FIBA 348
Club president dissolves BC Donetsk
Something of a shocker from Ukraine today, as BC Donetsk president Sergei Diadechko announced on the team’s official website that he would be releasing all players and staff in addition to stepping down himself as of tomorrow, January 14. Citing health reasons and poor performance by the team in this year’s FIBA EuroChallenge competition, team […]
FIBA EuroChallenge final 16 set
With the final games in the FIBA EuroChallenge 2009-10 regular season played last night (for the record, it was Elan Chalon over Proteas EKA AEL, 81-74; Scavolini Pesaro over Krasnye Krylia, 92-86; and Strasbourg beat Khimik, 97-93, despite losing the statistical battle on many fronts), the competition’s final 16 and groupings have been set. In […]
On salaries in French basketball, 2009-10
Running over at the French-language website I Love Basket is a brief on salaries in Pro A and Pro B basketball. Some figures were recently released by the French players association with regard to average monthly salaries, with the key figures below. (“FIBA players” are defined as those from European nations defined under the Bosman […]
Best of the (Basketball) Net: The Good, The Bad and The Mascots edition
Got time on this Sunday? Great to hear it! Ball in Europe has a nice handful of video clips and stories to guide your surfing with another edition of “Best of the (Basketball) Net.” Buzzing on the interwebs this week in stories not involving a certain bunch of Washington Wizards were Euroleague, FIBA, FCB, and […]
Who and what to watch for in 2010s European basketball
Welcome to the 10s, everyone! Now, enough with the pleasantries: With an entire demarcated decade stretching out before us, Ball in Europe wonders about future headlines, about who’s coming up, about “Who’s Next” in ESPNspeak. Here’s to thinking we’ll be talking about some of the following this decade… • Enes Kanter. It’s impossible to tell […]
Best of the (basketball) net: Happy Holidays edition
In between celebrating the holidays with family and checking out the Lakers getting chumped for Christmas, Ball in Europe snuck in some time surfing for basketball goodies online. A few stories and videos for your own post-Christmas Sunday, then, as word from Greece’s players’ union is awaited this afternoon… I tried to introduce some of […]
Europe's top national teams of the 2000s
After taking a look at the European players of the decade and top professional teams of the decade, BallinEurope today turns attention to the national level. Which teams from the 2000s will we still recall fondly in years to come? Below are listed eight key national squads from the passing ten-year span, the unforgettable basketball […]
The BallinEurope All-Decade All-European Team
While technically this decade doesn’t end until 2010, with millions of sports websites and blogs proclaiming December 31 the end of the 2000s, who is BallinEurope to be pedantic? (Especially when there’s a good excuse to make an all-time team roster.) Therefore, in the spirit of a new era, BallinEurope seeks to comprise Europe’s All-Decade […]
FIBA 2010 Worlds: Dates to mark on the calendar
Is it too early to start planning your basketball viewing for late August? Nah! And after looking over the 2010 FIBA World Championship schedule released yesterday, i’m already feeling anticipation for a bunch of matches in this year’s Europe-heavy tournament. The official BallinEurope-recommended dates and games Europe needs to mark on its collective calendar include: […]
For FIBA Worlds, it's Germany, Russia, Lithuania and … Lebanon!
Congratulations go out this morning to Germany, Russia, Lithuania and – whoa, really? – Lebanon, for their bestowal of a “wild card” bid to the 2010 FIBA World Championship by the organization’s central board. The draw for placement into pools will be upon on Wednesday. Official FIBA press release follows. (FIBA) — During today’s meeting […]
2010 FIBA Worlds wild card draw a Europe-heavy slam dunk?
On Monday, certainly to much pomp and fanfare, FIBA officials will announce the four “wild card” entries that will round out the 2010 World Championship field of 24. The world may indeed be watching, with basketball fans in up to 15 nations truly believing their national team will be named, but is this a serious […]
It’s Vrankovic for Team Croatia
Filling the big shoes of displaced head coach Jasmin Repesa when Croatia hits the court for the 2010 FIBA World Championship will be Josip Vrankovic. Vrankovic had served as the coach of Croatia’s “Team B” in international competition in addition to (briefly and contentiously) helming Cibona Zagreb in 2007. As a long-time player with Team […]