The USK will try to return a close defeat to Montpellier in the European League
Updates: 12/7/2021 10:45 AM
Released: 7.12.2021, 10:45
Prague – The USK Praha basketball players will welcome the French team Montpellier in Wednesday’s match of the 8th round of the European League and will try to repay a narrow defeat from the opening match in this year’s competition. The Czech champions will defend the second place in group A and want to extend the three-match home invincibility in the Královka hall. María Conde, one of the mainstays, had minor health problems in recent days, but the 24-year-old Spaniard should be ready to join.
“If I compare our strength at the beginning of the season and now, we are clearly on a different level. Even if I miss the fact that we lacked American players at the time, we are definitely more coordinated than before,” coach Natália Hejková told ČTK. “Our mood is much better after the league and Euroleague duels and the players visibly enjoy basketball. We have something to return to Montpellier, so I hope it will be a good motivation,” added the Slovak expert.
The USK lost their first duel in early October 74:75. In addition to the absence of Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones, who were still active in the WNBA at the time, the incumbent Czech champions also paid for the free throw 0.6 seconds before the end, which was decided by the author of 22 points Olivia Époupaová.
Hejková complained that she had never experienced a foul in her career after such a whistle. But now he assumes that the players will go to the next match with a clear head. “It doesn’t occur to me that our motivation will increase in any way. For example, the Americans didn’t experience the duel at all, so they don’t have the motive in them. continue as long as possible, “said Hejková.
The only Czech team in the competition is in good shape and has won the last three Euroleague matches by 25 points or more. In addition to Montpelli, they lost in the first half of the basic part only with the favored Ekaterinburg (73:75), in whose hall they paid for the controversial non-whistling of the car rivalry during the production of the event.
“Normally I would take this balance, but if I take the whole story of why we lost, I’m sorry. We could have had zero in the defeat box. On the other hand, we have other tricky matches, everyone has their strength and we must not underestimate anything, “added the five-time winner of the competition and a member of the FIBA Basketball Hall of Fame Hejková.
Montpellier is in fourth place in the table, and next to Époupa, who has an average of 13.8 points per game, Sydney Wallace is also doing well with more than 16 points per game. “They play very aggressively in defense, sometimes uncleanly. But lately they have also been doing well in shooting.
The Slovak coach should have a complete staff, including the second best scorer of the Conde team. The native of Madrid and the author, on average 17.7 points per match, did not complete the last league duel due to a knee injury, but they would be missing against Montpellier. “It is true that she did not train on Monday, but it was nothing serious. She will be ready for the match,” Hejková assured her.
The match will start on Wednesday at 19:00 and due to a government regulation, you can visit it for a maximum of a thousand fans.