Round of 16 preview: CSM CSU Oradea v Muratbey Usak Sportif
ORADEA (FIBA Europe Cup) – After making it to the Basketball Champions League prior to the Regular Season, CSM CSU Oradea and Muratbey Usak Sportif are now joining the field of teams they beat in the early part of the season in the FIBA Europe Cup.
In spite of putting together competitive campaigns, neither of the teams managed to reach the post-season in the Basketball Champions League, with the Romanian side finishing sixth in Group B with a 6-8 record and Usak claiming sixth place in Group C with a 5-9 mark.
While the Turkish club had already set its focus on reaching the FIBA Europe Cup in the final weeks of the Regular Season, Oradea were in a race with Avtodor Saratov and Maccabi Rand Media for Basketball Champions League Play-Off places down to the wire.
It all came down to the last game of the group stage for Christian Achim's side, but the Romanians couldn't deliver, losing 89-78 on the road in Italy. Had Oradea won that game, they would have finished fourth in their group.
However, both teams will get a fresh start in the FIBA Europe Cup and their Basketball Champions League records will mean next to nothing, when the sides finally clash heads in the Round of 16 next week.
Having been one of the worst offensive teams in the Basketball Champions League, averaging just 69.2 points per game, Oradea counted on their defensive prowess to get things done, with Martin Zeno carrying the majority of the load on the offensive end with an average output of 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Sean Barnette was one of the most productive players in the competition, averaging 14.0 points and 6.5 boards per game, while Sean Denison and Branko Mirkovic also had productive campaigns.
On the other side of the barriers, D'Angelo Harrison and Shaquille McKissic were the offensive centerpieces for Muratbey Usak Sportif, averaging 14.8 points per game apiece.
Zach Auguste was a steady contributor throughout the season as well and the recent addition of Lithuanian point guard Sarunas Vasiliauskas has worked out well.
FIBA
