Krka Novo Mesto is on the upswing after winning the FIBA EuroChallenge and Slovenian League titles last season. Krka was a powerhouse in the early years of the century when it twice played in the Euroleague and reached the final of the inaugural ULEB Cup season in 2002-03. After a quiet period, the club has stormed back to prominence and steps into the Eurocup eager to continue its climb to the European elite. Founded in 1948, the team was not a prominent one until the early 1990s, when in addition to Slovenia’s separation from the former Yugoslavia and the start of the Slovenian League, many former Novo Mesto youth products turned their attention to the club. Novo Mesto began in the regional leagues, but needed just one season to reach the Slovenian second division. The year 1997 marked another milestone as Krka came in as the sponsor and helped the club reach the top Slovenian League. Top young talents like Matjaz Smodis and Samo Grum gained exposure as the club played in Europe for the first time in the 1998-99 Korac Cup. The next season was even greater as under head coach Ivan Sunara, Krka knocked off Union OlimpijaLjubljana in the playoff semifinals to become Slovenian champion. Novo Meston played in the SuproLeague the following season, testing itself against some of Europe’s best. For the nest several seasons, every year produced impressive results. In 2002, the club missed the Euroleague Top 16 by one game, but reached the Adriatic League finals. In 2003, Neven Spahija coached Jamie Arnold, Aleksandar Capin and co. to the ULEB Cup finals and a second Slovenian League crown. However another season in the Euroleague in 2003-04 marked the start of a quiet period during which financial problems threatened the team’s existence. Novo Mesto proved resilient, bounced back to third place in the league by 2009 and a year later was celebrating its third Slovenian crown. Last season Dusan Djordjevic, Goran Ikonic and Smiljan Pavic helped Krka to its greatest season to date with its first continental crown and a fourth league title. Back in the Eurocup, Krka now aims to solidify itself among the best by contending for more glory.