5 Pablo Prigioni G 1.93 6 Travis Hansen G 1.98 9 Felipe Reyes F 2.03 13 Rimantas Kaukenas G 1.93 14 Novica Velickovic F 2.05 15 Jorge Garbajosa F 2.01 20 Sergi Vidal F 2.00 21 Vladimir Dasic F 2.08 22 Louis Bullock G 1.85 23 Sergio Llull G 1.90 25 Cheikh Samb C 2.13 - Darjus Lavrinovic C 2.12 - Tomas Van den Spiegel C 2.14 Head Coach: Ettore Messina

The winningest team in European competition history enters a new era led by a legendary coach whose new challenge is to take the club back to its glory days. Real Madrid has lifted eight top continental trophies, but its last Euroleague title came in 1995 and its last Final Four appearance dates back nearly as long, to 1996. This may change in the short run, however, as Madrid inked coach Ettore Messina, who has been a Final Four mainstay for more than a decade, to a multi-year deal. Among his many coaching achievements, Messina accumulated two of his four Euroleague trophies and reached the Euroleague title game in each of the last four seasons with CSKA Moscow. With Messina on board, Real Madrid spent the summer improving its lineup with an interesting mix of Euroleague veterans, hungry players that never lifted the Euroleague trophy and talented youngsters. Madrid inked five players who have made it to the Final Four without winning the title: virtuoso point guard Pablo Prigioni, live-wire swingman Sergi Vidal, medal-winning power forward Jorge Garbajosa, and perimeter scorers Rimantas Kaukenas and Travis Hansen. The club also added multi-talented center Darjus Lavrinovic, Euroleague Rising Star trophy holder Novica Velickovic and up-and-coming forward Vladimir Dasic. That's not to forget the returning stars. Warrior power forward Felipe Reyes, scoring ace Louis Bullock, thrilling combo guard Sergio Llull and big center Tomas Van den Spiegel round out a deep, talented roster that will want to win on any floor at any time. With so many new faces, an adjustment period will be needed, but once Madrid dives into Messina's systems, the team will have its eyes set squarely on a Final Four berth - and possibly even more.



Messina needed a floor general with outstanding court vision and found him in Prigioni, a two-time All-Euroleague second-team selection. Prigioni, who ranks second all-time in assists and third in steals in the Euroleague, has the experience, team-oriented game, intensity and defensive skills that Messina requires. Llull is set to come off the bench to offer his unique explosiveness, deep range and outstanding quickness. Vidal, who has been in all Euroleague editions since 2000-01, provides versatility, defense and very valuable experience. He could see some minutes at point forward, as Messina may run his offense through Vidal at any given time. Kaukenas and Bullock will provide the fireworks on offense, even when both players are quite different from each other. Kaukenas is a slasher, perfect to play in transition and score coming off screens. Bullock has unlimited range, is deadly from downtown and likes to create his own shot, too. Hansen is a do-it-all swingman in the prime of his career. Whether it is defense, scoring, finding the open man or providing intensity, Hansen is ready for anything. An all-Eurocup second team selection last season, Hansen always gives the kind of effort that teammates can feed on. Dasic, who arrives with major promise due to great one-on-one skills and talent, will try to win some playing time at small forward.

Velickovic is the icing on the cake on the roster - and the first new player to arrive after Messina. Versatile, with deep range, athleticism and know-how, Velickovic is set to see playing time at both forward spots, as Messina tries to turn him into a dominant player like he did with similar players like Garbajosa or Matjaz Smodis in the past. Velickovic can open the court from three-point range or grab the offensive board - sixth in the Euroleague last season - to get second-chance points. Garbajosa arrives to offer clutch shooting, outstanding basketball IQ and very valuable experience. A world champion, European champion and former All-Euroleague first team selection, Garbajosa hopes to cap his career with a Euroleague title. Van den Spiegel, the only Euroleague champion on the team besides Messina, is a great shot blocker who also produces offense, especially in pick-and-roll situations. He will miss the opening games of the season due to an ankle injury. Darjus Lavrinovic is a mobile center with deep range and rebounding skills. Due to Van den Spiegel's injury, big man Cheik Samb arrived on a short-term deal to offer size and defense. An outstanding shot blocker, Samb will try to fit in right away thanks to his timing, coordination and power. Last but not least is Reyes, another World and European champion who has been the soul of Real Madrid this decade. Reyes is a reference at power forward, one of the best rebounders in European basketball. He has also improved his outside shooting and is rock-solid in the low post. If the right chemistry can be forged, there is already enough star power, experience and charisma on this team to make big things happen in the Euroleague this season. In short, the sky is the limit for Madrid.

SERGIO LLULL, GUARD Sergio Llull burst onto the Euroleague scene last season, making a transformation from promising reserve to key rotation player for Real Madrid in a way that made clear that he has a huge future ahead. And there is still plenty of room for the athletic 21-year-old guard to grow. Real Madrid extended Llull's contract for two more seasons this summer, which means he will have ample time to further develop under new head coach Ettore Messina, one of modern basketball's great teachers. What Llull brings to the table is rare for a player of his age. During last season, his first as Euroleague regular, Llull ranked among the competition's 10 best guards in field goal percentage. Just as important, he proved an exceedingly careful ballhandler, with less than a turnover per game despite his high-energy style. Indeed, Llull’s explosiveness off the bench was so dependable that Madrid fans knew that any game could change once he entered. Along with athleticism and fine shooting, Llull is also a sure passer, an excellent defender and a budding floor leader. What's more, he thrives under pressure, which is why he was often on the floor at key moments at the ends of games last season. The summer gave Llull the opportunity to sharpen all those skills while training alongside some of the very best players in the world on the Spanish national team, which he represented for the first time at the senior level. Winning a gold medal with Spain at EuroBasket 2009 will only go further toward lifting his game to the level of champions. Madrid added plenty new players over the past few months, including former All-Euroleague point guard Pablo Prigioni, another source of good teaching for Llull. Don't be surprised to see Llull take on a very active role for Coach Messina based on his ability at both guards spots and his consistently aggressive defense. When all is said and done, this could be the season in which Llull completes his transformation from promising talent to bona fide Euroleague ace. If so, his contribution could go a long way toward putting Madrid where it wants to be - on the road to the Final Four.