How well is promoted science city Jena prepared for the BBL? Where are the reserves? The cup game on Wednesday against the Proa team Hakro Merlins Crailsheim could provide information and is therefore extremely important.
First League promoted Science City Jena starts the new season with the cup duel in Crailsheim on Wednesday (September 24). Both teams know each other very well from the 2nd league and fought exciting duels in the ProA last season – both times the Thuringians had the better end for themselves.
Good test games despite personnel worries
The Thuringians – also thanks to good preparation – drive confidently to Baden -Württemberg. Of the five test games, Jena won two and also triumphed against Syntainics MBC with 104: 82. The defeats against the Niners Chemnitz (79:92) and the BMA365 Bamberg Baskets (86:98) were avoidable and also due to the personnel position. The dress rehearsal was narrowly lost to the BBL last year finalist Ratiopharm Ulm (88:89), but coach Björn Harmsen was positive: “We moved the ball well, played at a good speed and very good. The game was a very good last test.”
An away trip with an overnight stay was also tested. Due to the further paths in the BBL, this will be due several times in the next few weeks.
Six new additions – one was not planned
Jena starts the season with six new players, most recently Tavian Dunn-Martin was hired. The transfers were actually already through, but because Sigu Jawara A few weeks after his arrival in Jena on the knee, the Thuringians had to act again in the position of the building player and piloted the 27-year-old American to Jena. With Joe Wieskamp, Naz Bohannon, Keith Braxton and Eric Washington, internationally experienced players were also lured to the Saale.
However, the club has to leave top scorer Zachery Cooks (to the Telekom Baskets Bonn). In addition to the newcomers, hopes are mainly due to Robin Christians. The Bundesliga -experienced veteran was the second best point collector last season.
Coach Harmsen is the secret star
The success of Jena is clearly connected to a name: coach Björn Harmsen. In 2007, the ambitious perfectionist was the youngest coach in the basketball Bundesliga at almost 25 years when he rose to the BBL with Jena. He has now succeeded in a total of four times this feat, three times with the Thuringians and once as a coach of the MBC. Last season, the now 42 -year -old was elected “Coach of the Year” by coaches and captains of the ProA – for the third time.
Björn Harmsen is a coach in Jena for the third time.
League start at FC Bayern Munich
After the cup game, it will be serious for Science City Jena on Friday (September 26th at 8:00 p.m.) in the Bundesliga. The season begins directly with one Gracher at the German champion Bayern Munich.
SST
