After amazing a brilliant run to the highest level of German basketball, s.Oliver Baskets Wuerzburg turns its attention to Europe this season. Wuerzburg stormed through several levels of German hoops before returning to the top German League last season and never let up. Behind Coach John Patrick, Wuerzburg marched to an impressive sixth place finish and then knocked off mighty Alba Berlin in the quarterfinals before bowing out in the semis. That great run also landed the club in the Eurocup for the first time. Although this marks new heights for the club, basketball has featured prominently in the capital of Lower Franconia for years. Sports club DJK Wuerzburg opened in the 1920s and brought many opportunities to local youth. Basketball boomed in the 1990s when a young Dirk Nowitzki joined that club. In 1997 Wuerzburg broke through to the top league and in the following years TSK Wuerzburg even played in the Korac Cup qualifying and the FIBA Europe Challenge Cup. However financial troubles caused a quick downfall and that club virtually disappeared. In 2007, a new club was formed, using the license of a small local side, SC Heuchelhof, to play in the regional leagues. Wuerzburg Baskets did not waste time in building a winner and starting in 2008 began its amazing run of playing in four leagues in as many seasons. Year by year, Wuerzburg moved from the regional level, to ProB, to ProA, and finally reached the top German League for the 2011-12 season. In that time, the club has earned a passionate following among local fans, who have sold out almost every game over the past three seasons and sparked discussion of a new arena. A major boost to the club’s success was the sponsorship of German fashion company s. Oliver, which began in 2010 and helped usher in a new era. This season Marcel Schroeder, the coach that led Wuerzburg to promotion two years ago and served as Patrick’s assistant last season, takes the reins for the team’s Eurocup debut. And with the incredible momentum this team has built up over recent years, the sky is the limit for s.Oliver Baskets Wuerzburg.