Tartu Ülikool Korvpallimeeskond

Tartu Ülikool/Rock
Leagues Korvpalli Meistriliiga
Baltic Basketball League
EuroChallenge
Founded 1945
History 1945 – present
Arena

Sporthall of Tartu University

(capacity: 3000)
Location Tartu, Estonia
Team colors Black and White
         
President Estonia Andres Liinat
Head coach Estonia Gert Kullamäe
Championships 22 Estonian Championships
16 Estonian Cups
1 BBL Cup
1 USSR Championship
Website www.basket.ut.ee
Uniforms
Home
Away

Tartu Ülikool/Rock (University of Tartu/Rock) is an Estonian professional basketball club, based in Tartu, currently participating in the Korvpalli Meistriliiga, the Baltic Basketball League and the EuroChallenge. The basketball team belongs to The University of Tartu and plays their home games at the Tartu Ülikooli Spordihoone (Sporthall of Tartu University).[1] The TÜ/Rock is the most successful basketball club in Estonia with 22 national championships and 16 national cup wins.

History

Soviet Union era

TÜ ASK (Academic Sports Club of the University of Tartu) is the oldest basketball team still playing in Estonia. Although the origins of the team are uncertain at this moment, it is a fact that Tartu University's basketball team entered the Estonian League right after World War II in the 1947/48 season.[2] During the late 1940s and the 1950s the university's team was one of the dominants winning 8 domestic titles from 1948 to 1959. This period also includes the Soviet Union League title in 1949.[2] Notable players from that era were Ilmar Kullam, Heino Kruus and Jaak Lipso who all have won an Olympic medal and EuroBasket championship with the Soviet Union national basketball team.

During the 1960s teams from Tallinn dominated Estonian basketball and the Tartu team was unable to win any titles. A new rise started in the late 1960s with players like Anatoli Krikun (Olympic bronze 1968) and Aleksei Tammiste. Led by those two men the TRÜ team was virtually indomitable during the 1970s winning 7 domestic titles.

The 1980s were another low period for the Tartu team as there were not many good players in the team. The epicenter of Estonian basketball shifted back to Tallinn with teams like Tallinna Kalev and Harju KEK dominating the domestic league.

Independent Estonia

In the early 1990s after Estonia regained its independence Tartu struggled in the KML, but with the emerging of young talented players like Valmo Kriisa, Tarmo Kikerpill and Tanel Tein, Tartu fought its way back to the top of Estonian basketball winning the Estonian League in 2000.[2] It was the team's first title since 1978. In the new millennium Tartu Rock has been at the very top of domestic basketball winning several league titles and cups. In addition to that the team has reached the Final Fours of FIBA EuroCup (in 2007–08) and Baltic Basketball League (in 2008–09). In 2010 Rock also won the Baltic Basketball League Cup becoming the first team besides BC Žalgiris and BC Lietuvos Rytas to win a Baltic League trophy.

2007–2008: EuroCup Final Four

On the 4th of March in the year 2008 Tartu Ülikool/Rock made Estonian club basketball history by beating PBC Ural Great with games 2–1 in the FIBA EuroCup and advancing to the semifinals.[3] Tartu played in the same group with CSK VSS Samara, Lappeenrannan NMKY and PAOK BC winning five games and losing only one to Samara in Russia.[4] After beating Ural Great, Tartu lost to Barons LMT in the semi-finals with the score 82–88.[5] In the third-place game, Tartu was defeated by Proteas EKA AEL with the score 70–79.[6]

2008–2009: Baltic League Final Four

In the 2008–09 season Rock also became the first Estonian basketball team to reach the Baltic League Final Four. Rock defeated Estonian arch rival BC Kalev/Cramo in the quarterfinals with games 2–1. The last game went to overtime and Tartu won by a lucky three-pointer from veteran player Tanoka Beard at the last second making the final score 71–68.[7] This victory also ment that the Final Four would be held on the Tartu team's home court.[8] In the semifinals Rock lost to BC Žalgiris with the score 83–74. In the third place game Rock defeated ASK Riga 77–68 and won the bronze medal.[9][10]

Team name history

The University's basketball team has had several names in the history. The name changes were mostly due to sponsorship reasons. Here is the complete list.

Tartu Rock logo from 2001 to 2008.
University of Tartu logo was used during the 2011–2012 season.
Years Name Full name (Estonian) Full name (English) Main sponsor
1947–1952 Tartu ÜSK Tartu Ülikooli Spordiklubi Sports Club of the University of Tartu
1952–1989 TRÜ Tartu Riiklik Ülikool Tartu State University
1989–1992 Tartu Ülikool Tartu Ülikool University of Tartu
1992–1993 Tartu KK Tartu Korvpalliklubi Tartu Basketball Club
1993–1994 Raidor Raidor Raidor Raidor AS
1994–1995 Tartu Gaas Tartu Gaas Tartu Gas Tartu Gaas
1995–1997 Tartu KK Tartu Korvpalliklubi Tartu Basketball Club
1997–1999 Tartu SK Polaris Tartu Spordiklubi Polaris Tartu Sports Club Polaris Polaris Security
1999–2001 Tartu Ülikool-Delta Tartu Ülikool-Delta Tartu University-Delta
2001–2011 Tartu Ülikool/Rock Tartu Ülikool/Rock Tartu University/Rock Saku Brewery
2011–2012 Tartu Ülikool Tartu Ülikooli Korvpalliklubi University of Tartu Basketball Club
2012–present Tartu Ülikool/Rock Tartu Ülikool/Rock Tartu University/Rock

Accomplishments per season

Trophies and awards

Trophies

Individual awards

KML Most Valuable Player

KML Finals MVP

KML Best Defensive Player

KML Young Player of the Year

KML Coach of the Year

  • Jüri Neissaar – 2001
  • Tõnu Lust – 2004
  • Üllar Kerde – 2008

Baltic League MVP of the Month

  • Scott Morrison – November 2009
  • Callistus Eziukwu - November 2010

All-KML First Team


All-KML Defensive Team

Players

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

TÜ/Rock roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G 4 Estonia Sokk, Tanel 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 30 – 20 January 1985
G 5 Estonia Vene, Kent-Kaarel 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 21 – 21 February 1994
G 6 Estonia Dorbek, Gert 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 29 – 10 June 1985
G 7 Estonia Kriisa, Valmo 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 40 – 18 May 1974
F 8 Estonia Talts, Janar 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 107 kg (236 lb) 32 – 7 April 1983
F 9 Estonia Eichfuss, Timo 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 107 kg (236 lb) 26 – 19 November 1988
F 10 Estonia Sutt, Saimon 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 20 – 12 April 1995
F 11 Estonia Doronin, Marek (C) 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 32 – 9 January 1983
G 12 Lithuania Pečiukevičius, Augustas 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 23 – 2 December 1991
G 13 Estonia Meister, Kristen 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 77 kg (170 lb) 21 – 9 September 1993
C 15 Lithuania Petrukonis, Karolis 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) 115 kg (254 lb) 27 – 18 May 1987
C 20 Estonia Kruus, Sander 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 20 – 25 February 1995
C 21 Estonia Toome, Joosep 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 110 kg (243 lb) 29 – 21 June 1985
F 22 Estonia Kurbas, Tanel 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 26 – 8 May 1988
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Estonia Toomas Kandimaa
Physiotherapist(s)
  • Estonia Martin Vahimets
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: October 5, 2014

Depth Chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Janar Talts Karolis Petrukonis
PF Timo Eichfuss Joosep Toome
SF Tanel Kurbas Marek Doronin Kent-Kaarel Vene
SG Gert Dorbek Valmo Kriisa Saimon Sutt
PG Tanel Sokk Augustas Pečiukevičius Kristen Meister

In

Out

Notable players

For a listing of past rosters, see Tartu Ülikool/Rock past rosters.
For a listing of past players, see Category:Tartu Ülikool/Rock players.

Head coaches

Name Period Trophies
Estonia Edgar Naarits 1946–1956 Estonian League 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952; Estonian Cup 1950, 1952; Soviet Union League 1948–49
Estonia Ernst Ehaveer 1956–1983 Estonian League 1956, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1977–78; Estonian Cup 1956, 1958, 1974, 1976, 1979
Estonia Arne Laos 1983–1992 –
Estonia Jüri Neissaar 1992–1997 –
Estonia Teet Laur 1997–2000 Estonian League 1999–00; Estonian Cup 2000
Estonia Jüri Neissaar 2000–2003 Estonian League 2000–01; Estonian Cup 2001, 2002
Estonia Tõnu Lust 2003–2005 Estonian League 2003–04; Estonian Cup 2004
Estonia Paavo Russak 2005–2006 –
Lithuania Algirdas Brazys 2006–2007 Estonian League 2006–07
Estonia Üllar Kerde 2007–2008 Estonian League 2007–08
Estonia Indrek Visnapuu[11] 2008–2012 Estonian League 2009–10; Estonian Cup 2009, 2010, 2011; BBL Cup 2010
Estonia Gert Kullamäe[12] 2012– Estonian Cup 2013, 2014

References

  1. ↑ "Tartu Ülikooli Akadeemiline Spordiklubi". sport.ut.ee Retrieved on 19.03.2014 (Estonian)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Eesti Korvpalliliit". basket.ee. Retrieved on 22.01.2009 (Estonian)
  3. ↑ "Tartu keep on rocking, reach Final Four". FIBA Europe (04.03.2008). Retrieved on 22.01.2009
  4. ↑ "Team home on fibaeurope.com". FIBA Europe. Retrieved on 24.02.2011
  5. ↑ "Barons fight back to book place in final". FIBA Europe (18.04.2008). Retrieved on 24.02.2011
  6. ↑ "Proteas hold off Tartu for third place". FIBA Europe (20.04.2008). Retrieved on 24.02.2011
  7. ↑ "Beard leads Rock to Final Four". SEB BBL Homepage (01.04.2009). Retrieved on 25.04.2009
  8. ↑ "SEB BBL Final Four tournament will be hosted by Tartu". SEB BBL Homepage (02.04.2009). Retrieved on 25.04.2009
  9. ↑ "It's Rytas against Zalgiris, as always". SEB BBL Homepage (24.04.2009). Retrieved on 25.04.2009
  10. ↑ "Third place belongs to TÜ/Rock". SEB BBL Homepage (25.04.2009). Retrieved on 25.04.2009
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "TÜ/Rock head coach Kerde resigns". SEB BBL Homepage (21.12.2008). Retrieved on 21.12.2008
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Indrek Visnapuu astus tagasi, peatreenerina jätkab Gert Kullamäe". Tartu Ülikooli korvpallimeeskond (24.01.2012). Retrieved on 24.01.2012 (Estonian)

External links