Ukraine coach Murzin: ''The fans have missed the games of the national team which they deserved to see''

KIEV(FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - It's hard to imagine any country having been more eager to stage FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers than Ukraine, whose national team has won three of its four games through the first two windows.

In 2015, Ukraine was supposed to host that summer's FIBA EuroBasket. However, political problems in the region led to Europe's biggest basketball competition instead being co-hosted by Croatia, France, Germany and Latvia.

Ukraine have so far had big audiences for their home Qualifiers against Turkey and Sweden.

"The fans [have] missed the games of the national team [which] they deserved [to see]," Ukraine coach Ievgen Murzin said to FIBA.basketball. "For our spectators, it's very important to see the national team and for us it's very important to see the public in the tribune, [like] 6,000 people or even more for the (February 26) game with Sweden."

The fans enjoyed themselves and gave Ukraine a lift as they beat Sweden, 77-66, to go top of Group B at 3-1 and clinch a spot in the Second Round of Qualifiers.

"FOR OUR SPECTATORS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE THE NATIONAL TEAM AND FOR US IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE THE PUBLIC IN THE TRIBUNE, [LIKE] 6,000 PEOPLE OR EVEN MORE FOR THE [FEBRUARY 26] GAME AGAINST SWEDEN" MurzinMurzin

While getting ready to play in a short space of time presents its challenges, Ukraine have adapted well in this regard.

"First of all, we have a small but well organized management team," Murzin pointed out. "Secondly but very important is that all the guys came ready to play. They were in good condition and in a fighting mood. We were lucky to avoid injuries.

"We didn't have injured players or guys who needed to recover after serious injuries. [In] The second window, we had one more day [in] between games and this additional day helped us to get ready for the second game."

Ukraine center Slava Kravtsov thanked the fans after the Sweden game

Murzin highlights one benefit of the New Competition System, which is that no time has to be spent on getting players into physical shape.

"Coaching in a window means no conditioning work for the players and more work on tactics," he said. "One more difference is we don't play friendly games during windows because all players come ready. For this team, it's a new experience and we are trying to adapt to it."

When the third window comes around in June-July - and brings to a close the First Round - some national teams will bring in some new players that have had commitments with their clubs and that could make them stronger.

Murzin knows and admits as much but is quick to indicate what Ukraine stand to gain from it.

"Undoubtedly the NBA players can reinforce some national teams (France, Spain, Slovenia and Turkey and Latvia included)," he pointed out, "and for us, it might be a more difficult challenge but at the same time, a more interesting one."

While it's way too early to talk about qualification for the first-ever 32-team World Cup, Ukraine's two wins last month put the country in a very strong position to reach FIBA's flagship competition for a second consecutive time after its debut in 2014 in Spain.

Despite this, Murzin preaches caution.

"Every win puts the team closer to the goal, but we are still very far from it," he warned. "Our main aim is to qualify for the World Cup this time. As a coach I really want this. I think the new system gives more chances to teams like ours."

FIBA