Europe - 2011/2012 Eurocup Schedule Is Set for Buckeyes Foster And Lauderdale

(Eurocup 2011/2012)

The 2011/2012 Eurocup Regular Season schedule and groups were released by ULEB in early October. The Eurocup is one of the top super competitions in European Basketball, second only to the Euroleague. Former OSU hoopsters Ron Lewis & Jessica Davenport had successful Eurocup runs in recent years. Lewis made it the 2010 Eurocup Final Eight as a member of Czech club CEZ Nymburk. And Davenport, with Russia club Chevakata, advanced all the way to the Eurocup Final Four in the 2010/2011 season. Two more Buckeyes are slated to begin their first Eurocup seasons in November 2011.

2011/2012 Eurocup

Format: (Familiar FIBA format of group stages, playoffs & final four - Total of 32 teams - 8 four team groups)

Regular Season: (6 games, A home & away game vs the 3 other group teams)

Week One: November 15

Buckeye Participants:

- Dallas Lauderdale (PGE Turow -Poland)
- Je'Kel Foster (FC Bayern - Germany)

Eurocup Group G:

• Spartak St. Petersburg (Russia)
• Cedevita Zagreb (Croatia)
• FC Bayern Munich (Germany)
• Benetton Treviso (Italy)
  

Je'Kel Foster returns to FIBA Europe competition with rising club FC Bayern of Munich. The Eurocup can now be added to Foster's international resume after previously playing in Europe's other two top competitions, the Euroleague (2009/2010) & Euro-Challenge (2008/2009) with another German team, Baskets Oldenburg.

Munich finds themselves in the very tough Group G with clubs Spartak SP, Cedvita Zagreb, and Benetton. Spartak & Cedevita are two rock solid clubs who will challenge for championships in their respective domestic leagues (The Croatian club Cedevita has experience in the form of a Eurocup final four run last season, and they currently see good competition in the regional Adriatic League). Bayern's Eurocup debut game is against the Italian outfit Benetton Basket that features American imports Brian Scalabrine (former Boston Celtic), Jeff Adrien, and rookie E'Twaun Moore of Purdue.

- November Schedule -

11.15.2011: vs Benetton Treviso
11.22.2011: at Cedevita Zagreb (Road game in Croatia)
11.29.2011: at Spartak SP (Road game in Russia)

(Defending home court in game one is imperative with two difficult road games in the following weeks.)

Eurocup Group H:

• Alba Berlin (Germany)
• PGE Turow (Poland)
• Dexia Mons (Belgium)
• Buducnost (Montenegro)
  

Dallas Lauderdale joins David Lighty as Buckeyes experiencing special European Competitions in their rookie seasons. PGE Turow is currently the hottest team in Poland with a perfect 6-0 record and expects to make noise in the Eurocup. Like Munich, Turow was also placed in what should be a competitive and balanced group. Alba Berlin is one of Germany's historical powerhouses and should be the group favorite, Buducnost is another tough squad from the Adriatic region as the reigning champs of Montenegro. And we also know of Mons' nice American talent from following them last season due to Ron Lewis' then presence on that team.

- November Schedule -

11.15.2011: at KK Buducnost (Road game in Montenegro)
11.22.2011: vs Dexia Mons
11.29.2011: at Alba Berlin (Road game in Germany)

(That's a tough Eurocup opener on the road at Budcnost. A win could set the tone for a nice regular season..Turow wants to ideally split those first two road games at the least.)