Ivanovic urges Bosnian youngsters to step up

SARAJEVO (EuroBasket 2015) - Bosnia and Herzegovina need to overcome a series of obstacles and redraw their course to EuroBasket 2015, but head coach Dusko Ivanovic has reasons to maintain his bullish mood until the end of the race.

Ivanovic had been planning his 12-man roster for September's s showcase tournament on the assumption that it would include the core of the team which had concluded an undefeated 2nd Qualification Round campaign last summer, with a couple of important additions.

His plans were overturned within days prior to the start of this summer's training camp, as the coach saw stars Mirza Teletovic, Jusuf Nurkic and Nihad Djedovic confirm that, for entirely different reasons, they would be unavailable for the EuroBasket.

Nurkic was submitted to knee surgery in mid-May, shortly after the conclusion of his superb rookie NBA season, and the 21-year-old center could not conclude his rehabilitation in time to join the national team.

Teletovic meanwhile, the Bosnia and Herzegovina captain, went through a testing experience this year after being diagnosed with Bilateral Pulmonary Embolus in January and has been advised by his new team, the Phoenix Suns, to follow the safe route this summer and concentrate on recovering full fitness.

The latest confirmed absence came in the form of Djedovic, who is facing a personal administrative issue that will not be resolved in time for EuroBasket, as Ivanovic stated this weekend.

"Honestly, I was surprised, I thought we would have Teletovic and Djedovic," Ivanovic said in an interview on the avaz.ba website.

"For Nurkic I was not sure because he had surgery and was unlikely to be here, but he is the future of the national team and he will play when he's healthy."

The players that matter to the team are those who are here right now. - Ivanovic

The Bosnia and Herzegovina coach however prefers to look at the flip side of the coin, the players who might be afforded a unique opportunity in this kind of circumstances.

"There is no need to talk further about players who could not be in the preparations, because they are not able to help any more," Ivanovic said.

"I prefer to focus on the players who have come to training camp, who have chosen to sacrifice part of their holidays and will do anything for the team.

"I will never surrender, and these guys will not surrender either.

"We will fight together and we'll see where it takes us."

Three of those fighters are youth internationals which Ivanovic said he wants them to try their best to earn a place on the final EuroBasket 12-man team.

Nedim Buza was included in the EuroBasket preliminary squad and joined training camp only a few days after the conclusion of the U20 European Championship in Italy.

The 20-year-old winger starred for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the tournament as he led the team in scoring (16.6 points per game) and rebounds (7.3 per game).

Ivanovic had already given Buza the chance to debut in last summer's qualification campaign, as he stepped out for a few minutes in three encounters.

The two other players are younger than Buza and will join the senior national team after the conclusion of the U18 European Championship, which is currently under way in Greece.

Edin Atic is a 2.01 winger similar in some ways to Buza and averaged 16 points and 5.3 rebounds in last summer's U18 European Championship, his maiden international tournament.

Nedim Djedovic is the younger brother of Nihad and has been a stand-out player for Bosnia and Herzegovina ever since the U16 European Championship of 2013.

He stands at 2.05m but, just like with his brother, his size does not prevent him from playing on the perimeter.

"They are the future of the national team," Ivanovic said.

"All the players are aware however that only the best will travel to France [for EuroBasket].

"I will take only those who are ready and who can best help us to achieve a good result."

The young talent at his disposal is not the only reason that makes Ivanovic believe the team will not be sidetracked by problems.

Two veteran power forwards are back in the national team mix this year and could bolster the frontcourt.

One is Miroslav Todic, who did not play last year due to injury and the other is 31-year-old Edin Bavcic, who has reconsidered his decision to retire from national duty following EuroBasket 2013.

"We will fight to get out of our group and go through to the Round of 16, which I think would be a remarkable result," Ivanovic said.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will vie for a top-four finish in Group A with Finland, Poland, Russia, Israel and hosts France. 

Go to eurobasket2015.org for more coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA