11.06.2015 - 28.06.2015
Hosting Cities & Venues
Szombathely, HUN [Savaria Arena]
Sopron, HUN [Arèna Sopron]
Timisoara, ROU [Timisoara Arena]
Oradea, ROU [Arena Antonio Alexe]
Group A
Romania; Ukraine; Czech Republic; Montenegro; France
Group B
Greece; Poland; Belarus; Italy; Turkey
Group C
Great Britain; Latvia; Croatia; Russia; Serbia
Group D
Hungary; Lithuania; Slovak Republic; Sweden; Spain
Power Rankings:
1] FRA -
Revenge, at least in sporting terms, is a fine driving factor and that could be the case for France who are arriving in Timisoara in peak form, finishing their preparation period with three commanding defensively-minded wins.
2]ESP -
Astou Ndour is more than good, she is a wunderkind. But is she ready yet to fill the shoes of reining MVP Sancho Lyttle? Having played limited minutes with Fenerbahce this season, she may also enter the competition slightly undercooked, making the absence of Lyttle even more significant.
3]SRB -
Marina Maljkovic's ladies have made a resounding statement in the final week of warm-up games, playing an up-tempo offence which has seen them pour 80-plus points on Greece on two occasions. Should they keep up this tempo, a top-of-the-group finish in Szombathely awaits them.
4]TUR -
Two less-than-convincing wins over co-hosts Hungary are hardly the reassuring results that Turkish fans would have wanted to see less than a week out from the tournament. However, at club level Ekrem Memnun has made a knack of getting it done against the odds and will now be hoping to do it with the national team.
5]RUS -
With the final rosters being announced, Anatoliy Myshkin appears to have walked the tight-rope perfectly with getting the right mix between young and old, including 16-year-old Maria Vadeeva alongside Evgenia Belyakova and Elena Kirillova.
POWER RANKINGS [ROUNDING OUT THE TOP 10]:
6]MNE -
The growing murmurs are that this Montenegrin squad is a genuine contender for a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and Angelica Robinson goes a significant way to allaying the concerns around the absent Eshaya Murphy.
7]BLR - We have been waiting the entire preparation period for it to happen and finally it is coming, with Anatoli Buyalski's selection blending nicely on the court, holding on in tight situations for a pair of wins over Czech Republic.
8]CZE -
Back-to-back close-fought losses to Belarus is not the best of omens heading into the tournament, however Lubor Blazek has been using a rotational policy so we have not yet necessarily seen the Czechs competing at full strength.
9]SWE -
Sweden's build-up came to an encouraging close with two wins in as many nights over Latvia. The second win can be considered particularly satisfying as they held on for a four-point win. Louice Halvarsson has looked particularly strong inside the paint.
10]LTU -
The Baltic nation can be very pleased with how their preparation period ended, showing mental stamina in tight situations with victories over both Latvia and China by less than three points. They then rounded it out nicely with a much more convincing win over China in their second encounter.
SCHEDULE:
11.06.2015
LAT VS. SRB
SWE VS. SVK
MNE VS. CZE
12.06.2015
CRO VS. LAT
SVK VS. LTU
CZE VS. UKR
GRE VS. ITA
GBR VS. RUS
HUN VS. SWE
ROU VS. MNE
BLR VS. POL
POL VS. GRE
SRB VS. CRO
LTU VS. HUN
UKR VS. ROU
ITA VS. BLR
13.06.2015
LAT VS. GBR
ESP VS. SVK
FRA VS. CZE
POL VS. GRE
SRB VS. CRO
LTU VS. HUN
UKR VS. ROU
TUR VS. BLR
14.06.2015
GBR VS. SRB
SWE VS. LTU
MNE VS. UKR
ITA VS. POL
RUS VS. LAT
HUN VS. ESP
ROU VS. FRA
GRE VS. TUR
15.06.2015
CRO VS. GBR
ESP VS. SWE
FRA VS. MNE
BLR VS. GRE
SRB VS. RUS
SVK VS. HUN
CZE VS. ROU
TUR VS. ITA
LET'S SEE IF 3RD TIME IS THE CHARM ON THIS SCHEDULE THING:
11.06.2015
LAT VS. SRB
SWE VS. SVK
MNE VS. CZE
POL VS. TUR
RUS VS. CRO
LTU VS. ESP
UKR VS. FRA
ITA VS. BLR
12.06.2015
CRO VS. LAT
SVK VS. LTU
CZE VS. UKR
GRE VS. ITA
GBR VS. RUS
HUN VS. SWE
ROU VS. MNE
BLR VS. POL
13.06.2015
LAT VS. GBR
ESP VS. SVK
FRA VS. CZE
POL VS. GRE
SRB VS. CRO
LTU VS. HUN
UKR VS. ROU
TUR VS. BLR
14.06.2015
GBR VS. SRB
SWE VS. LTU
MNE VS. UKR
ITA VS. POL
RUS VS. LAT
HUN VS. ESP
ROU VS. FRA
GRE VS. TUR
15.06.2015
CRO VS. GBR
ESP VS. SWE
FRA VS. MNE
BLR VS. GRE
SRB VS. RUS
SVK VS. HUN
CZE VS. ROU
TUR VS. ITA
2015 FIBA EuroBasket Women: 22/7/0
11.06.2015: 8/5/0
12.06.2015: 14/2/0
13.06.2015:
LAT -8½ over GBR
LAT/GBR o126½
SVK +25 versus ESP
ESP/SVK u136½
FRA -14½ over CZE
FRA/CZE o125
GRE +6 versus POL
LTU -4½ over HUN
LTU/HUN o135½
SRB +17½ versus CRO
SRB/CRO o143½
TUR -3½ over BLR
TUR/BLR o118½
UKR -7½ over ROU
UKR/ROU o139
2015 FIBA EuroBasket Women: 34/9/1
11.06.2015: 8/5/0
12.06.2015: 14/2/0
13.06.2015: 12/21
LAT -8½ over GBR
LAT/GBR o126½
SVK +25 versus ESP
ESP/SVK u136½
FRA -14½ over CZE
FRA/CZE o125
GRE +6 versus POL
LTU -4½ over HUN
LTU/HUN o135½
SRB +17½ versus CRO
SRB/CRO o143½
TUR -3½ over BLR
TUR/BLR o118½
UKR -7 over ROU PUSH
UKR/ROU o139
Upcoming Schedule:
17.06.2015
TUR vs. MNE
CZE vs. BLR
GRE vs. FRA
18.06.2015
SVK vs. SRB
LTU vs. RUS
CRO vs. ESP
19.06.2015
MNE vs. BLR
GRE vs. CZE
FRA vs. TUR
20.06.2015
LTU vs. CRO
RUS vs. CZE
SRB vs. ESP
21.06.2015
TUR vs. CZE
MNE vs. GRE
BLR vs. FRA
22.06.2015
SVK vs. CRO
ESP vs. RUS
SRB. vs. LTU
2015 FIBA EuroBasket Women: 43/14/2
11.06.2015: 8/5/0
12.06.2015: 14/2/0
13.06.2015: 12/2/1
14.06.2015: 0/0/0
15.06.2015: 9/5/1
17.06.2015: 0/0/0
Group E Preview: Debrecen
It's not how you start, it's how you finish. So even though Belarus and France have crossed the border from Romania into Hungary with the optimal haul of four points heading into the Second Round of EuroBasket Women, neither should feel that a place in the Quarter-Finals is an absolute certainty.
The French, who face Greece in their Group E opener on Wednesday, lost at least one quarter in each of their three games to date and were only approaching their dynamic best in their battling victory over Montenegro. Les Bleues are averaging a tournament-high 79.8 points but they were only 12th in field goals allowed, a symptom of the defensive lapses that had head coach Valerie Garnier openly critical of her team.
For the 2013 silver medallists, however, there is still an assumption that they have yet to hit fifth gear despite just one loss this summer.
"It's the second round so it will be tough," point guard Celine Dumerc said. "But from what we did in the first round, I hope it will help us. Belarus and Turkey are good match-ups for us because they have tall inside players. They've been at the high level in Europe for years now so we know each other really well.
"No matter what, we want to win every game to be in the best seeding for the Quarter-Finals against the fourth team on the other side. You also want that confidence moving on."
Belarus are also buoyant but not overly so. An overtime win over now-eliminated Italy in their opener was their only significant examination so far. They are attempting and making more three-point attempts than anyone else. And there is a sense of greater contentment with Anatoli Buyalski in charge. But it is still a work in progress, says center Yelena Leuchanka.
"Our defence can improve and our rebounding. When you play better defence, that's the real difference maker, more than offence. But we need to try some new things to take the wins we need. Because this round is more of a tester. Everyone raises their game."
First up for the Belarussians are old foes, the Czech Republic, who they defeated twice in the build-up to the tournament. The 2010 FIBA world championship finalists have looked ragged at times but with occasional sparks of their best. Yet, with no wins carried forward, two wins in Round 2 will likely be required.
"We definitely have to raise the bar," Ilona Burgrova admitted. "Because if you want to beat Belarus or Turkey, or even Greece who has been playing with passion and heart, you have to move up a level and put more heart into our game."
The same may be said of another veteran crew, Turkey, who are struggling offensively with an average of only 55 points per game so far, with a team-high 12.5 of those coming from the hands of center Lara Sanders, who may need even more touches inside if her adopted nation want to progress.
Their Wednesday opponents Montenegro will probe their credentials. An outsider for the medal round, they showed enough in their loss on Monday to France that they will push anyone, especially with Jelena Dubljevic and Iva Perovanovic forming a potent one-two combination. "We have proved we can play with any team in Europe," coach Momir Milatovic acknowledged.
The one unproven component of Group E, however, is Greece who have turned themselves into a grind machine to survive, compiling a miserly 54.3 points per game but also allowing a mere 59.8.
It allowed them to progress, despite never scoring about 60 points. Maintaining that, especially against the juggernaut of France, will be an incredibly difficult ask.
But everyone still has room for improvement as the finish line comes closer.
2015 FIBA EuroBasket Women: 43/14/2
11.06.2015: 8/5/0
12.06.2015: 14/2/0
13.06.2015: 12/2/1
14.06.2015: 0/0/0
15.06.2015: 9/5/1
17.06.2015: 0/0/0
Group F Preview: Györ
Spain head coach Lucas Mondelo is ready to start what he feels is a whole new competition when the action unfolds in Györ on Thursday.
Pitched into Group F, the play-caller has been taking stock of progress so far and is satisfied with what he has been given after his team topped their pool in Sopron, but is now anticipating more to come from his players.
"We have to enjoy this first phase and enjoy our first place," said the play-caller.
"Now it is another championship and this second phase will be difficult.
"We will meet tough teams that have also passed to this phase, but we have room for growth, and have saved some things.
"We have also given quality minutes to Leticia [Romero] and must focus on two days of work ahead of the second phase."
Spain will match-up against Russia, Serbia and Croatia in this next stage and experienced guard Anna Cruz is acutely aware that the level is going to get cranked up a notch and Spain must guard against getting ahead of themselves.
She said, "We have won four of four so far and we have done our homework.
"But we will have to sweat blood to win every game and that also means we have to be mentally very tough.
"As before, we are only thinking of the next game and treating it as if it will be our last."
Spain continue to be led by the dazzling skills of current FIBA Europe Women's Player of the Year Alba Torrens, while many observers are enjoying the development of debutante Astou Ndour - having picked up the naturalised reins from 2013 MVP, Sancho Lyttle.
Russia and Serbia in particular will have their top five credentials tested when they lock horns with the holders.
Anatoliy Myshkin and Russia signed off in Szombathely with a stunning takedown of Serbia and that has been seen as a big statement of intent heading to Györ.
In stark contrast, Serbia had something of a wake-up call in their last outing, although rather than being angry at the defeat, head coach Marina Maljkovic was actually pleased.
She explained, "If my players wanted to know why I was unhappy when we were winning during our first three games of the tournament - this is exactly why.
"I knew that this [kind of loss] was coming because of how the players were performing and I think they now understand.
"It shows them what can happen if they go away from the game plan and what happens if they don't make shots."
Meanwhile Croatia have been rewarded for their heroic efforts in Group C after they squeezed into the second phase at the expense of a crestfallen Latvia.
While clashing with Spain will be a tough one for them, they will believe they have nothing to fear when they go up against Slovak Republic and Lithuania - even though both opponents produced the goods in Group D.
Croatia head coach Braslav Turic is quite rightly thrilled that his team managed to emerge from the storm clouds that hung over them at the start of the tournament to eventually dig out a couple of priceless wins in the most testing of circumstances.
"We have been playing with just nine players and I could not have asked for any more from them," he stated.
"Whatever happens, I am already very proud of my team and of my players."
Croatia are not likely to see team leader Jelena Ivezic return and it is looking like she will be ruled out of action for the remainder of the tournament with the ankle injury she sustained during the opening minutes of the competition.
STANDINGS:
GROUP A
FRA 4/0; 319/24
MNE 3/1; 301/263
CZE 2/2 289/306
UKR 1/3 283/314
ROU 0/4 270/315
GROUP B
BLR 4/0; 299/234
TUR 3/1; 220/215
GRE 2/2; 217/239
ITA 1/3; 232/241
POL 0/4; 208/247
GROUP C
RUS 3/1; 293/223
SRB 3/1; 294/263
CRO 2/2; 277/305
LAT 2/2; 258/263
GBR 0/4; 222/290
GROUP D
ESP 4/0; 287/245
SVK 2/2; 312/316
LTU 2/2; 279/291
SWE 1/3; 269/269
HUN 1/3; 261/287
2015 FIBA EuroBasket Women: 43/14/2
11.06.2015: 8/5/0
12.06.2015: 14/2/0
13.06.2015: 12/2/1
14.06.2015: 0/0/0
15.06.2015: 9/5/1
17.06.2015: 0/0/0
Group E
TUR +115 over MNE
TUR +3½ versus MNE
TUR -½ 1H over MNE
TUR/MNE o118½
TUR/MNE o58½ 1H
BLR -6½ over CZE
CZE +5½ 1H versus CZE
CZE/BLR o134½
CZE/BLR u69½ 1H
FRA -19½ over GRE
FRA -9½ 1H over GRE
FRA -4½ 1Q over GRE
FRA -3½ 2Q over GRE
GRE/FRA o124½
GRE/FRA o61½ 1H
GRE/FRA o30½ 1Q
GRE/FRA o29½ 2Q
Established in 1995,
Hot Forum Topics
