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Dusko Vujosevic resigned his post as a head coach of Montenegro NT.
Dusko Vujosevic resigned his post as a head coach of Montenegro NT.
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Božidar Maljković, Luka Pavićević and Dejan Radonjić are among the candidates.Originally posted by vaslover View PostComment
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I suppose Bozidar Maljkovic will be great option for them.Originally posted by rikhardur View PostComment
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Montenegro Tab Radonjic As Coach
Dusko Vujosevic guided Montenegro into the EuroBasket and now his trusted assistant Dejan Radonjic who will lead them in Lithuania.
The Basketball Federation of Montenegro has confirmed that Radonjic, who guided Montenegro to a sixth-place finish at the U20 European Championship last year, is now the senior team coach.
"It is my honor and pleasure to have been appointed as coach of the senior team," he said.
"I thank the leaders of the alliance for giving me their trust because it's an honor to lead the national team at the first big competition.
"About our ambitions at the European Championship in Lithuania, we can speak only after the draw on January 30, but what is certain is that we will go to the competition with a desire to show our best."
Montenegro are certain to be tough opponents for any national side.
The country once had players in the Yugoslavian teams and then, following the break-up of the country, in the Serbia and Montenegro side.
At the FIBA Congress during the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan, the Basketball Federation of Montenegro gained official recognition by basketball's world governing body and has had its own teams ever since.
Under Vujosevic with great talents like Nikola Pekovic and naturalized point guard Omar Cook, Montenegro went unbeaten over two summers to win promotion to Division A and then last summer, the country finished top in Group A above Israel, Italy, Latvia and Finland.Comment
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Proud Pekovic In For Another Rookie Tour
It will, says Nikola Pekovic, bring a sense of immense pride when the Montenegrin anthem rings out around the Alytus Arena in Lithuania on August 31.
It will mark the start of their first ever EuroBasket appearance.
But also the end of a journey which has seen one of Europe's newest countries take the fastest route possible from formation to a debut at the finals of a major championship.
It is only two years since Montenegro played a first competitive game. "We started in Division B then went into A," the 2.11m centre recalls.
"Then we had to qualify. It's been fun and this will be a great experience. Everyone has sacrificed to get there."
13 consecutive victories showed the country's serious intent. Their strength was not a complete surprise, given past contributions to the great Yugoslavia teams or those in union with Serbia.
However flying solo was uncertain, even with the experience of Duško Vujošević as the coach. They achieved more, quicker, than they had expected, admits Pekovic.
"We are a small country but we finished top of our qualifying group. People now are saying: ‘we should go for the medal'. My opinion is we need to move into the second round. And then, anything is possible."
Fate has brought Montenegro together with old friends in Lithuania. Group A also features F.Y.R of Macedonia - their opening opponent - as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Greece.
A qualifier will join in the Balkan battle.
"It's basically a reunion," laughs Pekovic, who will return home this month after his rookie NBA season with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
"We've played against them all many times, as well as against Greece. They are all good teams. But in a EuroBasket, there will be a lot of pressure. We just need to come prepared, physically and mentally."
There will be a few changes from 12 months ago. Predrag Drobnjak has retired after a distinguished career which took him to the NBA and then back to Europe. Dejan Radonjic has taken over from Vujošević on the bench.
"But it will be mostly the same side which has been together for three years," Pekovic states. "We have a new coach but he knows the systems."
Montenegro's young NBA performer will have more responsibility on his broad shoulders.
He has crammed a lot into his 24 years, winning the Euroleague two years ago with Panathinaikos as well as two Greek League championships before making the switch to Minneapolis last summer.
His first year across the Atlantic, he confirms, has been far from simple. Starting just 10 games. Averaging 5.5 points and 3 rebounds. Figuring out the calls of the referees, often with a bemused look. All while playing for the NBA's worst team.
"It was difficult to adjust, especially with everything you need to do to play in the NBA," he states.
"It's really good basketball but this first year, getting the opportunity, I hope I showed I can play. What was important was that every game I went out and tried to play as hard as I did in Europe."
There were some benefits. Being tutored by Timberwolves head coach Kurt Rambis and his assistant Bill Laimbeer - both elite players in their prime - has taught Pekovic new tricks. He has grown more confident in the post and become a more versatile defender.
"They've helped me every day," he reveals. "We talked at practice, especially for the first few months. Bill worked a lot on my individual game. Kurt gave me support. It was nice to work with both of them."
After a break to shake the grind of the NBA from his legs, he will report for national team camp and hope for better fortunes. The anthem will play, the games will begin, and the Montenegrins will bid to climb even higher still.
As a young player, Pekovic watched his compatriots on TV on the biggest stages. The Olympics, he remembers, was an enthralling spectacle. Could he be in London, in the summer of 2012, with his nation's flag overhead?
"We will try to get there," he smiles. "We'll concentrate on doing well at EuroBasket first. But everyone wants to play at an Olympics. I don't want to promise anything but let's see."Comment
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Any insight on this team?
Sems to have very solid front line with Dasic, Pekovic, and newly drafted Vucevic.Comment
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BTW, yesterday they announced 16-men preliminar roster:
1. Omar Kuk Armani Džins (Italija)
2. Goran Jeretin Lokomotiv Kuban (Rusija)
3. Vladimir Mihailović Budućnost
4. Boris Bakić Crvena zvezda (Srbija)
5. Bojan Bakić Riga (Letonija)
6. Vlado Šćepanović Panelionios (Grčka)
7. Suad Šehović Bosna
8. Sead Šehović Budućnost
9. Vladimir Dašić Lotomatika (Italija)
10. Miloš Borisov Hemofarm (Srbija)
11. Milko Bjelica Litvos Ritas (Litvanija)
12. Vladimir Dragičević Kaha Laboral (Španija)
13. Nikola Vučević Filadelfija (SAD)
14. Nikola Peković Minesota (SAD)
15. Slavko Vraneš Uniks (Rusija)
16. Vladimir Golubović Banvit (Turska)
Atleast starting 5 looks really good
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What do you guys think the final roster will be?
Cook - Sehovic
Jeretin - Mihailovic
Dasic - Borisov
Dragicevic - Drobnak - Bjelica
Pekovic - Vucevic - Vranes
I like the front court but back court depth is very lacking.Comment
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Drobnjak retired from bball, he isn't on the list tooOriginally posted by Xristos View PostWhat do you guys think the final roster will be?
Cook - Sehovic
Jeretin - Mihailovic
Dasic - Borisov
Dragicevic - Drobnak - Bjelica
Pekovic - Vucevic - Vranes
I like the front court but back court depth is very lacking.
I suppose backbone of the team is clear for everyone, while I have too little info about other players to choose the end of the bench
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jeretin at pg, sehovic at sg...tough sehovic is more sf, then sgOriginally posted by Xristos View PostWhat do you guys think the final roster will be?
Cook - Sehovic
Jeretin - Mihailovic
Dasic - Borisov
Dragicevic - Drobnak - Bjelica
Pekovic - Vucevic - Vranes
I like the front court but back court depth is very lacking.Jordi Bertomeu sucks!Comment
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Originally posted by pohani komarac View Post
Which Sehovic is better? Will they both make team?
Can you post what you think full roster will be?Comment
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sead is more talented and maybe he is already better then brotherOriginally posted by Xristos View Post
don't know wich are plans around drobnjak and scepanovic, but i think they will lead bouth players give them oportunity to play for their countrie first time in history
i guess it could be something like this
cook-jeretin
seheovic-scepanovic
dasic-borisov
dragicevic-bijelica-drobnjak
pekovic-vucevic-vranes
only thing what this team is mising is scoring guard. they will surprise many people how good they are
take for sample borisov. this player is not very known, but is great multi skilled player. he plays bouth forward positions and can play some streches as sg.
they were best in their group leaving israel and italy behind them and there will be that special motivation as they are playing for first time as independent countrieJordi Bertomeu sucks!Comment
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Frontcourt is one of the best in Europe. I'm excited about Vucevic. Great player IMO.
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