REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - In April 2016, this column was dedicated to Centre Federal du Basket-Ball (CFBB) - the French academy better known as INSEP - winning a basketball game. Twenty-three months later, CFBB finally won again and it's time to write about them again.

In those 23 months, the 15- to 19-year-old young French talents endured 58 straight losses in France's NM1 third division - including the entire 34-game 2016-17 season. But this past weekend, Jean Aime Toupane's young team returned to the winning column by beating Tarbes Lourdes 71-67 to improve their record to 1-23 in the league.

"Of course we are happy for the kids to get a victory," said Toupane, who has been coaching the team since 2014.

Despite playing without two of the team's best players as Yohan Choupas and Johan Randriamananjara were out injured, CFBB never let Loudres even tie the game in the fourth quarter. The win came after CFBB had lost games by seven points against Aubenas in November and by 11 points versus ALS Basket in February earlier this season. 

"We had a couple of close games this year and we can see they are getting better," Toupane said.

A big help for CFBB against Loudres was that Ivan Fevrier was playing in the game as he collected 27 points and 11 rebounds. Fevrier, who has a two-way contract with his pro team Paris-Levallois, helped CFBB to the ANGT youth club title last season but is ineligible for the event this year because he is a 1999-born player.

"Of course we are happy for the kids to get a victory."Jean Amie Toupane

Toupane himself has experienced only two MN1 victories in his time at the helm of the CFBB team. The April 16, 2016 victory over Caen snapped a 142-game losing streak - yes, that is correct 142 games - dating back to January 21, 2012, so nearly four years.

As part of a cooperation between the French federation and the French leagues, CFBB play in the French semi-professional NM1 third division and cannot be relegated or promoted out of the league.

"It's an honor," said Mathis Dossou-Yovo, one of the CFBB's older players. "It's a really good place to work and improve yourself as a player."

Still, Dossou-Yovo would love to win more.

"We lose, but we don't like that. We want to win games too," said the 17-year-old, who finally won his NM1 game this past weekend.

Coach Toupane said the young players know the situation they are in.

"The thing to think about is why we are in this championship. We are an academy, and our first goal is to develop the players. It's not about winning. We want our players to learn from this high level," he said. "The main thing is to see them improve and better understand the game."

And the coaching staff also wants the players to understand the process of getting to a victory.

"Our challenge is to put in the minds of the players before you think winning, you have to accept sometimes losing to understand how to get to the win," Toupane explained.

"The thing to think about is why we are in this championship. We are an academy, and our first goal is to develop the players. It's not about winning. We want our players to learn from this high level. The main thing is to see them improve and better understand the game."Jean Amie Toupane

One victory is one thing, but what about another win? CFBB will be taking on Aubenas again on March 17 and Aubenas are third-to-bottom in the NM1 with an 8-16 record.

"You never know how they will react," Toupane responded to the question about if he thinks the team will get another win this season. "We just want them to be on the floor and enjoy playing. For young players there are so many new things. You cannot say they will do this and this. We just want to focus on them changing day by day - becoming a man, becoming a player. understanding the game. All those things are the way to get to the victory."

Sure, victories have been few and far between of late but CFBB did grab two victories in the 2011-12 season. And the season before that, the team won five games - including three straight.

Of course, if CFBB endure another long 50 or 60 or 90 game losing streak, then there will be an Eye on the Future column when they finally win again. But here's to hoping there won't be any long losing streaks to write about in the near or far future. 

David Hein

FIBA

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