Home game to test strength: Bayreuth welcomes new Koblenz stars!

Home game to test strength: Bayreuth welcomes new Koblenz stars!

The EPG Baskets Koblenz are starting the new season of the 2nd Basketball Bundesliga with a breath of fresh air. After a narrow rescue operation last season, when the team was just able to avert relegation, the new head coach Stephan Dohrn, previously champion with the Rhöndorf Dragons in the ProB, now has the reins in his hands. Dohrn replaces former coach Venelin Berov and brings fresh ideas into play.

The team is completely changed. While only Jakob Hanzalek remains as an integral part of last season, well-known reinforcements were gained with new additions such as the American playmaker Calvin Wishart and the fast player Garrett Hicks. Wishart, who is moving to the Baskets from Würzburg, has established himself as a true all-rounder at the guard position. In the ProB he was able to achieve an impressive 23.6 efficiency points on average and is described by Dohrn as “my personal MVP” of last season.

New arrivals are causing a stir

In addition to Wishart, the Koblenz team is also sending Garrett Hicks (24), who comes from Tbilisi, Georgia with his agile 1.85 meters and is considered one of the fastest players in the league. Tim Smith, who is moving from Rhöndorf to Koblenz, could also cause a stir as he was the top scorer there. Another hot prospect is Decorian “DJ” Jeffries, who took part in the NBA Summer League and brings experience from the NBA G League.

The squad composition was already completed before the start of training in August, and Thomas Klein, director of sports and marketing, emphasizes that Wishart was on the list for signings from the start. However, at the beginning it was not possible to sign him; the opportunity arose at short notice.

A difficult start to the season

But right at the start of the new season there was a defeat: In the first game against BBL relegated BG Göttingen, the Baskets suffered an 80:98 defeat. Head coach Dohrn analyzed that the performance in the second and third quarters in particular did not meet the usual standard, but the team's morale in the last quarter was positively highlighted. Calvin Wishart and Alexander Möller were the game's top scorers with 19 and 14 points, while Moritz Plescher, team captain, called on the home fans to support the team in the next game against Bayreuth.

The sport of basketball is currently experiencing an upswing in international transfers. According to FIBA's International Basketball Migration Report (IBMR), there were more than 13,000 international transfers last season, a 113% increase since the 2010-11 season. The majority of these players come from the USA, which once again underlines the importance of international talent for the leagues in this country. This development could also have an impact on the Koblenz Baskets, who are providing fresh impetus for the season by signing different players.

But now it's time for the EPG Baskets to regroup and turn things around. With a dynamic trio of Wishart, Hicks and Hanzalek, this could be the key to success. The upcoming game against Bayreuth will be crucial to set the course in the right direction.

You can find out more about Baskets Koblenz and the season at In Bayreuth and epgbasketskoblenz.