Hi, everyone. After my first four weeks in the Euroleague, I think I can safely say that I experienced both the highs and lows of playing in this competition. I guess I did expect a lot of what happened so far: great players playing basketball at a really high level. That was the main impression I take away from the first month. Of course, the big support from our fans was huge, too. There were way more fans at our Euroleague games than we had at domestic games. For both of the Euroleague home games we've had, the place was packed. If that reminded me somewhat of my days at Duke University, my girlfriend saw something that told us we certainly weren't in America anymore. She was surprised to see fans carrying four-packs of beer into the stands to watch the game. In the States, you rarely see a guy with one beer, and in some places beer is not allowed at all. Here, you see them carrying four-packs or even eigh-packs. Home, sweet home!

First, the good news was our opening game, my first in the Euroleague. We were at home against Asvel and, like I said, our crowd was hyped for the Euroleague season to get started. I was a little nervous beforehand, which is natural, but I was definitely excited to be playing in this competition. Fortunately, I started off well. I came in and hit my first couple of shots, three-pointers, and that gave me a lot of confidence. I was able to hit another to give me 10 points before the first quarter ended. I am glad I could help send Zalgiris on its way to a victory to open the season. The best thing that happened was we won the game, and it was a huge confidence boost for us. In the locker room after that, the mood was really good. However, we had some tough games ahead, on the road in Siena and at home against...

Vladimir Stankovic, Euroleague.net

Veteran sportswriter and Euroleague.net collaborator Vladimir Stankovic has been following the best basketball on the continent longer than almost anyone journalist, writing for decades about the sport in major publications in both Serbia and Spain. For the new 2009-10 season, he offers a series of opinion blogs about what's happening on and off the court in the Euroleague.

Roman Holiday

Week 4 of the Euroleague has offered a lot of things, but I and a lot of other people will remember Lottomatica-Maccabi most. The duel in Rome was the best that I have seen this so far this basketball season, the best you could ask for, and the best that both of those teams could give of themselves. It was a totally even game, with constant changes on the scoreboard, drama at the finish, some incredible triples, the kind that mark a player's career...

Lottomatica had the game "won" - although games like this are never won before they are over - as Andrew Wisniewski proved by forcing overtime, 73-73, with...

What's up from Slovenia everyone! First off, because I'm a rookie in the Euroleague, I guess I should introduce myself and tell you all a little bit about my basketball history. First things first… My name is Matt Walsh: yes, I'm "that white guy with curly blonde hair and a headband", yes, I used to date a Playboy Playmate; and yes, my dad is John Walsh from America's Most Wanted…OK, that last part isn't true, but the first two are,. Now, on to some real things about me. I'm proud to be from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the land of cheese steaks, soft pretzels, Rocky Balboa, the Phightin' Phils and the E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES! I grew up playing in the legendary Sonny Hill and Positive Image leagues and watching Philly greats like Marvin O'Connor, Aurthur "Ya" Davis, and Eddie Griffin play. Some of my earliest basketball memories are going with my dad to watch all the best area high school and college teams play. In fact, that's where I got my first taste of European basketball. My favorite college player of all time was Pepe Sanchez, the great PG from Argentina, who played his college ball at Temple University, and later played for some of the best teams in Europe. He's hands down the best passer I've ever seen at any level, including the NBA. After finishing high school in Philadelphia, I continued my playing career at the University of Florida, playing 3 years for Billy Donovan and playing with great players like Matt Bonner, Anthony Roberson, Joakim Noah, Al...