The special explosiveness: It’s not just the sixth defeat in a row (77:82 in Rostock) that is a cause for concern at SYNTAINICS MBC. Also the mysterious departure of John Bryant as well as the injuries of RJ Gunn and Khyri Thomas are depressing the mood of the still reigning cup winners on the Saale. Now it’s against newly promoted Trier, who have just signed a contract with their 27-year-old center Martin Linßen extended by two more years for the surprising loss of its playmaker Eli Brooks with the obligation of Steven Ashworth quickly found a solution and maintained its place in the top four in the table (10-7 wins). The Wolves, who started the season just as strongly, are slipping further towards the bottom of the table with every defeat. In twelfth place, only four wins separate the MBC from bottom-placed Hamburg and Heidelberg, both of whom already moved forward last weekend.
Status quo: The crisis in Weißenfels emerged gradually – initially unnoticed. The first defeat on matchday six against Ludwigsburg was still considered a blip. This was followed by defeats in Berlin, Munich and Würzburg (“You can lose there”), which were countered by – in retrospect not particularly meaningful – victories against weak opponents Heidelberg and Braunschweig. The downward spiral really got going with the derby defeats (in our own hall) against Chemnitz and Jena and the 74:99 in Bamberg. However, Trier’s weak phase at the end of September with defeats in Würzburg, Munich and Chemnitz can clearly be attributed to the loss of US playmaker Eli Brooks, who has now been compensated. The Wolves also have an American and also NBA experienced player during the week Andrew Harrison (151 games in the US professional league) presented a new signing to compensate for the absence of Khyri Thomas.
Duel in focus: The first two appearances of Steven Ashworth in the Gladiators Trier jersey were promising. The new point guard immediately played a big part in the victories against Ulm and Frankfurt with a total of 32 points. The Trier team were looking for and apparently found “a sniper with an overview of the game” as a replacement for Eli Brooks, who had moved to the Spanish league. In the US G-League, he hit more than 50 percent of his long-range throws until he moved to Trier. Now he is playing away with the Gladiators for the first time and scores against the Finn Perttu Blomgren to another subsequent obligation as well as to Charles Callison‘One of the most established players in the league at his position. The US playmaker also recently scored 32 points – in a game last weekend in Rostock!
Please pay: Trier and Weißenfels both take an average of 10.6 and 10.4 three-pointers and hit them almost equally at 37 and 36.5 percent respectively. The decision in this game could therefore come from the medium and close distance, where the Trier team hit better with 55.4 percent than the MBC (53.3 percent). The turnovers could throw a spanner in the works. The promoted team produces the most of these in the league (16.5 per game) – and the Wolves produce the second fewest (12.3).
The eternal balance sheet: Until Trier’s relegation in 2015, both teams faced each other 26 times in the league and cup. Trier won 18 games and the MBC eight.
Milestones: Akeem Vargas is still two steals short of 200 in Weißenfelds and Maik Zirbes is one steal short of 100 in Trier.
On the edge of the gang: Khyri Thomas is out with the Wolves with a thigh injury at least until the international break at the end of February. With Andrew Harrison A replacement has already been hired. When introducing the new signing, the Wolves announced the separation Stephon Jelks known what the Saale hopes for a speedy recovery of the power forward, who has been injured since the turn of the year RJ Gunn nourishes.
Old acquaintances: The Iranian international Behnam Yakhchali was discovered in 2020 by the then second division team Rostock and made his debut in the easyCredit BBL in the SYNTAINICS MBC jersey the following season. He has been playing for Trier since 2023. Also the one who grew up at ALBA BERLIN Evans Rapieque made his debut in the easyCredit BBL 2021/22 with the Wolves.
Miscellaneous: The SYNTAINICS MBC mourns the loss of its advisory board chairman Rüdiger heirn. The club’s long-time supporter died unexpectedly at the age of 58.
In Europe and worldwide – German Basketball is mad sexy: “Even after moving to the other side of the world and after just three weeks, I have already found a group of best friends. We are always together and have a lot of fun. There is a special chemistry in the team and I am very happy to be a part of it,” SWR quotes Trier’s new point guard Steven Ashworth. We’ll summarize the statement in English for our international readers: “German Basketball is mad sexy!”
TV / live stream: The game will be broadcast live here on Dyn on Saturday from 6:15 p.m. The commentator is Patrick Fritzsche.
