A week after receiving ASVEL, SLUC Nancy Basket is back this time to welcome Bourg en Bresse. A team now accustomed to the Top4 and European Cups: A big client!
The Nancéiens finally failed to bring down ASVEL last Sunday after an excellent match. A flat-footed start (26-19 after 10 minutes) with a gala Chris Clemmons but tarnished by 10 ball losses which allowed Lyon-Villeurbanne to get back on track and then take the lead at half-time. The 4e quarter was fatal to Sylvain Lautié's men. Under the blows of Joffrey Lauvergne, Melvin Ajinça and veteran Nando De Colo, ASVEL took off (+14) before seeing Nancy come back to die at 6 points at the final whistle.
An infuriating defeat but one that could be described as reassuring, as the people of Nancy appeared combative and resilient.
We will have to renew this riot of energy this Sunday against a Bourg en Bresse team that is particularly effective away under the leadership of Freddy Fauthoux, the coach of the national selection. A team that is not really successful for us (5 defeats in the last two seasons including the severe 59-85 last season at Gentilly).
The Bourg en Bresse GAME is a club model. ProB champion in 2016-17 (the year when SLUC left the Elite), the Ain club managed without problem to maintain itself and then move up a level in 2020-21 despite the Covid-19 period. Very well structured, the club is regularly in the Top5 of the championship (except in 2021-22) twice reaching the ½ final of the Playoffs, against the future champion AS Monaco. Better yet, last season Bourg en Bresse ignited Europe, beaten only by Paris Basket in the Eurocup final.
This shows that the Burgundy club is now among the best in France.
This year again, despite the departures of Isaiah Mike, JeQuan Lewis, Brice Brown, Bodian Massa, Axel Julien and Zaccharie Risacher (apologies!), Fred Fauthoux managed to rebuild a very efficient squad while retaining Hugo Benitez (7, 5 points and 5.4 assists), Maxime Courby, Maksim Salash and Kevin Kokila. At the front he attracted the American-Greek Xavier Castaneda who has been performing well since the start of the season (17.1 points at 42% at 3 points and 3.4 assists), at the back the adventurer Brandon Paul arrived from Montenegro in an experienced backup role. Likewise, American power forwards Adrian Nelson (25 years old ex Bamberg) and Jordan Usher (26 years old ex Australia) are physical, energetic and explosive players on both ends of the field. In addition, the formidable leader-scorer Brandon Jefferson (33 years old, ex Orléans, SIG and Pau) signed during the week to fill the departure of Medhi Ngouama.
Finally Joël Ayayi (ex Nanterre) effectively completes the back lines, this young 24-year-old player has completely adapted to Bourg's philosophy of collective play, very active, he provides 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3, 7 passes. For his part, international pivot Jean-Marc Pensa arrives from Boulazac in ProB and strengthens the Burgian racket, bringing off the bench 7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17 minutes of play.
A squad without stars but with formidable consistency and a proven collective. Current 4e in the standings, the GAME is surprisingly much better away (6 wins in 6 matches!) than at home. Last weekend, Bourg also destroyed the leader Cholet at Meillerai (102-67) under the blows of Jordan Usher (22 points, 6 assists and 32 evaluation) and Xavier Castaneda (19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 passes)! This week in the Eurocup, the Burgiens lost at home, 99-102 against Venice, despite 24 points from Jordan Usher who is currently in great form and 21 points from Maksim Salash.
The Cougars will therefore face a vengeful team who will obviously want to maintain their invincibility away from home in Betclic Elite. The challenge for the visitors will also be to stay within the wheel of the leading trio on the lookout for a failure from their direct opponents.
SLUC Nancy for its part will want to relaunch itself after defeats against Nanterre and ASVEL to move back towards the Top8 with a view to the Leader's Cup. The fight is hot and each victory is important, there are only three matches left to reach this 1is objective. A victory against Bourg would be a performance of choice before the trip to Portel and the reception of Cholet at the beginning of January.
A promising match which will be broadcast unencrypted on DAZN this Sunday at 7 p.m.
GO SLUC !
MC
