2014–15 EuroChallenge

EuroChallenge
Champions	JSF Nanterre 1st title
Runners-up	Trabzonspor Medical Park
Third place	Energia Târgu Jiu
Fourth place	Fraport Skyliners
Teams	32
Duration	4 November 2014 – 26 April 2015
Awards
Final Four MVP	Jamal Shuler
Statistical leaders
Points	Ryan Pearson 19.8
Rebounds	Kyrylo Fesenko 10.1
Assists	Courtney Fortson 9.8

The 2014–15 EuroChallenge was the 12th and last edition of Europe's third-tier level transnational competition for men's professional basketball clubs. The winner and the runner-up of this competition earned a place at the group stage of next year's Eurocup season.

The regular season was composed by 32 teams and it started on 4 November 2014. The season ended on 26 April 2015, when JSF Nanterre beat Trabzonspor Medical Park 63–64 in the Final in Trabzon, Turkey.

It was the last season of the EuroChallenge, starting from the 2015–16 season, FIBA would organise a new second-tier cup.

Competition format

As in the previous season, the 32 participants were divided into two conferences. Teams were divided into eight round-robin groups of four teams each for the regular season. The two best-placed teams qualified to the next phase of the competition.

Teams

No qualification rounds were played, all teams entered the regular season. FIBA Europe announced the participants on 1 July 2014.^[1] One day later, Szolnoki Olaj and VEF Rīga were moved to 2014–15 Eurocup as a replacement of two withdrawals. Trabzonspor Medical Park and Enisey Krasnoyarsk replaced them in the EuroChallenge.^[2]

Country (League)	Teams	Teams (ranking in 2013–14)
Belgium (BLB)	3	Okapi Aalstar (2)	Belfius Mons-Hainaut (3)	Port of Antwerp Giants (4)
Romania (Divizia A)	3	CSM Oradea (2)	U Mobitelco Cluj (4)	Energia Târgu Jiu (8)
Turkey (TBL)	3	Uşak Sportif (7)	Tofaş (8)	Trabzonspor Medical Park (9)
Finland (Korisliiga)	2	Joensuun Kataja (2)	KTP Basket (4)
France (LNB Pro A)	2	Le Mans Sarthe (5)	JSF Nanterre (9)
Hungary (NBI/A)	2	Atomerőmű (2)	EGIS Körmend (8)
Germany (BBL)	2	ratiopharm Ulm (7)	Skyliners Frankfurt (11)
Italy (Serie A)	2	Enel Brindisi (6)	Angelico Biella (4) DNA Gold
Russia (VTB)	2	Yenisey Krasnoyarsk (9)	Avtodor Saratov (1) BSL
Sweden (Basketligan)	2	Södertälje Kings (1)	Borås Basket (3)
Austria (ÖBL)	1	Magnofit Güssing Knights (1)
Belarus (Premier)	1	Tsmoki Minsk (1)
Bulgaria (NBL)	1	Lukoil Academic (2)
Denmark (DBL)	1	Bakken Bears (1)
Estonia (KML)	1	Tartu Ülikool/Rock (2)
Kazakhstan (KBL)	1	Astana (1)
Lithuania (LKL)	1	Šiauliai (6)
Netherlands (DBL)	1	SPM Shoeters (2)
Portugal (LPB)	1	Benfica (1)

Draw

The draw for the regular season was held on 6 July in Munich, Germany.

The 32 clubs registered for this year's competition were divided into two conferences (1 and 2), based on broad geographical criteria.^[3]

Conference 1

Conference 2

Regular season

If teams are level on record at the end of the regular season, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Head-to-head record.
2. Head-to-head point differential.
3. Point differential during the Regular season.
4. Points scored during the regular season.
5. Sum of quotients of points scored and points allowed in each Regular Season match.

Group A

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Enel Brindisi 6 5 1 496 400 +96 11 0 SPM Shoeters Den Bosch 6 3 3 498 499 −1 9 1–1 (+6) ratiopharm Ulm 6 3 3 477 467 +10 9 1–1 (–6) Södertälje Kings 6 1 5 441 546 −105 7 0

BRI ULM SÖD SPM Enel Brindisi 88–70 90–69 76–62 ratiopharm Ulm 76–77 88–62 91–82 Södertälje Kings 52–96 71–76 115–108 SPM Shoeters Den Bosch 71–69 87–76 88–72

Group B

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Tartu University Rock 6 4 2 428 420 +8 10 0 Energia Rovinari 6 3 3 428 435 −7 9 –7 PD1 EGIS Körmend 6 3 3 447 460 −13 9 –13 PD1 Lukoil Academic 6 2 4 447 435 +12 8 0 1 Because the head-to-head record and point differential between Energia and Körmend were identical, point differential during the regular season was the tie-breaker.

ROV KÖR LUK TAR Energia Târgu Jiu 73–72 72–67 74–56 EGIS Körmend 77–76 63–76 72–79 Lukoil Academic 97–74 75–80 73–75 Tartu University Rock 66–59 81–83 71–59

Group C

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Okapi Aalstar 6 5 1 557 507 +50 11 0 Fraport Skyliners 6 4 2 464 421 +43 10 0 Borås 6 3 3 505 516 −11 9 0 Bakken Bears Aarhus 6 0 6 457 539 −82 6 0

BAK BOR FRA OKA Bakken Bears Aarhus 79–86 61–94 83–92 Borås 90–70 72–87 67–91 Fraport Skyliners 74–64 70–72 80–58 Okapi Aalstar 103–100 119–118 94–59

Group D

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Avtodor Saratov 6 5 1 530 438 +92 11 1–1 (+6) Astana 6 5 1 492 461 +31 11 1–1 (–6) Tofaş 6 2 4 469 504 −35 8 0 CSM Oradea 6 0 6 429 517 −88 6 0

AVT AST ORA TOF Avtodor Saratov 83–75 92–73 80–75 Astana 75–73 80–64 73–65 CSM Oradea 74–101 74–83 69–77 Tofaş 66–101 102–106 84–75

Group E

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie JSF Nanterre 6 5 1 529 478 +51 11 1–1 (+12) Belfius Mons-Hainaut 6 5 1 489 451 +38 11 1–1 (–12) Benfica 6 2 4 486 519 −33 8 0 Kataja 6 0 6 479 535 −56 6 0

BEL NAN KAT SLB Belfius Mons-Hainaut 94–86 71–62 92–63 JSF Nanterre 88–68 102–92 80–68 Kataja Basket 83–85 70–77 90–93 Sport Lisboa e Benfica 69–79 86–96 107–82

Group F

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Trabzonspor Medical Park 6 6 0 514 450 +64 12 0 Güssing Knights 6 4 2 477 456 +21 10 0 U-Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca 6 1 5 442 478 −36 7 0 Atomerőmű SE 6 1 5 454 503 −49 7 0

ATO TS UMO GÜS Atomerőmű SE 78–82 68–81 70–80 Trabzonspor Medical Park 103–81 91–72 80–72 U-Mobitelco Cluj-Napoca 64–73 80–81 68–81 Güssing Knights 93–84 67–77 84–77

Group G

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Le Mans Sarthe 6 5 1 478 414 +64 11 0 Port of Antwerp Giants 6 3 3 542 514 +28 9 1–1 (+9) Bonprix Biella 6 3 3 511 525 −14 9 1–1 (–9) KTP 6 1 5 475 553 −78 7 0

KTP MSB BIE ANT KTP 62–96 108–95 93–112 Le Mans Sarthe 71–52 88–74 72–66 Bonprix Biella 81–77 82–64 97–96 Port of Antwerp Giants 98–83 78–87 92–82

Group H

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Enisey Krasnoyarsk 6 4 2 515 467 +48 10 0 Uşak Sportif 6 3 3 445 458 −13 9 2–0 Šiauliai 6 3 3 493 515 −22 9 0–2 Tsmoki-Minsk 6 2 4 473 486 −13 8 0

ŠIA TSM ENI UŞA Šiauliai 83–80 93–92 75–78 Tsmoki-Minsk 91–94 76–71 85–73 Enisey Krasnoyarsk 95–79 87–82 86–68 Uşak Sportif 79–69 78–59 69–84

Last 16

Group I

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Energia Târgu Jiu 6 4 2 501 498 +3 10 0 Enel Brindisi 6 3 3 485 445 +40 9 1–1 (+1) Astana 6 3 3 512 509 +3 9 1–1 (–1) Okapi Aalstar 6 2 4 475 521 −46 8 0

BRI AST AAL ENE Enel Brindisi 74–65 101–66 76–78 Astana 83–75 77–73 113–89 Okapi Aalstar 86–81 108–85 82–84 Energia Târgu Jiu 67–78 90–89 93–60

Group J

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie JSF Nanterre 6 4 2 487 434 +53 10 1–1 (+5) Le Mans Sarthe 6 4 2 464 429 +35 10 1–1 (–5) Güssing Knights 6 2 4 458 471 −13 8 1–1 (+16) Uşak Sportif 6 2 4 430 505 −75 8 1–1 (–16)

USA NAN GÜS MSB Uşak Sportif 79–71 79–77 79–82 JSF Nanterre 100–67 89–86 85–68 Güssing Knights 91–63 62–82 82–65 Le Mans Sarthe 84–63 72–60 93–60

Group K

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Fraport Skyliners 6 5 1 512 471 +41 11 0 Avtodor Saratov 6 4 2 567 546 +21 10 0 Tartu University Rock 6 2 4 457 501 −44 8 0 SPM Shoeters Den Bosch 6 1 5 496 514 −18 7 0

FRA TAR AVT SPM Fraport Skyliners 92–73 68–71 75–70 Tartu University Rock 62–71 68–91 71–64 Avtodor Saratov 103–112 105–106 89–85 SPM Shoeters Den Bosch 92–94 78–77 107–108

Group L

Team Pld W L PF PA PD Pts Tie Trabzonspor Medical Park 6 5 1 502 456 +46 11 0 Enisey Krasnoyarsk 6 3 3 516 495 +21 9 1–1 (+14) Port of Antwerp Giants 6 3 3 481 509 −28 9 1–1 (–14) Belfius Mons-Hainaut 6 1 5 435 474 −39 7 0

ENI TRA BEL ANT Enisey Krasnoyarsk 96–82 83–88 85–86 Trabzonspor Medical Park 90–85 76–68 89–79 Belfius Mons-Hainaut 71–74 56–75 77–84 Port of Antwerp Giants 78–93 72–90 82–75

Quarterfinals

The Quarter-finals were played in a best-of-three Playoffs format. Teams who were group winners in the Top 16 had home court advantage. Play began on 10 March 2015 and ended on 17 March 2015.^[4]

Seed 1	Agg.	Seed 2	Game 1	Game 2	Game 3
Energia Târgu Jiu	2–1	Le Mans Sarthe	84–60	68–79	79–64
JSF Nanterre	2–0	Enel Brindisi	80–68	77–72	N/A
Fraport Skyliners	2–1	Enisey Krasnoyarsk	77–74	68–78	85–80
Trabzonspor Medical Park	2–0	Avtodor Saratov	94–88	100–73	N/A

Final Four

The 2015 Final Four will be played on 24 April and 26 April 2015^[5] at Hayri Gür Arena, Trabzon, Turkey.^[6]

	Semifinals 24 April 2015				Final 26 April 2015
	Energia Târgu Jiu	63
	Trabzonspor MP	83
					Trabzonspor MP	63
					JSF Nanterre	64
					Third place
	JSF Nanterre	84		Energia Târgu Jiu	83
	Fraport Skyliners	79			Fraport Skyliners	80

Final

26 April 2015 19:00

Boxscore

Trabzonspor Medical Park	63–64	JSF Nanterre
Scoring by quarter: 17–19, 11–18, 19–16, 16–11
Pts: Hardy 16 Rebs: Velickovic 7 Asts: Hardy 6		Pts: Campbell 15 Rebs: Jaiteh 7 Asts: 3 players 3

Hayri Gür Arena, Trabzon Attendance: 7,500 Referees: Neil Wilkinson (ENG), Manuel Mazzoni (ITA), Milan Nedovic (SLO)

Awards

Final Four MVP

• Jamal Shuler^[7] (JSF Nanterre)

Top Statistical Performer

Each round a Weekly MVP is chosen, determined by the Performance Index Rating (PIR) system.

Regular season

Week	Player	Team	PIR
1	Sean Marshall	Trabzonspor	33
2	J'Covan Brown	Astana	36
3	LaMonte Ulmer	KTP	34
4	Christian Maråker	Borås	39
5	Travis Peterson	Avtodor Saratov	35
6	Stefan Wessels	SPM Shoeters	43

Last 16

Week	Player	Team	PIR
1	Kyle Weems	JSF Nanterre	39
2	Jerry Johnson	Astana	37
3	Travis Taylor	Güssing Knights	32
4	Nik Caner-Medley	Astana	28
5	Courtney Fortson	Avtodor Saratov	42
6	DeAndre Kane	Antwerp Giants	37
	Quantez Robertson	Fraport Skyliners

Quarterfinals

Johannes Voigtmann was the Round 3 MVP

Week	Player	Team	PIR
1	Nemanja Milosevic	Energia Târgu Jiu	33
2	Kyrylo Fesenko	Avtodor Saratov	22
	Mykal Riley	JSF Nanterre
	Terrico White	Enisey Krasnoyarsk
3	Johannes Voigtmann	Fraport Skyliners	33

Individual statistics

Points

Pos.	Player	Team	GP	PPG
1	Ryan Pearson	Antwerp Giants	12	19.8
2	Dwight Hardy	Trabzonspor	16	18.1
3	J'Covan Brown	Astana	10	17.5

Rebounds

Pos.	Player	Team	GP	RPG
1	Kyrylo Fesenko	Avtodor	11	10.1
2	Travis Taylor	Güssing Knights	12	10.1
3	Nemanja Milosevic	Energia	17	8.5

Assists

Pos.	Player	Team	GP	APG
1	Courtney Fortson	Avtodor	13	9.8
2	D.J. Cooper	Enisey	15	7.9
3	Jerry Johnson	Astana	10	7.0

Season highs

	Statistic	Player	Team
Points	42	Robert Arnold	Kataja
Rebounds	20	Christian Maråker	Borås
Assists	16	Teemu Rannikko	Kataja
Steals	7	Terrico White	Enisey
Blocks	6	Dounia Issa	Le Mans Sarthe
Three-point field goals	8	Benjamin Raymond	Bonprix Biella
Kees Akerboom, Jr.		SPM Shoeters

See also

• 2014–15 Euroleague
• 2014–15 Eurocup Basketball

References