the essential
After their success in Tours in overtime, the Toros visit Lorient, another big name that they beat in the first leg. Again?
> Different objectives
The Stade (11th, 7 victories) only aims to maintain. Lorient, like Tours, its opponent from last week, is a more ambitious, more fortunate club, which wishes to return to Pro B. Participation in Group A (reserved for the first 7 of the group in the first phase) in the second phase would ensure, for the STB, the maintenance and would allow, for Lorient, to keep the chances of accession intact. The pressure this evening will be more on the shoulders of Lorient (6th, 9 victories) which must both take revenge for the first leg and quickly forget its two recent defeats in Tours (90-75) and Fougères (88-84).
> The more balanced STB
Even if with only eight professional players to play a championship of 40 matches (excluding play-offs) in eight months, international and confectionery breaks included, the Toulouse squad is quantitatively light, since the arrival of Junior Ouattara it has balance. But to win, none of the Toros must completely pass through. The last two trips bear witness to this. In Poissy, where it would not have been stupid, as Ouattara had not yet arrived, to make the trip with Tyreece Brice before cutting him, Camille Jean was in a day without (33 minutes of playing time at minus 1 evaluation) and the STB bowed. In Tours, where the eight players contributed, in the wake of Will Butler (23 points, 8 rebounds) it was therefore the victory in overtime (81-88).
> Stop reminders
As in the first leg, the task of Will Butler, sixth NM1 player in the evaluation, Alexandre Aygalenq, the scorer in the division who scores the most 3-point baskets per game, and their teammates promises to be difficult against a defensively intense team which plays a first intention game and multiplies the restarts. But as in the first leg, with eight efficient players, the Toros can create a surprise.
Sports
