Mitteldeutscher BC

Vassil Evtimov Nails 75-Foot Shot At Buzzer

So far the season for Mitteldeutscher BC has been rather disappointing. With the departure of russian center Anatoly Kashirov and the injuries of Velimir Radinovic and Johnny Gilbert Björn Harmen’s team suddenly found themselves without a real big man on the team. Just before the season started the management gave veteran Vassil Evtimov a three month contract. It took a couple of games but the addition of the 33-year old bulgarian native with a french passport certainly paid off so far as he helped the team to regain stability and to slowly crawl out of the BBL cellar. He finished the last two games with double-doubles and is on the up and up now.

While his younger brother Ilian made himself a name for being a great shooter from outside, Vassil, who had been a teammate of Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison and Ademola Okulaja while playing for the Tar Heels (UNC) in the last century, has been known for his old school play under the baskets. But now and then Vasco can make a three point shot as well.

Currently he is 100% this season from three-point range. Check out how his incredible 75-Foot Shot at the Buzzer against Bayreuth:

The Rapid Miles 10 Questions Basketball Exchange With Wayne Bernard(MBC)

Wayne Bernard is a 28 year old 180 cm guard from San Diego that is playing his second season with MBC. He played at Davidson in North Carolina from 1999-2003. His best season was his senior year where he played 27 games averaging 15.1ppg, 3.3rpg, 5.4apg. In 2003, he became a professional coming to Europe to play for Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan (Israel-Premier L.) playing 10 games and averaging 14.0ppg, 2.1rpg, 5.5apg, 2.4spg, but got waived and finished the season in Greece for Ilysiakos Athens playing 8 games and averaging 7.5ppg, 2.0rpg, 1.4apg, 1.1spg. In 2004-2005, he played for Norrkoping Dolphins in Sweden playing 30 games and averaging 14.3ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.2apg, Steals-3(2.2spg), FGP: 40.7%, 3-Pts: 30.5%. In 2005-2006, he played for Etoile Charleville-Mezières (France-ProB) playing 34 games averaging 14.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 2.9apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 42.2%, FT: 75.7%, and during the season moved to ESPE Chalons-en-Champagne Basket Pro (France-ProB). In 2006-2007, he played for ESPE Chalons-en-Champagne Basket Pro (France-ProB), French League playing 18 games and averaging 10.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 1.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 37.7%, 3PT: 37.0%, FT: 70.6%; , but left in January 2007 and then joined Kouvot Kouvola (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 11 games and averaging 14.1ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.6apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 45.9%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 84.4%. In 2007-2008, he stayed with Kouvot Kouvola playing 47 games and averaging 16.3ppg, 3.1rpg, 2.5apg, 2.2spg, FGP-3(62.0%), 3PT: 36.2%, FT: 78.8%. In 2008-2009, he came to Germany to MBC playing 30 games and averaging 14.4ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.6apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 43.2%, FT: 80.4%. He earned 2009 PRO A player of the year honours. Last season, he played 34 games averaging 8.6ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.7apg, Steals-5(1.5spg), FGP: 41.6%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 80.8% Wayne took the rapid Miles 10 questions basketball exchange for German Hoops talking basketball.

How was your summer? How does a normal Wayne Bernard work out day look like in the summer?

My summer was ok. When I got back to the States I took some time for myself to let my body relax for a bit. Then I began my workouts after a few weeks. Every summer I travel somewhere but this summer was pretty low-key.

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Velimir Radinovic Looking To Leave A Mark In The BEKO BBL

Velimir Radinovic is a 29 year old 212cm center that was born in Canada, but also has the Serbian citizenship as he has Serbian parents. He played at Ohio State from 2000-2004. He turned professional in 2004 and played for Reflex Beograd (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 10 games: 4.4ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 51.7%; Adriatic League: 30 games: 6.0ppg, 2.7rpg, FGP: 56.0%; 1A League: 14 games: 5.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 0.3apg. In 2005-2006, he played for FMP Zeleznik Beograd (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 4 games: 1.0ppg; Adriatic League: 10 games: 2.1ppg, 1.4rpg, in Dec.’05 signed at KK Hemofarm Vrsac (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 6 games: 7.3ppg, 1.8rpg, 2FGP: 88.9%; Adriatic League: 14 games: 3.1ppg, 1.8rpg; SCG Superleague: 5 games: 5.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 0.8apg. In 2006-2007, he played for KK Hemofarm Vrsac (SCG-A): Adriatic League: 26 games: 4.9ppg, 2.6rpg; ULEB Cup: 12 games: 9.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 2FGP: 64.1%, 3FGP: 0%, FT: 66.7%. In 2007-2008, he played in France for Stade Clermontois Basket Auvergne (France-ProA, starting five): 28 games: 5.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 2FGP: 57.3%, FT: 79.6%. Last season, he played in Greece for Iraklis Thessaloniki (Greece-A2): 29 games: 7.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 87.0%.

He joined MBC in March 2010 and had a chat with German Hoops.

You are now playing in Germany for MBC. You have played three games. How do you like the BEKO BBL:

I like the style of play, it’s very tough and physical. The competition has been really good, in my first game we defeated ALBA Berlin at home which was amazing, the atmosphere was great.

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Ade Dagunduro(MBC) Ready To Unleash Another Weapon In The Second Half Of The Season

Ade Dagunduro is a 23 year old 196cm guard from Inglewood, California that is playing his first season in the BEKO BBL fort he MBC Wolves. He grew up a few steps from the legendary Forum which was home to NBA legends like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jaabar and James Worthy. He started his career at Antelope Valley junior college before transfering to Nebraska. In the 2007-2008 season, he played 33 games averaging 8.9ppg, 3.6rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 49.1%, 3Pts: 36.4%, FT: 60.6%. In his senior year, he played 31 games averaging 12.8ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.4apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 52.0%, 3Pts: 34.4%, FT: 69.7%. He took some time to talk to German Hoops about his rookie season with MBC recently

What kind of experience was it for you to take place at the 2010 BEKO BBL Allstar game slam dunk contest? What was your feeling going into the event? Did you think that you could win?

It was great experience to participate in the Beko dunk contest that was my first dunk contest ever and I had a lot of fun. I just didn’t want to embarass myself particpating. I felt that if I made it to the final round then I would be able to win it.

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Will Chavis Wins ProB Player Of The Month And Is Content In Nürnberg

Will Chavis is a 28 year old 181 cm guard who comes from Philidelphia and started his basketball learning at New Hampshire in 1998-1999 averaging 9.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.9apg before going to Texas to play at Panola Junior College averaging 25 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals per game . This gained the interest of legendary coach Bobby Knight at Texas Tech. Knight had only the best to say about the guy he coached two years at Texas Tech.

‘Will takes pride in taking good shots, and is a great shooter. He also takes very good care of the ball. He is aggressive and quick on defense, and can anticipate or put under pressure the opposite point guard’, stressed Bobby Knight.

At Texas Tech, Chavis played together with Artland Dragon Ronald Ross and in his senior year, played 33 games averaging 7.9ppg, 2.7rpg, 2.2apg. He started his professional basketball career in 2003 going to Iceland to play for UMFN Njardvikur playing 6 games and averaging 18.3ppg; 3.1rpg; 7.8apg ( 41 assists to 11 turnovers); 2.0spg; 3pts 45.6%; FT 85.6%. The next season, he was tested by Olimpia GE Larisa (Greece-A1), but was not signed and finished the season practicing with Climamio Fortitudo Bologna (Italy-SerieA).

In 2005-2006, he started to make a name playing for Mlekarna Kunin Novi Jicin (Czech Republic-NBL, starting five) playing 5 EuroCup Challenge games averaging 15.2ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.4apg, 2FGP: 50%, 3FGP: 50% and playing 44 games in the Czech Rep. League averaging 14.6ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-4 (5.2apg), 2FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 85.0%.

In 2007-2008, he split time with Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus, but left after 7 games, where he averaged 10.6ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 36.6%, 3FGP: 27.8%, FT: 87.5%, and then moved to MBC in Jan 2008 playing 12 games and averaging 13.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 39.3%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT-1 ( 91.7%).

Last season, he led MBC into the BBL averaging 10.9ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 37.0%, 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 86.5% in 29 games.

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The MBC Wolves Are Making An Impact In The BEKO BBL

The 2009-2010 BEKO BBL season is less than a month old, but already the league has seen some spectacular games from players like MBC David Teague showing that he could become the next Tommy Adams with consistency, Jared Mr pass Jordan dazzling in the Ulm win with 14 assists, or Bremerhaven American guard Louis Campbell continuing to amaze fans with his all around play and is on course of being the first player to achieve a triple double in the new season, but the biggest surprise has been new team MBC Wolves that have returned to the BEKO BBL after having vanished from the German basketball world in 2004 after winning the FIBA Eurocup and then all of a sudden as if some cruel basketball god had stabbed them with absolute no mercy in the back as they became bankrupt and had to depart from the German league. It took the club five long hard years of landing in the low Regionaliga, reaching the second Bundesliga and then showing exceptional poise and strength by dominating the PRO A the last two years and finally reaching the promised land again in the top German league in 2009.

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Strange Ranking and Early Hot-Shots

Trouble with the rankings bekobbl

It had been a press release no one really cared about during the off-season. On the 7^th of June the DBB (German Basketball Federation) announced that for the 2009/2010 campaign all german leagues will have to follow the FIBA scoring system. Just like before a winning team is now rewarded with 2 points. But with the new system also the losing team earns 1 point for attending the game. Last season and all those years before the loser got no point, but had to deal with 0:2 points.

If you follow the BBL you might remember the odd story about Gießen not making it to the game in Ludwigsburg. The 46ers’ teambus was stuck in traffic and the team could not make it in time. Ludwigsburg got the win and Gießen was punished by the league with the loss of all direct comparisons. If a situation like this would come up now, the team not attending the game would have to deal with 0 points.

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Will Chavis Earning Hard Bucks In Pro B

Will Chavis is a 28 year old 181 cm guard who comes from Philidelphia and started his basketball learning at New Hampshire in 1998-1999 die_junge_Liga averaging 9.6ppg, 2.9rpg, 3.9apg before going to Texas to play at Panola Junior College averaging 25 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals per game . This gained the interest of legendary coach Bobby Knight at Texas Tech. Knight had only the best to say about the guy he coached two years at Texas Tech.

‘Will takes pride in taking good shots, and is a great shooter. He also takes very good care of the ball. He is aggressive and quick on defense, and can anticipate or put under pressure the opposite point guard’, stressed Bobby Knight.

The next season, he was tested by Olimpia GE Larisa (Greece-A1), but was not signed and finished the season practicing with Climamio Fortitudo Bologna (Italy-SErieA). In 2005-2006, he started to make a name playing for Mlekarna Kunin Novi Jicin (Czech Republic-NBL, starting five) playing 5 EuroCup Challenge games averaging 15.2ppg, 2.4rpg, 4.4apg, 2FGP: 50%, 3FGP: 50% and playing 44 games in the Czech Rep. League averaging 14.6ppg, 3.4rpg, Assists-4 (5.2apg), 2FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 40.9%, FT: 85.0%.

The next season, he went to top Dutch team Demon Astronauts Amsterdam continuing to show who well he could perform in FIBA EuroCup playing 6 games and avergaing 11.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 2.3apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 55.2%, 3FGP: 15%, FT: 78.3% and playing 39 games in the Dutch League and averaging 14.0ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 40.3%, FT: 87.8%, 3Pts: 40.9%. In 2007-2008, he split time with Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus, but left after 7 games, where he averaged 10.6ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.9apg, 1.1spg, 2FGP: 36.6%, 3FGP: 27.8%, FT: 87.5%, and then moved to MBC in Jan 2008 playing 12 games and averaging 13.9ppg, 2.8rpg, 2.9apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 39.3%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT-1 ( 91.7%).

Last season, he led MBC into the BBL averaging 10.9ppg, 2.3rpg, 2.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 37.0%, 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 86.5% in 29 games.

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Teamcheck: Mitteldeutscher BC

For even the most dedicated Mitteldeutscher BC (MBC) fans five years of inactivity from the highest German Basketball league may have felt like five years MBC without your favourite beer, or for a child being able to go into a candy store, but not grab for their favourite candy. How tough must it have been for the organization and fans in 2004 to win the prestigious Fiba Europe Cup against JDA Dijon 84-68 not losing a single game in international play and a short time later have to learn that they would have to stop their successful run in the BBL due to bankruptcy. This was a huge blow to the region and may only have been topped if a severe unusual drought had whipped away the two natural springs, the Leisslinger mineral water and Saskia Quelle where mineral water is bottled in the region.

However the organization never gave up, took up playing in the Regionaliga and eventually moving up to the Second Bundesliga/PRO A and continuing to build up the team financially and through success on the court. Coach Ari Tammivaara was sort of the early architect managing a record of 72-20 until 2007. In 2007-2008 under the watchful eye of ex BG Karlsruhe coach Uwe Sauer, the team reached position five with a 20-10 record and everyone that followed the PRO A last season knows with what kind of a fury the club raced through the season totally dominating the league. The long and laborious five years are finally over as MBC is back at the big show in the BBL.
In the 2008-2009 PRO A season, MBC plowed through the league with a 26-4 record with the same easy as a bull dozer had to get through the sloppy and treacherous roads and drive ways during the New England blizzard of 1978. Even though the team was so commanding at home with a 14-1 record, it simply couldn´t get by Bayreuth that won the season series. The team had better luck against Phoenix Hagen sweeping the season series who they will meet again with changed rosters in the BBL. The team scored 90 points or more nine times and 100 points or more twice. There strongest phase was in the middle of the season going on an 14 game winning streak.

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