4 Marko Scekic C 2.05 5 Marco Buljevic G 1.96 6 Daniel Strauch F 2.06 8 Je'Kel Foster G 1.91 9 Acha Njei G 1.90 10 Milan Majstorovic F 2.07 12 Jasmin Perkovic F 2.03 19 Daniel Hain G 1.95 22 Jason Gardner G 1.78 23 Rickey Paulding G 1.96 24 Joshua Carter F 2.00 44 Ruben Boumtje Boumtje C 2.13 Head Coach: Predrag Krunic

A magic ride to the top in Germany has given EWE Baskets Oldenburg direct passage to the 2009-10 Euroleague, where the German champs hope to make a splashy debut among the continent's most elite teams. Oldenburg has made impressive progress in recent seasons, going from a team that missed the German League playoffs in 2007, to semifinalists in 2008 and German League champs for the very first time last season. As it prepares to face Europe's very best, Oldenburg will look to again surpass expectations and challenge for at least a ticket to the Top 16. To achieve that lofty goal, the club has put its faith in familiarity, keeping most of the core contributors to the team's recent success, starting with head coach Predrag Krunic, who will start his third season at Oldenburg. One of his advantages will be knowing well from having worked most of that time with players like playmaker Jason Gardner, last season's German League MVP, and athletic Rickey Paulding, the domestic playoff finals MVP. Also back are shooter Je'Kel Foster, big man Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, and forwards Jasmin Perkovic and Milan Majstorovic. Small forward Josh Carter and guard Acha Njei, both first-division pro rookies, were the major signings over the summer and will seek to bolster the team on the perimeter. The chemistry among Krunic's charges will be the key from the very start as Oldenburg looks to show it belongs at the Euroleague level.



Gardner is the motor and the floor leader for Oldenburg, not to mention the player with the most previous Euroleague experience, two games back in 2003-04 with Krka Novo Mesto of Slovenia. Often the smallest player on the court, Gardner more than makes up for any size disadvantage with his speed, leadership, court sense and defense. Among those that benefit the most from Gardner's passing is sharpshooter Foster, whose clutch free throw won the German League for Oldenburg last season. Foster also serves as the playmaker when Gardner takes a rest. The team's star is swingman Paulding, a phenomenal athlete with fantastic all-around skills. Paulding is somewhat a streaky shooter and his ability to stay hot in the Euroleague games could be a major key to the club's success. Njei arrives to backup Paulding, hoping his all-around skills will translate into production at the higher level. Marco Buljevic is a promising shooter who will try to fight his way into the guard rotation. And young Daniel Hain returns for his third season with the club, adding aggressive defense off the bench.

In the frontcourt, Carter will look to bring the same all-around skills that have made Oldenburg a tough team to crack in recent years. He is known for outstanding outside shooting and great athleticism that helps a lot on defense. Perkovic, Majstorovic and Boumtje Boumtje compliment one another quite well at the big man spots. The always-efficient Perkovic can play both forward spots and can shoot outside or bang in the paint. Majstorovic is a big game player, who uses his size to make his presence known on the glass. He also has a fine array of low-post moves and can block shots. Boumtje Boumtje is the force inside, a tremendous shot-blocker and rebounder that can also shift a game's momentum with his thundering slam dunks. Marko Scekic is the final wheel of the inside rotation, a veteran with good hands and a nose for the ball. Daniel Strauch returns for another season to provide depth in the paint. Though it is never easy for a newcomer to take the Euroleague by storm, the path that Oldenburg has taken to Europe's signature competition shows that it has arrived ready and has all the tools to challenge from opening night.

Milan Majstorovic, Power Forward Milan Majstorovic was a major part of EWE Baskets Oldenburg's run to the German League championship last season. Now he plans to reap the rewards of success during his Euroleague debut. Majstorovic, 26, has tasted European success before, reaching the ULEB Cup semifinals and winning the Adriatic League in 2004 and becoming a double-digit scorer the following season with FMP in his native Belgrade. Oldenburg has confidence, too, that Majstorovic's game will fit well at the highest levels of competition he has seen yet, the Euroleague. Majstorovic is a very mobile big man, whose speed and instincts serve him well on the offensive glass and as a shot-blocker. Add to that a fine outside shot that extends back to the three-point line and Majstorovic is a weapon that would compliment any frontcourt. Moreover, his ability to beat many other big men down the floor is a bonus in Oldenburg's up-tempo system. Entering his third year with the club, Majstorovic's hard work has helped him grow from season to season. His progress over that time can be seen clearly in his numbers and is another indication that Majstorovic is prepared for the challenge of playing in the Euroleague. Last year, Oldenburg head coach Predrag Krunic felt Majstorovic was ready for a bigger role come playoff time. His boss's faith in him was handsomely rewarded as the big man increased his rebounding by nearly 50% and his scoring by a third over his regular season numbers. It was no accident that when Majstorovic stepped up his game, he helped to lead Oldenburg to a title. If it's true that big stages bring out the best in him - and they don't get any bigger than the Euroleague - Majstorovic will be a key to Oldenburg's chances of making some noise in its debut season.