Olimpia returns to the EuroLeague playing at home in front of its fans (9,736 spectators on average in the European competition, sixth overall) with the idea of ​​going back to get a win and leaving the opponent, Asvel Villeurbanne, behind. The standing at this point is of relative significance, but it would be important to win and extend the favorable momentum built in the Italian league after defeating Derthona in the last round. Gigi Datome will be available again. He has only played two EuroLeague games so far. Asvel has just strengthened the team with the addition of Dee Bost at the point and has brought back Nando De Colo and David Lighty after a short injury break. Olimpia will obviously have to deal with the size of Youssoupha Fall, the third player over 2.20 faced in the last two weeks after the Fall of Olympiacos and Koumadje of Alba Berlin. In Villeurbanne, a few months ago, Olimpia won a close game, after surviving a difficult start. In the end, two Billy Baron’s three and one made by Kevin Pangos were decisive. Pangos unfortunately won’t be available on Friday, just like Shavon Shields and Tommaso Baldasso, who played his best European game against Villeurbanne last year. Olimpia have won its last three games against the French team.

THE REFEREES – Boris Ryzhyk (Ukraine), Jordi Aliaga (Spain), Adar Peer (Israel).

COACH ETTORE MESSINA – “We face a team that has just replaced its point-guard, a team however with a clear identity, built around experienced and high-character players, like De Colo and Lighty, and the athleticism of their big men. Regarding us, we are not concerned with our record, we just want to play the best possible game we can play before our crowd, looking forward to ways to improve and play at the level of quality and consistency that we have been able to show only in spurts. In terms of approach and intensity, I’d like to see a team very close to the one who deservedly defeated Tortona in a much-anticipated game of the Italian league last Sunday.”

Kyle Hines guarded by Yves Pons during the Villeurbanne game

ASVEL VILLEURBANNE – Asvel has just signed a new point guard from Galatasaray, the experienced Dee Bost to replace Parker Jackson-Cartwright and tu support the veteran Antoine Diot. The perimeter players are the great Nando De Colo (13.3 points and 3.6 assists on average) who is shooting 49.2 percent from three and is one of the players who made the history of the competition; Jonah Mathews (10.8 points per game), one of the best rookies; Retin Obasohan (7.4 points per game), a Belgian international, and David Lighty, a player with great personality and experience (48.4 percent three-point shooting). Among the forwards, Charles Kahudi stands out, a physical player, averaging 6.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, and the athletic Yves Pons (3.1 points per game, 69 percent shooting from two), who is coming up fast. Amine Noua is the most used power forward (6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds per game). The centers are Alex Tyus (5.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 59 percent from two) who replaced the injured Joffrey Lauvergne but was missing for the lastfew games, and the 2.21 mt Youssoupha Fall, who is averaging 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game, on top of 65.7 percent shooting from two.

HISTORY VS. ASVEL – The history between these two teams is made up of 12 games, six of which date back to the EuroLeague era. Olimpia faced Asvel for the first time during the 1966-67 season in the European Cup beating them 86-66 (23 points by Gabriele Vianello, 21 by Austin Robbins) in France and at home 103-85 (Steve Chubin 26, Robbins 21). In the 1995/96 Korac Cup, Olimpia eliminated Asvel in the semifinals by winning 81-72 on the road and 73-69 at home. Finally, during the 1997/98 Eurocup, in the quarterfinals, Olimpia eliminated Asvel by winning 67-58 (24 points by Thurl Bailey) on the road and surviving a home defeat 70-62 (17 points were scored by Flavio Portaluppi). Curiously, on all these occasions Olimpia then reached, but lost, the competition final stage. In the EuroLeague there are six previous games with four wins by Olimpia and two by Asvel. The first four clashes always rewarded the home team then Olimpia won in France on the last day of the 2022 regular season and on the first round of this season (69-62 with 18 points from Billy Baron and 16 from Nicolò Melli) . Overall, Olimpia is 9-3 all-time against Asvel, 4-1 at home, 5-2 on the road.

THE ASVEL CONNECTION – Kyle Hines and Nando De Colo played together for five years at CSKA Moscow, winning the EuroLeague in 2016 and 2019. DeShaun Thomas played alongside David Lighty in Nanterre during the 2013/14 season.

Brandon Davies trying to get through Youssoupha Fall

GAME NOTES – Nicolò Melli has started in all of Olimpia’s 19 games so far, one of 11 players who have started every games so far. Melli has started in each one of the last 51 EuroLeague games he has played in. Melli has grabbed 1.287 rebounds for his career, tied at 10th place with Mirsad Turkcan. He is one point shy of scoring 800 for Olimpia in the EuroLeague. Billy Baron is averaging 17.2 points per game when Olimpia’s won its games. Kyle Hines is two blocked shots away from 300 for his career. Since he came to Milan, he has played every single EuroLeague games, 95 out of 95, fourth all-time, behind Kaleb Tarczewski, Nicolò Melli and Vlado Micov. Deshaun Thomas is two points away from reaching 2.000 for his career.

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