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Göttingen. The next game in the Fiba Europe Cup for basketball is on the agenda for BG Göttingen. After the defeat at the start of the second round in Bilbao, the Violets are now challenged in the home game against Balkan Botevgrad in the S-Arena on Wednesday (7.30 p.m.). We look at various points that are important before the game against the Bulgarian champions.
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The breather for the BG Göttingen
This hasn’t happened for a long time: the BG had a week’s break between two games. The last appearance was the away game in Bilbao last Wednesday. “After nine weeks with two games each, it was important to have a little rest,” says BG coach Olivier Foucart. After the game in Spain, the Violets traveled back on Thursday, but were not back in Göttingen until around 10 p.m. The players were given two days off after the long journey. There were two training sessions on the program on Sunday and Monday, and another one on Tuesday. “It was important that we were able to train so well for three days in a row,” says the Belgian.
The uncertainty
Who will really play at Botevgrad? What will the guests’ style of play be like? It’s all a bit uncertain, as things have been turbulent for the Bulgarians recently. In addition to the four competitive defeats that Balkan recently suffered, the club said it also parted ways with US center Malik Toppin, who was their second best rebounder in the Fiba Europe Cup with an average of 6.8 rebounds. According to the club, the two US guards Michael Dixon and Devin Harris are also expected to be missing in Göttingen due to visa problems.
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To this end, Botevgrad recently signed the Danish center Jonas Zohore Bergstedt and the Bulgarian forward Jordan Minchev. The two newcomers played for their new club for the first time in the 73:75 defeat in the Bulgarian league last weekend at Academic Plovdiv. However, it is difficult for the BG to draw conclusions from this game. Finally, the two American point guards, who will probably be missing in Göttingen, were also there in this game. “Preparation for the game is therefore difficult. “So we have to focus on our own game,” says Foucart.
The shape curve of the BG Göttingen
The violets recently pointed upwards. First, the Göttingen team ended their Bundesliga slump with seven defeats in a row with their 92:85 win against Bamberg and then they also impressed in the game in Bilbao. Even though the BG ultimately lost the European Cup game 73:75, the performance was good. “We played a very good game in Bilbao. I was happy with the performance. Defensively we have taken another step in the right direction,” said Foucart, adding: “Now we want to take the next step.”
The staff at BG Göttingen
In Bilbao, three BG players were unavailable, and only ten instead of the possible twelve players were on the score sheet. In addition to the long-term injured Harper Kamp, Philipp Hartwich will also be missing again against Botevgrad. Hartwich had already been sidelined once this season due to an elbow injury. According to Foucart, a small surgical procedure now had to be carried out on the center’s elbow. Hartwich will therefore still be missing in the home game against the Bulgarians. However, one player is coming back: Osaro Rich was ill all of last week and was therefore also out in Bilbao. He started training again on Monday and will also be there on Wednesday.
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Max Wüllner and, for the first time, Janis Jünemann will also be in the squad. Jünemann is a player for the BG’s U19 team in the Junior Basketball Bundesliga (NBBL) and is also used in the men’s regional league at ASC 46 Göttingen. “He always trains with us twice a week and has now also been part of the training sessions over the last few days,” says Foucart about the center, who is 2.07 meters tall. The 18-year-old was already in the BG squad in test games in preparation for this season, and now he has also been in a competitive game for the first time.
GT/ET
2023-12-12 17:30:37
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