Preview: CSKA Moscow vs Olympiacos
The defending champions stare their ultimate nightmare in the face. The location is Istanbul. The combatants are CSKA Moscow and Olympiaocs. And, as Emmet Ryan writes, the time is now. It’s the first of our two fearless prediction previews There’s a little bit of an extra chip on the shoulder when you play the first […]
Only one mountain left to climb for Fenerbahce
The first breakthrough came in 2015. Another in 2016. Now, in their home city, Fenerbahce only have one goal left. Emmet Ryan on the journey for Fenerbahce that brought its fans on an emotional rollercoaster before finally taking them home for potentially the greatest moment in the club’s history It was natural for Fenerbahce fans […]
Catching up with Cut Capers before they play the Final Four
It turns out Joel Freeland won’t be the only British person gracing the floor at the Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul. Cut Capers, a band from Bristol and Cardiff, will be performing at half-time of both semi-finals on Friday. BiE’s Emmet Ryan caught up with Tom Taylor of Cut Capers to find out what to […]
Real Madrid bring the complete package to Istanbul
It’s the side with the fewest holes despite losing one of its brightest stars a year ago. Emmet Ryan on how Real Madrid look even better than the side that won it all in 2015 as they head to the Euroleague Final Four Tired. That’s the only way to truly describe how Real Madrid looked […]
The rejuvenation of the Reds
Olympiacos didn’t make a whole lot of changes after a disappointing 2015/16 Euroleague campaign but their run to the Final Four this weekend has made them look like a completely new team. Emmet Ryan on how subtle switches rebuilt the Reds, turning them into a threat against anybody in Istanbul this weekend Autumn of 2015 […]
Podcast – Final Four here we come
Moshe Barda of TeamScout, Aris Barkas of Eurohoops and Emmet Ryan of BallinEurope bring you Sweet 16, breaking down the biggest games and events across Euroleague. It’s the one weekend everyone wants to make. Ahead of our live shows from Istanbul, the Sweet 16 crew go team by team to break down what to expect […]
A chance for CSKA to kill off another ghost
In the first of our looks at each of the teams taking part in the Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul, Emmet Ryan on how CSKA Moscow can finally change the narrative once and for all with a successful weekend As has been cited a few times, this corner got literally one team’s finishing position in […]
The Balkan pearl of Sicily
It may be Final Four week here on BiE but Nicolò Origgi is keeping an eye on a story in domestic action that merits your attention Italian Lega A has looked all but unpredictable since the glory days of Mens Sana Siena, with the exception of the 2014/2015 season that saw Dinamo Sassari knocking out […]
The IMG factor – The first step in Euroleague’s new era
This is the first full season and the influence of IMG over Euroleague is already more than obvious according to Emmet Ryan. In BiE’s sort-of annual state of the union style piece on Final Four week, we look at how the new look is more than just a change in format Gumption and talent were […]
Euroleague Final Four players as WWE stars
There will be many serious analytical pieces about the Final Four on BiE in the run-up to Istanbul. This is not one of those pieces. Emmet Ryan looks at players across all four teams competing in Istanbul and finds their equivalent in the squared circle Pero Antic – The Big Show Bearded and skinheaded: Check […]
Luka Doncic is ready for his close-up
In two weeks Luka Doncic steps into the lion’s den. 16,000 people in the Sinan Erdem Dome, almost all of them Fenerbahce fans, loud and visceral for the full 40 minutes. They want to break him. They want to break his team. Doncic and Real Madrid are what stand between the hosts and their shot […]
Spanoulis guides Olympiacos back to the Final Four
The home side was made to fight but eventually Olympiacos did enough to see off Anadolu Efes in a fiery Game 5 at the SEF. Emmet Ryan shares his observations from a thrilling decider There was lots of Billy, a good dash of Cedi’s great hair, and some poor decision making that was balanced by […]