February 10, 2012
World Championship team profile: Slovenia
Jaka Lakovic (Photo: fiba.com)One of several European teams on the upswing is Slovenia, which will appear in the FIBA World Championships for the second time. Slovenia comes off a strong campaign at last year’s EuroBasket in which it lost to Serbia to overtime in the semifinals and finished fourth. Head coach Memi Becirovic, who took over from Union Olimpija boss Jure Zdovc, has a different roster to work with as reigning Euroleague champ Erazem Lorbek of Regal FC Barcelona and former champ Matjaz Smodis of CSKA are among those resting this year, but many of Slovenia’s promising talents have considerably improved. Four years ago Slovenia advanced from the group stage and led late in the eighthfinals against Turkey before faltering. The fact that as many as half the players from the 2006 Slovenia roster could suit up in Turkey shows that this team will have the experience and the desire to improve on that showing and help Slovenia reach new heights.

#
 Name
Pos.
H.
4
 Uros Slokar
F
210
5
 Jaka Lakovic
G
186
6
 Hasan Rizvic
C
212
7
 Sani Becirovic
G
195
8
 Jaka Klobucar
G
198
9
 Samo Udrih
G
195
10
 Bostjan Nachbar
F
206
11
 Goran Dragic
G
194
12
 Goran Jagodnik
F
201
13
 Miha Zupan
F
205
14
 Gasper Vidmar
C
210
15
 Primoz Brezec
C
216
Head Coach: Memi Becirovic
Slovenia’s strength is in its backcourt, where it has the old guard and the new guard. The former is made up of veterans Jaka Lakovic – a freshly crowned Euroleague champ with Barcelona – and Sani Becirovic, who is also a former Euroleague winner as well as the coach’s son. The latter is Goran Dragic and new Partizan signing Jaka Klobucar. The small forward position is held down by Bostjan Nachbar of Efes Pilsen, while Uros Slokar, Primoz Brezec, Gasper Vidmar from Fenerbahce Ulker and Hasan Rizvic of Unics Kazan form a strong frontcourt. The preparation period for Slovenia has gone well, with the team winning the Stankovic Continental Cup, a competition featuring four teams that will compete in Turkey. Now Becirovic will try to have his team peaking when the most important games tip off.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Euroleague.net
PrintPrint Send to a FriendSend to a Friend ShareShare

Special Features

Interviews
Vladimir Micov , Bennet Cantu
Vladimir Micov - Bennet Cantu
Bennet Cantu has been among the most pleasant surprises in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague this season. Despite... MORE
Blogs
Pietro Aradori, Montepaschi Siena 
Pietro Aradori - Montepaschi Siena
Hello again to all the Turkish Airlines Euroleague fans. I’d like to start off this time by talking about the last... MORE

Submenu