Bayern back in Belgrade’s cauldron of noise

Back on the court: After the international break and several days of training, Bayern Basketball enter the final stretch of the EuroLeague regular season with nine games remaining. On Friday (8 p.m.) in the Serbian capital, the German champions face ambitious playoff hopeful Red Star Belgrade, who are likely to be driven on once again by nearly 20.000 fans. The hosts (17:12) sit seventh, just one win off third place, while Bayern (12:17), given the gap to the postseason, primarily aim to recapture the high performance level they showed over the first six weeks of the year.

Home games on Tuesday and Thursday

Next week brings a home doubleheader at the SAP Garden: Tuesday (8 p.m.) in the Bundesliga against Braunschweig, and Thursday (8:30 p.m.) in the EuroLeague against Efes Istanbul with Nick Weiler-Babb.

“The short break did us good after we recently had several players out sick and injured,” says head coach Svetislav Pesic ahead of his return to Serbia. “We’ve trained well, and I hope we can rediscover our game. In Belgrade it’s always very difficult with the support their fans provide. But I believe our team is now accustomed to that atmosphere.”

Red Star are playing their best campaign in many years and can dream of the first playoff appearance in club history. Last season, the Serbian cup winners reached the Play-Ins and lost the opening game in Munich. Bayern have won four of the past five meetings. Investment was significantly increased again this season, underscored by the signings of former 25-year-old NCAA champion (2021 MOP with Baylor) and NBA guard (149 games) Jared Butler, top scorer Jordan Nwora (17.8 ppg) arriving from Efes, and forward Chima Moneke (13.6) acquired from Baskonia.

Pesic’s return

Codi Miller-McIntyre (12.5 ppg, 6.9 apg) continues to run the show, while veteran Nikola Kalinic (7.2), center Ebuka Izundu (7.8), and Joel Bolomboy (6.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg), back after a long injury layoff, round out a very deep rotation. Most recently, head coach Sasa Obradovic-who returned to his hometown club in October-also announced that US guard Tyson Carter (14.7 ppg), sidelined since Round 4, is back in training.

For Bayern, Pesic has his top scorer Andi Obst (15.5 ppg) and playmaker Justus Hollatz back after illness. It’s a homecoming for the coach as well: the former Serbia national team boss led Red Star twice (2008 – 2009 and 2011 – 2012). His last visit to Crvena Zvezda as a club coach came in October 2019 with Barcelona, when his team won 73:65.