|
|
|
ROSTER
|
|
4
|
WATERS, DOMINIC
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G
|
1.85
|
|
5
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RUPNIK, LUKA
|
G
|
1.85
|
|
7
|
PREPELIC, KLEMEN
|
G
|
1.91
|
|
8
|
BLAZIC, JAKA
|
G
|
1.93
|
|
9
|
RANNIKKO, TEEMU
|
G
|
1.88
|
|
10
|
SALIN, SASU
|
F
|
1.92
|
|
11
|
MURIC, DINO
|
F
|
2.00
|
|
12
|
BAYNES, ARON
|
C
|
2.08
|
|
14
|
BUBNIC, DRAZEN
|
F
|
2.07
|
|
15
|
PAGE, DYLAN
|
F
|
2.03
|
|
20
|
MOCNIK, JAN
|
G
|
1.78
|
|
22
|
SULEJMANOVIC, EMIR
|
F
|
2.02
|
|
23
|
OMIC, ALEN
|
C
|
2.15
|
| Head Coach: FILIPOVSKI, SASO |
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2011-12 Results
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Euroleague:
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Regular Season
1-9
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Adriatic League:
Regular Season, 6 place
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Slovenian League:
Finalist
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Slovenian Cup:
Finalist
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HISTORIC RESULTS
2011-12: 1-9, Regular Season
2010-11: 7-9, Top 16
2009-10: 1-9, Regular Season
2008-09: 2-8, Regular Season
2007-08: 4-10, Regular Season
2006-07: 5-9, Regular Season
2005-06: 5-9, Regular Season
2004-05: 6-8, Regular Season
2003-04: 7-13, Top 16
2002-03: 12-8, Top 16
2001-02: 10-10, Top 16
2000-01: 9-6, Playoffs
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WHAT'S NEW
There are a lot of new and young pieces on Union Olimpija Ljubljana’s new roster. The Slovenian powerhouse added scoring – specifically three-point shooting by bringing back fan favorite guard Teemu Rannikko and energetic and talented guard Klemen Prepelic. Head coach Saso Filipovski puts his trust in the playmaking abilities of rookie Dominic Waters and young Luka Rupnik. Olimpija addressed rebounding by filling the paint with banger Aron Baynes, promising big man Alen Omic and power forwards Drazen Bubnic and Dylan Page.
THE BACKCOURT
With mixture of youth and experience, Olimpija potentially has four ball handlers in its backcourt. Waters, Jan Mocnik, Rupnik and Rannikko are all able playmakers. Rannikko is also a dangerous shooter who does not shy away from taking clutch shots and is expected - like another Finnish sniper on the team, Sasu Salin and the highly-talented Prepelic – to benefit from Waters's court-vision. With Prepelic also known to create from the shooting guard position and with a more confident young gun, Jaka Blazic, alongside him, Coach Filipovski has a deep and potent perimeter rotation that will likely improve on last season's last place ranking in three-point shooting.
THE FRONTCOURT
Olimpija's defense will start with Baynes, who can hold the paint with his rebounding and shot blocking. The big man will be expected to carry the team's inside game on offense too. He has a reliable back-up in Omic and offensive help in the crafty Bubnic, who is equally as dangerous shooting from the perimeter as he is under the rim. Page should help the team's offense with his outside shooting, while small forward Dino Muric, as the lone returnee on the revamped front line, offers great energy to the mix.
OUTLOOK
Olimpija’s decision to build with a youthful and energetic team that will fight for every possession looks certain to win the win hearts of the faithful fans at Stozice Arena. With a vastly improved offense, this squad might go as far as its three-point shooting. Being the lowest scoring team in the Euroleague last season, Olimpija will be better and there is no reason it can’t duplicate and even surpass its impressive run into the Top 16 from two seasons ago.
PLAYER TO WATCH: Aron Baynes
Olimpija has a lot depending on the Aussie banger. Apart from his rebounding and shot blocking, it will be important for Baynes to establish his inside game and avoid foul-trouble. In his previous Euroleague campaign in 2009-10, it was Baynes’s league-leading 4 fouls per game that stunted his ability to dominate. If that issue is fixed, Baynes – and Olimpija – could be facing breakout seasons. |
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