Regular Season
- January 07, 2009
- ANTARES
Local time: 8:30 PM
TV
CET: 8:30 PM
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Head Coaches
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JACKSON, JOHN-DAVID
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Le Mans Sarthe Basket head coach
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"We have to bring back a victory in this last home game in Euroleague. Next week, it would be very difficult to win away at Olympiacos. We have to fight hard to finish with one win at least in this regular season. We have to give all to show everyone that we are proud to be part of this competition."
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MARKOVSKI, ZARE
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Air Avellino head coach
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"We’ll always fight our opponents with the same respect. In a match like this, it is difficult to find the right spirit. Probably the motivation for this game is pride. Even if we no longer have a chance to qualify for the Top 16, we would like to play good basketball and try to win our third match in the Euroleague. I hope my players are playing with high concentration."
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Players
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SPENCER, DEWARICK
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Le Mans Sarthe Basket guard
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"A win: that's all we have to obtain. We have to succeed. It's an important game for us to build our confidence that we lost these last weeks."
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TUSEK, MARKO
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Air Avellino forward
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"This game will be totally different with respect to the one we played in Avellino. Both teams no have chance to get to the top 16. But it’s important play good basketball, because in an event like this it’s more important to make a good impression."
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Le Mans will seek its first win of the season on Wednesday when it hosts Air Avellino in Group A in a game that is otherwise for protocol only. Both teams have been mathematically eliminated from the Top 16 race. While Le Mans looks to avoid being the first team to go winless in the regular season since London in the 2001-02 season, Avellino (2-6) is on a four-game losing streak and hopes to steal its first-ever Euroleague road win. Avellino beat Le Mans 78-73 behind 16 points from Eric Williams when they met in November. Both teams are deep inside, which could be the biggest key to this game. Williams offers size and post skills, leading a versatile Avellino frontcourt that features three-point specialist Marko Tusek, shot-blocking ace Andrea Crosariol and veteran forward Nikola Radulovic. Williams and Crosariol are ready for a big battle in the paint against athletic big men Pape Badiane and Alain Koffi, as well as center Joao Paulo Batista, whose variety of post skills can put any team in trouble. Meanwhile, Tusek faces a big shootout against David Bluthenthal, whose silky touch and unlimited range can break any zone defense. The point guard battle will be equally important, as Avellino counts on veteran playmaker Travis Best, with Olympic medallist Antonio Porta as his backup. Both Best and Porta will try to use their experience against Brian Chase and up-and-coming Antoine Diot. Le Mans's main concern will be stopping Chris Warren, who has scored 13 or more points in all games but one this season. Warren must use his talent and speed against Maleye Ndoye and Diot. Meanwhile, Avellino relies on sharp shooter Drake Diener and versatile forward Tamar Slay, a natural-born mismatch for any defender. Diener is ready for a big battle against scoring ace Dewarick Spencer, the key player for Le Mans to grab its first road win. Le Mans must get Bluthenthal and Spencer involved, as well as trying to use its frontcourt power. Meanwhile, Avellino needs a big game from Warren and Slay to get its third Euroleague win.
GAME NOTES
Le Mans
- Two players on the current Le Mans squad have played in the Italian League: David Bluthenthal played for Benetton Treviso, Virtus Bologna and Fortitudo Bologna between 2004 and 2007 and Dewarick Spencer was at Virtus Bologna last season.
- Spencer scored a season-high 26 points against Avellino when they met earlier in the season.
- Guard Brian Chase drilled 5 three-pointers and scored 17 points – both season-highs – in Le Mans’s last Euroleague game before the winter break against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
- Big man Alain Koffi has recorded double-doubles in three of his last four Euroleague games. He is averaging 12.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game over that stretch. They are the first double-doubles of his Euroleague career.
Air Avellino
- Forward Tamar Slay has also recorded at least 1 steal in every game this season.
- Playmaker Travis Best and Le Mans scorer Dewarick Spencer were teammates last season at Virtus Bologna.
- Two players on the current Avellino squad have played in the French League: Nikola Radulovic won the French championship with Asvel Basket in 2002 and Peter Lisicky played for Racing Paris in 2004.
- Guard Drake Diener and Le Mans forward David Bluthenthal both played at the 2008 Euroleague Final Four. Bluthenthal's Maccabi beat Diener's Montepaschi in the semifinals.
- Diener is shooting 8 for 15 (53.3%) from downtown in road games this season. He made 4 of 6 in his last game before the break at Unicaja.
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Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Euroleague.net
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Stats Comparisions: Teams and players
| 72.1 |
Pts. |
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BLUTHENTHAL, DAVID |
13.1 |
Pts. |
16.5 |
WARREN, CHRIS |
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Pts. |
73.4 |
| 45.89 % |
2FG% |
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BATISTA, JOAO PAULO |
56.52 % |
2FG% |
63.64 % |
RADULOVIC, NIKOLA |
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2FG% |
47.19 % |
| 33.33 % |
3FG% |
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BLUTHENTHAL, DAVID |
43.90 % |
3FG% |
48.15 % |
DIENER, DRAKE |
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3FG% |
33.33 % |
| 29.1 |
Rebounds |
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KOFFI, ALAIN |
7.0 |
Rebounds |
5.1 |
WILLIAMS, ERIC |
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Rebounds |
33.3 |
| 12.6 |
Assist. |
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CHASE, BRIAN |
2.8 |
Assist. |
3.4 |
BEST, TRAVIS |
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Assist. |
10.5 |
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