FRA - Dijon coach demands more
MULHOUSE (Coupe de France) - JDA Dijon's players did not escape the wrath of coach Jacques Monclar following their narrow overtime success against Pro B side Mulhouse in the Coupe de France. Dijon's passage to the last 16 was far from straightforward - they came away with an 80-76 win on Friday after the scores were tied at 68-68 at the end of normal time. Anthony Lux was once again Dijon's saviour, the American big man sinking 25 points in a fine individual display.
MULHOUSE (Coupe de France) - JDA Dijon's players did not escape the wrath of coach Jacques Monclar following their narrow overtime success against Pro B side Mulhouse in the Coupe de France.
Dijon's passage to the last 16 was far from straightforward - they came away with an 80-76 win on Friday after the scores were tied at 68-68 at the end of normal time.
Anthony Lux was once again Dijon's saviour, the American big man sinking 25 points in a fine individual display.
Monclar's men are going through a sticky patch in Pro A, having slipped to 11th spot, and they are in danger of missing out on a place in the end-of-season play-offs.
Monclar is clearly concerned about his team's form, and insists they cannot keep relying on Lux and France great Laurent Sciarra - both of whom played in the recent EuroCup All Star Game - to get them out of trouble.
"If we want to get anywhere, it is necessary we start matches at 0-0, and not after," he said.
"The players must stop thinking that Lux and Sciarra can solve all their problems."
Roanne, winners of the Semaine des As and currently in second position in Pro A, were dumped out of the competition at the last-32 stage by Le Havre, who completed an 83-79 home victory.
Other teams to win on Friday were Reims, Chalon and Cholet, while Clermont progressed on Wednesday thanks to an 86-70 triumph at Besancon.
Aside from Pau's home tie against Orleans on Sunday, the rest of the last-32 games are played on Saturday.
The draw for the next round takes place on Wednesday.
Steve Douglas
FIBA