmed of AK-47 for EuroBasket 2009
Team Russia’s road to defending its EuroBasket title just got a whole lot longer; yesterday Andrei Kirilenko – so key to the Russian championship in 2007 – comfirmed that he would not be participating in the 2009 tournament. Kirilenko’s no show couples another massive absence for EuroBasket, namely point guard J.R. Holden of CSKA Moscow, […]
Back in the CSKA: Kurbanov reunites with Moscow, Pashutin
Could 2009 be the breakout year for highly touted forward Nikita Kurbanov? The conditions all seem right for last season’s loaner to Spartak St. Petersburg: Kurbanov is rounding into maturity at 22 years old; he spent much of 2008-09 as a starter; and, perhaps most importantly, his old Spartak coach Evgeny Pashutin is now his […]
Grouping the ladies: Draws for Euroleague, EuroCup Women announced
FIBA Euroleague Women’s basketball doesn’t start until late October, but the season officially kicked off today with the ceremonial draws of groupings for both Euroleague and EuroCup Women competitions. In Euroleague Group A, it’s Cras Basket Taranto; TEO Vilnius; Ros Casares; TTT Riga; UMMC Ekaterinburg; and Galatasaray. Group B has Gospic Croatia Osiguranje; CSKA Moscow; […]
Twenty-four for FIBA Euroleague Women
FIBA Europe yesterday officially released the list of 24 clubs, including eight new entries, that will participate in the 2009-10 edition of FIBA Euroleague Women. The 24 teams will be divided into four pools, with groupings to be determined next Tuesday.
Transaction Tuesday: Milojevic returns, Morris jumps, Nachbar signs, and Childress goes nowhere
More major roster moves by Euroleague teams were reported late yesterday and today: Local hero Dejan Milojevic officially announced his return to Partizan Belgrade, the home of his glory years of 2004-2006, and his imminent retirement from professional basketball; recently well-traveled US player Terence Morris jumped from CSKA Moscow to Regal FC Barcelona; and former […]
Eight (or nine) key dates on the Euroleague schedule
Yes, yes, it’s waaaaaaaaaay too early to be making serious predictions about specific games in the 2009-10 Euroleague regular season, but a leisurely look at the newly-released schedule reveals some clear highlights that’ll have Euroleague fanatics marking their calendars early. BallinEurope will be watching the following, for sure.
Catfight at Euroleague.net: Cheerleaders in video battle royale
Say what you want about Euroleague.net, but somebody over there has good ideas about filling a lull in the seasonal schedule. Currently running at the website is the “Euroleague Video Faceoff” tournament featuring video submissions from the teams’ cheerleading squads, and with winners determined by popular vote. The following are one man’s choices for the […]
Quotebook: Euroleague 2009-10 draw
Not only was yesterday’s Euroleague group draw an official tipoff of sorts to actual play in the 2009-10 Euroleague season, it also marked the first opportunity of the year for league chiefs to publicly swell with pride at their teams, show off (mostly) gaudy neckties, talk some diplomatically-worded trash, and provide good quotes for blogs […]