Slovenian Youth NTs

[elaj]

Final 12 players for European Championship U20 are:

Point Guards:
Tadej Koštomaj (Alpos Šentjur) - 1987; 187 cm
Jan Močnik (Nova Gorica) - 1987; 182 cm
Rok Perko (Triglav Kranj) - 1987; 178 cm

Guards:
Jaka Klobučar (Geoplin Slovan) - 1987; 198 cm
Aljoša Krišto (KK Parklji) - 1987; 195 cm
Klemen Lorbek (Union Olimpija) - 1988; 198 cm
Dejan Mlakar (Geoplin Slovan) - 1988; 192 cm

Small Forwards:
Emir Preldžić (Fenerbahce Ulker) - 1987; 204 cm

Power Forwards:
Drago Brčina (Zlatorog) - 1987; 203 cm
Dejan Čigoja (Geoplin Slovan) - 1988; 203 cm

Centers:
Matej Krušič (Alpos Šentjur) - 1987; 211 cm
Gašper Vidmar (Geoplin Slovan) - 1987; 209 cm

Headcoach: Miro Alilović (Geoplin Slovan)
Assistent coaches: Bojan Lazič (Union Olimpija) and Luka Bassin (Hrastnik)

Very strange selection. I don't want to know what happens if Emir gets injured. The last player who was called off was Olimpija's Jaka Ptičak (198, SF/PF, 1988). I expected Krišto or Lorbek to fall off the list, but I guess coach Alilović is convinced Preldžić can play alone all the games on SF. On the other hand, Klobučar can also help at SF, but his natural position is SG, while Klemen Lorbek is PG/SG trapped into SF body. Very strange because of the injury Emir had a month ago.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

first win

Slovenia - Serbia 80-78
Klobučar 22, Vidmar 17 +15reb, Preldžič 15 +9reb, Močnik 12 +6assists; Teodošić 21 +6reb +6assists, Labović 19 +7reb, Dragović 18

I thought I'd be able to watch at least a replay... but obviously TV slovenija prefers soap operas...
The result is a bit surprising since serbian team, like it or not, posses much longer bench and some great talent even after the split with Montenegro. That's the game I was afraid of, i do admit it sounds a bit naive, but the rest of the games sould be easier if the team will give the same effort, which by the words of Vidmar was a big one. Since the points aer transfered to the next round this win might also be decisive for getting in the semi's in case Slovenia looses some games vs. Russia, Turkey or Lithuania in the next stage.

game vs. France tommorow. They're weakened due to their best 88' players playing at U19 WC, but with their talent pool I am sure they managed to put up a respectable team. strangely I haven't heard of any player on their roster, which didn't use to happen in the past.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

Slovenia - Lithuania 96-84
Vidmar 22 +7reb in 19 minutes, Mlakar 22, Močnik 18 +10 assists, Krušič 14 +9reb, Klobučar 13; Ivanauskas 21 +5assists, Butkevicius 15 +8reb, Dylis 15, Petrukonis 10

One thing I didn't like was the defense... obviously. Luckily enough there was enough firepower to outscore Lithuanian team, thanks to Močnik- great speed, great court vision and again great speed and desire of the tiny fellow. I am really surprised about him, heard many things about him in the past, it's true that was his best performance on this championship, but I still believe he is an amazing player. It was hard to keep up with him even for some teamates...
Nice to see Krušič keeping up. People were criticising his post-up skills in the pas, but considering he is only playing bball for few years that'll improve (as it obviously is right now) he won't be a star, but with his build (unlike Rizvič or Pavič) he could become a servicable center- and these days that alone is enough to earn big bucks.
Predlžič is out of shape... too bad, since I do think with him playing the way he can this team would be out of the league.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

5th place overall.

Before the tournament I was thinking that semi's should be our goal and with the unpredictability whatever happens there it should be considered as a good result. I though that there wouldn't be any crucial moment before that, but it turned out the last game in the group was important as well.
Having just one loss in the tournament should be considered a good achievement, if I wouldn't actually watch that game.
anyway I don't think anyone is to blame, coach (eventhough I dissagre with some of the things Alilovič did at that game), or confused ref's, or the players that tried but burned out in their desire.

positive surprises:
Krušič
It's obvious he has a lot to learn, but the fact he is only playing basketball for sth. like 3 years now makes people believe he could improve. Unlike Rizvič and Pavič that played a simmilar role in youth teams as Krušič did, he imo can put up much more weight than those two. Rumours are Helios is about to sign him.

Močnik
After that phenomenal show vs. Turkey he raised public expectations a lot, but eventhough he was terrible vs. Russia I think he can be labeled as a surprise, especially considering he was playing in II. division this year. for a strong club, but anyways.

Mlakar
He hit some important shots when it matered. He showed some signs of life with Slovan this year (especially if watching 1.A league)

something in between:
Vidmar
He should've torn apart most of U20 teams, however all the teams focused on covering him. Got a lot of cheap fouls, but considering a lot of those were arguable shot blocks I do believe he got surpressed by the refs occasionaly.

dissapointments:
Koštomaj
nowhere near the PG that played in Laško in 05/06

Lorbek
...

Preldžič&Klobučar's streaky shot


it'll be tougher next year, since only Mlakar, Lorbek and Čigoja were 88' born in this team. Muha, Tomič and Markič should be added from 88' generation, along with some 89ers as Bilič, Dragič and Vujasinovič. I can't remember any servicable big man born in 88' or 89', so I guess those guys won't exactly compete for the medals, but I think they can also be right up there with the best teams.

anyone knows what's going on with our U18?

[boki]

What is with our 90' generation? I remember Janez Drvaric saying in one of the broadcasts, that it's very talented generation unlike 88' and 89'. Is it really?

[Joško Poljak Fan]

The only player I've seen from 90' generation is Dino Murič. Seen him 2 years ago, but he played PF with less than 200 cm height.

I think I can say Slovenia will always have guards good enough for the top spots at junior competitions. It's just that they can only reach those top spots whenever a servicable big man appears. And since there aren't good tall guys available every generation some generations (as 88 and 89) probably won't overachieve... maybee that was Drvarič's point... since I think there are some nice guards and forwards there.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

Didn't want to start a new thread about our U16 team, with U16 EC underway- elaj you decide if that deserves a new thread or changing the title of this one...

The championship starts on Friday.

friendlies: 3 losses

Slovenija : Češka 59:75
Strelci za Slovenijo: Štern 5, Gorjanc, Sarajlija 12, Besedič 2, Radosavljevič 2, Nikolič Smrdelj 18, Golež 2, Murič 4, Buda 5, Gavrić 7.

Slovenija : Srbija 68:86
Strelci za Slovenijo: Ferme 5, Gorjanc, Sarajlija 4, Besedič 2, Radosavljevič 2, Nikolič Smrdelj 14, Sirnik 14, Golež 2, Glavaš 5, Murič 3, Buda 9, Gavrić 8.

Slovenija : Turčija 73:81
Strelci za Slovenijo: Ferme 12, Gorjanc, Perovšek 2, Sarajlija 5, Besedič, Radosavljevič 7, Nikolič Smrdelj 16, Sirnik 13, Golež, Glavaš 2, Murič 3, Buda 12.

[boki]

It's interesting how we allways look uncompetitive in those younger compretitions (U-16,U-17,U-18), but then at U-20 we are usualy quite succesfull. Our players obvioulsly make the biggest progress at the age 18 and 19.

[DZK]

It's interesting how we allways look uncompetitive in those younger compretitions (U-16,U-17,U-18), but then at U-20 we are usualy quite succesfull. Our players obvioulsly make the biggest progress at the age 18 and 19.

I think main reason is rules that are used in domestic competitions for this age group...I talked to a friend who is part-time coach in one of our clubs and he said rules are total mess.

[Joško Poljak Fan]

U18:

Croatia - Slovenia 62-72
Murič 37 +13 reb, Dragič 13 +11reb, Vranjkovič 10 +9reb; Šarlija 18+12 reb, Kruslin 12

nice surprise. After staying at A division was set as a goal I must admit I lost all hopes for any win, since I lost the overview of younger cathegories a while ago. Now it seems, unless we get a triple tie in the group Slovenia achieved their goal at the first game on the tournament already... that's nice

What's up with Muha? judging from the stats he had for Postojna I thought he'd managed a bit moer than 4 fouls in less than 10 minutes, nevermind Postojna was a horrible team.

[protossdomain]

Here in the Philippines, we adore Slovenian's way of basketball. Please take a chance on chatting and sharing your basketball genius with us. (Philippine Basketball)

[elaj]

Slovenia U20 NT and Slovenia U16 NT candidats are known:

U20 NT candidats:

Luka Lapornik (Alpos Šentjur)
Dejan Mlakar (Geoplin Slovan)
Siniša Bilič (Geoplin Slovan)
Zoran Dragič (Geoplin Slovan)
Jakob Virk (Geoplin Slovan)
Klemen Lorbek (Hopsi Polzela)
Vujasinovič Danijel (Hopsi Polzela)
Boban Tomič (Hrastnik)
Matija Trampuš (Ilirija)
Dejan Milašinovič (Janče)
Grega Jakhel Kolarevič (Kraški zidar Sežana)
Miha Markič (Luka Koper)
Ilija Gavrič (Mario Primorac)
Klemen Muha (Postojna)
Dejan Čigoja (Rogla)
Dejan Radojević (Union Olimpija)
Edin Alispahić (Zlatorog)

Coach: Miro Alilovič (Geoplin Slovan)

Radojević (C) (Serbian) and Alispahić (C/PF) (BiH) are both naturalized players and both had problems this season with injuries, especially Alispahić who broke his knee ligament and meniscus during the season and probably won't be able to play. Radojević also had some problems with his knee, but should be able to play. Talent wise, nothing special, far from the previous generations, we are thin especially under the basket. I hope we will stay in A division of EC U20. You simply can't expect all the time great results from a country with 2M citizens. For example, this year in Riga we are in group with superpowers like Russia, Serbia and France who always have great youth selections. In my opinion we can't surprise anyone.

U16 NT candidats:

Alen Kahvedžič (Pakman Celje)
Matija Vravnik (Dravograd)
Marko Pajič (Geoplin Slovan)
Jure Besedič (Lastovka)
Luka Rupnik (Idrija)
Matic Krivic (Krka)
Urban Gorjanc (Mario Primorac)
Aljaz Korošec (Lastovka)
Matej Lužnar (Parklji)
Uros Pavlovič (Radenska Creativ)
Matej Rojc (Kos Koper)
Andrej Volk (Kos Koper)
Alen Hodžič (Kos Koper)
Jaka Brodnik (Kos Koper)
Blaz Kastelic (Triglav Kranj)
Klemen Prepelič (Zlatorog)

Coach: Dejan Mihevc (Alpos Šentjur)

Hard to say what to expect. Some of those guys are really talented, but hard to say what to expect at this level, you never know. In my opinion few of them if they'll stay on right track have the chances for great development. Due to previous bad results our NT U16 NT will play in EC U16 division B. Our opponets in Group stage will be Romania, Bulgaria, England, Cyprus and Switzerland.

Lastovka is Helios' youth team, at first clubs were seperated, but Lastovka was "bought" as Helios' farm team due to good job with talents in Domžale region.

[Inspector]

Someone mentioned Dino Murič in one of previous discussions... Where is him?

[zwbgr]

U18 selection maybe?

[elaj]

Yeah, Dino Murič was in the list for testings for U18 NT... list of candidats or U18 NT will be announced soon (coach is Rade Mijanovič). In my opinion Slovenia has quite strong U18 NT this summer with players like Murič, Sirnik, Sarajlija, Vranjkovič, Zadnik, Dimec, Nikolič-Smrdelj...