Team Focus: Fenerbahce Ulker
|
 |
Bogdan Tanjevic, Head Coach
|
|
Coach, tell us about your team's roster for the next Euroleague season, what changes you made and what improvements you expect to gain from those decisions?
“The newcomers are outside players, three very good players and I’m very happy for those signings. Our idea was to sign talented players with experience who would know how to stay with the team, to live the team life. On the other hand, we have a group of young players who have been playing together for a long time and need the newcomers to get involved from the beginning. I think that all four young big men are ready to explode, even though two of them are injured at the moment. I don’t know when Omer Asik will be back, probably February of March, while the medical staff promised that Semih Erden will be on court for the end of October. This means more time to get in shape. Now Gasper Vidmar and Oguz Savas have a great opportunity to have game time to improve their game. Then Emir Preldzic will take another step ahead. Hakan Demirel will have more minutes and maybe also Cerhat Setin and the youngest, just 16 years old, Enes Kanter, has the talent to compete with the seniors and in this situation he could have time on the court.”
How much can you learn from the preseason about your team? What signs do you look for now that will help when the Euroleague starts?
“We had positive signs. The team worked well in a good atmosphere and this normally means we will have a good season. The healthy players invested their time to be ready to start the season, also replacing the injured guys and growing in the second part of the season.”
What are your goals going into the new Euroleague season?
“The Euroleague is getting better and better every season and our goal is to raise our performances. Last season we reached the Quarterfinal Playoffs. This season our target before all these injuries was to reach the Final Four, but now I cannot say because I don’t know when we will have all the roster available. If we have all the players for January, we’ll be ready to fight for a place in this fantastic event of the Final Four.”
|
|
 |
|
|
 Few people expected Fenerbahce Ulker to advance to the Euroleague Quarterfinal Playoffs last season, but its mix of young talent and well-rounded veterans paid off handsomely. Fenerbahce now faces a new Euroleague season having already gained valuable experience and with a master teacher on the sidelines, head coach Bogdan Tanjevic, who returns to continue on his mission of putting together a team able to win the competition in the long run. Players like Gasper Vidmar, Oguz Savas, Semih Erden, Omer Asik and Emil Preldzic showed their quality last season and are back for more. Experienced forward Mirsad Turkcan, the Euroleague's all-time top rebounder, combo guard Omer Onan, veteran guard Damir Mrsic and defensive ace Rasim Basak also are back from last season. On top of that, Fenerbahce landed scoring ace Gordan Giricek, back in the Euroleague for the first time since 2002, plus small forward Devin Smith and playmaker Marques Green to give the fans in Istanbul plenty to cheer about with a powerful squad aiming to return to the playoffs and even challenge for a Final Four spot.
| Name |
Pos.
|
Height
|
| Marques Green |
G
|
1.65
|
| Devin Smith |
G
|
1.96
|
| Mirsad Turkcan |
F
|
2.06
|
| Omer Onan |
G
|
1.94
|
| Rasim Basak |
F
|
2.02
|
| Semih Erden |
C
|
2.10
|
| Damir Mrsic |
G
|
1.91
|
| Gasper Vidmar |
C
|
2.10
|
| Hakan Demirel |
G
|
1.92
|
| Serhat Cetin |
G
|
1.97
|
| Oguz Savas |
C
|
2.13
|
| Omer Asik |
C
|
2.11
|
| Emir Preldzic |
F
|
2.06
|
| Gordan Giricek |
F
|
1.99
|
| Head Coach: Bogdan Tanjevic |
|
|
|
|
Fenerbahce needed a reliable point guard to replace Will Solomon and found one in Green, whose court vision and quickness are a perfect fit for the team. He is always able to find the open man and concerned with getting all his teammates involved. That is a key issue for Fenerbahce due to the many outstanding shooters in the roster. Mrsic is still deadly from downtown at age 38. He is able to change any game with his unlimited range. Giricek is an all-around scorer, able to take it to the basket or create his own shot. Onan offers athleticism, a quick first step and great driving skills. He is a natural-born leader who always likes to take responsibility. Smith arrives to help at both wing spots. His shooting skills, ball-handling and rebounding should help him adapt quickly in his Euroleague debut season. Hakan Demirel hopes to show that the injuries that slowed him in the last two years are now a thing of the past.
Preldzic may well be a star in the making, a versatile swingman able to play virtually everywhere. On top of his great athleticism and defensive skills, Preldzic has gotten stronger and built upon his solid fundamentals, which could mean a breakout season for him.  Basak provides intensity, toughness and defense at either forward spots. He is one of the most aggressive players in the competition and a fan-favorite at Fener. Vidmar combines athleticism with post skills to make himself a top prospect at power forward. If he can stay away from foul trouble and cut down his turnovers – he led the 2007-08 Euroleague in turnovers per minute – Vidmar can become a dominant player. Asik will be sidelined for the best part of the season, so the team will miss his mobility, intimidation and outstanding defensive skills. Turkcan, as usual, will pull down rebounds and offer experience. Erden is a powerful and aggressive center with good hands. He looks to be his team's first option at center with Asik sidelined.
Coach Tanjevic had a plan to reach the Euroleague Final Four in three years – but reached the Quarterfinal Playoffs in his debut season with the team. With its entire frontcourt signed long-term, Fenerbahce has a nice group of big men ready to play together and take the club to new heights. The arrival of Smith, Green and especially Giricek only makes Fenerbahce better, so expect the team to battle against all the big names in the Euroleague to give its best to make it to Berlin in May 2009.
|
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Euroleague.net
|