2014–15 EuroChallenge

The 2014–15 EuroChallenge was the 12th and last edition of Europe's third-tier level transnational competition for men's professional basketball clubs. The winner and the runner-up of this competition earned a place at the group stage of next year's Eurocup season.

EuroChallenge
Season2014–15
Duration4 November 2014 – 26 April 2015
Number of teams32
Finals
ChampionsFrance JSF Nanterre (1st title)
  Runners-upTurkey Trabzonspor Medical Park
Third placeRomania Energia Târgu Jiu
Fourth placeGermany Fraport Skyliners
Final Four MVPUnited States Jamal Shuler
Statistical leaders
Points United States Ryan Pearson 19.8
Rebounds Ukraine Kyrylo Fesenko 10.1
Assists United States Courtney Fortson 9.8

The regular season was composed by 32 teams and it started on 4 November 2014. The season ended on 26 April 2015, when JSF Nanterre beat Trabzonspor Medical Park 63–64 in the Final in Trabzon, Turkey.

It was the last season of the EuroChallenge, starting from the 2015–16 season, the competition was replaced by the FIBA Europe Cup.

Competition format

As in the previous season, the 32 participants were divided into two conferences. Teams were divided into eight round-robin groups of four teams each for the regular season. The two best-placed teams qualified to the next phase of the competition.

Teams

No qualification rounds were played, all teams entered the regular season. FIBA Europe announced the participants on 1 July 2014.[1] One day later, Szolnoki Olaj and VEF Rīga were moved to 2014–15 Eurocup as a replacement of two withdrawals. Trabzonspor Medical Park and Enisey Krasnoyarsk replaced them in the EuroChallenge.[2] The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round. (TH: Title holder)

  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.: League position after eventual playoffs
Regular season
Belgium Okapi Aalstar (2nd) Turkey Uşak Sportif (7th) Germany ratiopharm Ulm (7th) Kazakhstan Astana (1st)
Belgium Belfius Mons-Hainaut (3rd) Turkey Tofaş (8th) Germany Fraport Skyliners (11th) Lithuania Šiauliai (6th)
Belgium Port of Antwerp Giants (4th) Turkey Trabzonspor Medical Park (9th) Russia Enisey (6th) Denmark Bakken Bears (1st)
Romania Oradea (2nd) France Le Mans (5th) Russia Avtodor [lower-alpha 1] (1st) Belarus Tsmoki-Minsk (1st)
Romania U Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca (3rd) France JSF Nanterre (9th) Italy Enel Brindisi (6th) Estonia Tartu University Rock (2nd)
Romania Energia Târgu Jiu (8th) Hungary Atomerőmű SE (2nd) Italy Bonprix Biella [lower-alpha 2] (4th) Portugal Benfica (1st)
Finland Kataja (2nd) Hungary Egis Körmend (8th) Sweden Södertälje Kings (1st) Bulgaria Lukoil Academic (2nd)
Finland KTP (4th) Austria magnofit Güssing Knights (1st) Sweden Borås (3rd) Netherlands SPM Shoeters Den Bosch (2nd)
  1. Avtodor qualified as the winner of the Russian Basketball Super League, the second division of Russian basketball.
  2. Bonprix Biella finished in 4th place in the DNA Gold, the second division in Italian basketball.

Draw

The draw for the regular season was held on 6 July in Munich, Germany.

The 32 clubs registered for this year's competition were divided into two conferences (1 and 2), based on broad geographical criteria.[3]

Conference 1
Seed 1 Seed 2 Seed 3 Seed 4

Belgium Port of Antwerp Giants
Belgium Okapi Aalstar
Finland Joensuun Kataja
Sweden Södertälje Kings

Finland KTP-Basket
Denmark Bakken Bears
Belgium Belfius Mons-Hainaut
Netherlands SPM Shoeters

France JSF Nanterre
France Le Mans Sarthe
Germany ratiopharm Ulm
Germany Fraport Skyliners

Italy Enel Brindisi
Italy Angelico Biella
Sweden Borås Basket
Portugal Benfica

Conference 2
Seed 1 Seed 2 Seed 3 Seed 4

Belarus Tsmoki-Minsk
Estonia Tartu Ülikool/Rock
Turkey Tofaş
Hungary Atomerőmű

Russia Enisey Krasnoyarsk
Romania CSM Oradea
Hungary Körmend
Romania U Mobitelco Cluj

Russia Avtodor
Turkey Uşak Sportif
Turkey Trabzonspor Medical Park
Romania Energia Târgu Jiu

Austria UBC Güssing Knights
Bulgaria Lukoil Academic
Lithuania Šiauliai
Kazakhstan Astana

Regular season

The 32 teams are drawn into eight groups of four. In each group, teams play against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The group winners and runners-up advance to the last 16, while the third-placed teams and fourth-placed teams are eliminated.

If teams in the same group finished tied on points at the end of the regular season, tiebreakers were applied in the following order:

  1. Head-to-head record.
  2. Head-to-head point differential.
  3. Point differential during the regular season.
  4. Points scored during the regular season.
  5. Sum of quotients of points scored and points allowed in each regular season match.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification BRI SPM ULM SÖD
1 Italy Enel Brindisi 6 5 1 496 400 +96 11 Advance to last 16 76–62 88–70 90–69
2 Netherlands SPM Shoeters Den Bosch 6 3 3 498 499 1 9[lower-alpha 1] 71–69 87–76 88–72
3 Germany ratiopharm Ulm 6 3 3 477 467 +10 9[lower-alpha 1] 76–77 91–82 88–62
4 Sweden Södertälje Kings 6 1 5 441 546 105 7 52–96 115–108 71–76
Source: EuroChallenge
Notes:

Group B

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification TAR ENE KÖR LUK
1 Estonia Tartu University Rock 6 4 2 428 420 +8 10 Advance to last 16 66–59 81–83 71–59
2 Romania Energia Târgu Jiu 6 3 3 428 435 7 9[lower-alpha 1] 74–56 73–72 72–67
3 Hungary Egis Körmend 6 3 3 447 460 13 9[lower-alpha 1] 72–79 77–76 63–76
4 Bulgaria Lukoil Academic 6 2 4 447 435 +12 8 73–75 97–74 75–80
Source: EuroChallenge
Notes:
  1. Energia Târgu Jiu win on point difference (-7 vs -13) vs Egis Körmend

Group C

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification OKA FRA BOR BAK
1 Belgium Okapi Aalstar 6 5 1 557 507 +50 11 Advance to last 16 94–59 119–118 103–100
2 Germany Fraport Skyliners 6 4 2 464 421 +43 10 80–58 70–72 74–64
3 Sweden Borås 6 3 3 505 516 11 9 83–92 61–94 90–70
4 Denmark Bakken Bears 6 0 6 457 539 82 6 83–92 61–94 79–86

Group D

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification AVT AST TOF ORA
1 Russia Avtodor 6 5 1 530 438 +92 11 Advance to last 16 83–75 80–75 92–73
2 Kazakhstan Astana 6 5 1 492 461 +31 11 75–73 73–65 80–64
3 Turkey Tofaş 6 2 4 469 504 35 8 66–101 102–104 84–75
4 Romania Oradea 6 0 6 429 517 88 6 74–101 74–83 69–77

Group E

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification NAN BEL SLB KAT
1 France JSF Nanterre 6 5 1 529 478 +51 11 Advance to last 16 88–68 80–68 102–92
2 Belgium Belfius Mons-Hainaut 6 5 1 489 451 +38 11 94–86 92–63 71–62
3 Portugal Benfica 6 2 4 486 519 33 8 86–96 86–96 107–82
4 Finland Kataja 6 0 6 479 535 56 6 70–77 83–85 90–93

Group F

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification TS GÜS UMO ASE
1 Turkey Trabzonspor Medical Park 6 6 0 514 450 +64 12 Advance to last 16 80–72 91–72 103–81
2 Austria magnofit Güssing Knights 6 4 2 477 456 +21 10 67–77 84–77 93–84
3 Romania U-Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca 6 1 5 442 478 36 7 80–81 68–81 64–73
4 Hungary Atomerőmű SE 6 1 5 454 503 49 7 78–82 70–80 68–81

Group G

Pos Team Pld W L GF GA GD Pts Qualification MSB ANT BIE KTP
1 France Le Mans 6 5 1 478 414 +64 11 Advance to last 16 72–66 88–74 71–52
2 Belgium Port of Antwerp Giants 6 3 3 542 514 +28 9 78–87 92–82 98–83
3 Italy Bonprix Biella 6 3 3 511 525 14 9 82–64 97–96 81–77
4 Finland KTP 6 1 5 475 553 78 7 62–96 93–112 108–95

Group H

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification ENI UŞA ŠIA TSM
1 Russia Enisey 6 4 2 515 467 +48 10 Advance to last 16 95–79 86–68 87–82
2 Turkey Uşak Sportif 6 3 3 445 458 13 9 69–84 79–69 78–59
3 Lithuania Šiauliai 6 3 3 493 515 22 9 93–92 75–78 83–80
4 Belarus Tsmoki-Minsk 6 2 4 473 486 13 8 76–71 85–73 91–94

Last 16

The sixteen teams were divided in four groups of four. In each group, teams play against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The group winners and runners-up advance to the quarterfinals, while the third-placed teams and fourth-placed teams are eliminated.

Group I

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification ENE BRI AST OKA
1 Romania Energia Târgu Jiu 6 4 2 501 498 +3 10 Advance to quarterfinals 67–78 90–89 93–60
2 Italy Enel Brindisi 6 3 3 485 445 +40 9 76–78 74–65 101–66
3 Kazakhstan Astana 6 3 3 512 509 +3 9 113–89 83–75 77–73
4 Belgium Okapi Aalstar 6 2 4 475 521 46 8 82–84 86–81 108–85

Group J

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification NAN MSB GÜS USA
1 France JSF Nanterre 6 4 2 487 434 +53 10 Advance to quarterfinals 85–68 89–86 100–67
2 France Le Mans 6 4 2 464 429 +35 10 72–60 93–60 84–63
3 Austria magnofit Güssing Knights 6 2 4 458 471 13 8 62–82 82–65 91–63
4 Turkey Uşak Sportif 6 2 4 430 505 75 8 79–71 79–82 79–77

Group K

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification FRA AVT TAR SPM
1 Germany Fraport Skyliners 6 5 1 512 471 +41 11 Advance to quarterfinals 68–71 92–73 75–70
2 Russia Avtodor Saratov 6 4 2 567 546 +21 10 103–112 105–106 89–85
3 Estonia Tartu University Rock 6 2 4 457 501 44 8 62–71 68–91 71–64
4 Netherlands SPM Shoeters Den Bosch 6 1 5 496 514 18 7 92–94 107–108 78–77

Group L

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Qualification TS ENI ANT BEL
1 Turkey Trabzonspor Medical Park 6 5 1 502 456 +46 11 Advance to quarterfinals 90–85 89–79 76–68
2 Russia Enisey 6 3 3 516 495 +21 9 96–82 85–86 83–88
3 Belgium Port of Antwerp Giants 6 3 3 481 509 28 9 72–90 78–93 82–75
4 Belgium Belfius Mons-Hainaut 6 1 5 435 474 39 7 56–75 71–74 77–84

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals were played in a best-of-three playoff format. Teams that finished first in their top 16 group played the first and third leg at home. Matchdays were on 10 March, 12 March and 17 March 2015.

Team 1 Series Team 2 Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Energia Târgu Jiu Romania 2–1 France Le Mans Sarthe 84–60 68–79 79–64
JSF Nanterre France 2–0 Italy Enel Brindisi 80–68 77–72 0
Fraport Skyliners Germany 2–1 Russia Enisey 77–74 68–78 85–80
Trabzonspor Medical Park Turkey 2–0 Russia Avtodor Saratov 94–88 100–73 0

Final Four

The 2015 Final Four was played on 24 April and 26 April 2015[4] at Hayri Gür Arena, Trabzon, Turkey.[5]

 
Semifinals
24 April
Final
26 April
 
      
 
 
 
 
Romania Energia Târgu Jiu 63
 
 
 
Turkey Trabzonspor MP 83
 
Turkey Trabzonspor MP 63
 
 
 
France JSF Nanterre 64
 
France JSF Nanterre 84
 
 
Germany Fraport Skyliners 79
 
Third place game
 
 
 
 
 
Romania Energia Târgu Jiu 83
 
 
Germany Fraport Skyliners 80

Awards

Final Four MVP

Top Statistical Performer

Each round a Weekly MVP is chosen, determined by the Performance Index Rating (PIR) system.

Regular season

Week Player Team PIR
1
United States Sean MarshallTurkey Trabzonspor
33
2
United States J'Covan BrownKazakhstan Astana
36
3
United States LaMonte UlmerFinland KTP
34
4
Sweden Christian MaråkerSweden Borås
39
5
United States Travis PetersonRussia Avtodor
35
6
Netherlands Stefan WesselsNetherlands SPM Shoeters
43

Last 16

Week Player Team PIR
1
United States Kyle WeemsFrance JSF Nanterre
39
2
Kazakhstan Jerry JohnsonKazakhstan Astana
37
3
United States Travis TaylorAustria Güssing Knights
32
4
Azerbaijan Nik Caner-MedleyKazakhstan Astana
28
5
United States Courtney FortsonRussia Avtodor
42
6United States DeAndre KaneBelgium Antwerp Giants37
United States Quantez RobertsonGermany Fraport Skyliners

Quarterfinals

Johannes Voigtmann was the Round 3 MVP
Week Player Team PIR
1
Montenegro Nemanja MilosevicRomania Energia Târgu Jiu
33
2Ukraine Kyrylo FesenkoRussia Avtodor22
United States Mykal RileyFrance JSF Nanterre
United States Terrico WhiteRussia Enisey Krasnoyarsk
3
Germany Johannes VoigtmannGermany Fraport Skyliners
33

Individual statistics

To be included in the top rankings in individual statistics, a player had to have a minimum of 9 games played.

Points

Pos. Player Team GP PPG
1
United States Ryan PearsonBelgium Antwerp Giants
12
19.8
2
United States Dwight HardyTurkey Trabzonspor
16
18.1
3
United States J'Covan BrownKazakhstan Astana
10
17.5

Rebounds

Pos. Player Team GP RPG
1
Ukraine Kyrylo FesenkoRussia Avtodor
11
10.1
2
United States Travis TaylorAustria Güssing Knights
12
10.1
3
Serbia Nemanja MilosevicRomania Energia
17
8.5

Assists

Pos. Player Team GP APG
1
United States Courtney FortsonRussia Avtodor
13
9.8
2
United States D.J. CooperRussia Enisey
15
7.9
3
Kazakhstan Jerry JohnsonKazakhstan Astana
10
7.0

Season highs

Statistic Player Team
Points
42
United States Robert Arnold Finland Kataja
Rebounds
20
Sweden Christian Maråker Sweden Borås
Assists
16
Finland Teemu Rannikko Finland Kataja
Steals
7
United States Terrico White Russia Enisey
Blocks
6
France Dounia Issa France Le Mans Sarthe
Three-point field goals 8 United States Benjamin Raymond Italy Bonprix Biella
Netherlands Kees Akerboom, Jr. Netherlands SPM Shoeters

See also

References

  1. "EuroChallenge 2014–15 field confirmed". FIBA Europe. 1 July 2014.
  2. "Krasnoyarsk, Trabzonspor join list". FIBA Europe. 2 July 2014.
  3. "EuroChallenge Draw Seedings Announced". FIBA Europe. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  4. Schedule
  5. Trabzon to host EuroChallenge Final Four; FIBA Europe, 26 March 2015
  6. Jamal Shuler named Final Four MVP
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