Jena, Germany – Science City Jena head coach Björn Harmsen is attributing recent struggles, including a decisive 84-108 loss to Mitteldeutscher BC on Saturday, to a demanding travel schedule that’s left his team fatigued. The loss, while disappointing, comes amidst a challenging stretch for the newly promoted Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) club, and Harmsen believes the physical toll is a significant factor.
“Weißenfels played a phenomenal game, hitting eleven of seventeen three-pointers in the first half – that’s incredible,” Harmsen said, acknowledging the opponent’s strong performance. “But fundamentally, we didn’t play badly.”
Demanding Schedule Taking Its Toll
Beyond the strong showing from MBC, Harmsen identified the team’s recent travel demands as a key contributor to the defeat. “We were a little tired, didn’t have the same energy as Weißenfels. At the beginning of March, we had three away trips in quick succession, each six hours there and six hours back, with just hotel stays in between.” He added that his players echoed those sentiments.
Björn Harmsen treibt seine Mannen an der Seitenlinie an. © FUNKE Foto Services | Sascha Fromm
“The schedule hasn’t been our friend all season,” Harmsen stated. Science City Jena, promoted to the BBL after a successful run in the ProA league, has faced a challenging adjustment to the higher level of competition and the increased travel demands.
Despite the difficulties, Jena has maintained a respectable 9-15 record in the BBL as of March 25, 2026, holding a three-win advantage over the first team facing relegation. This suggests a resilient team capable of navigating adversity, even with a grueling schedule.
The team will need that resilience on Thursday when they face the Hamburg Towers, another team battling for positioning in the league standings. This game represents a crucial opportunity for Jena to further solidify their position and distance themselves from the relegation zone.
However, Jena will be without Naz Bohannon for the matchup against Hamburg. The 27-year-old player and the club have mutually agreed to part ways, according to reports.
Science City Jena – Hamburg Towers, Thursday, 20:00 CET, Sparkassen-Arena, live on Dyn.
Björn Harmsen, born July 19, 1982, in Göttingen, Germany, has a proven track record as a successful coach in German basketball. He previously led Science City Jena to promotion to the BBL in 2016 and has three ProA championships to his name. His experience will be vital as Jena navigates the remainder of the season.
What do you think? Can Science City Jena overcome the scheduling challenges and secure their place in the BBL? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
