Less than a year ago, the Electoral Palatinate were in the semi-finals of the German championship. There is now a threat of relegation to the second division three match days before the end of the season.
Between 1957 and 1977, Heidelberg won a total of nine German championship titles and was clearly a top team in German basketball. This was followed by decades in which the team mostly played in the second division, and at times even slipped into the third-tier regional league. Last season it seemed as if Heidelberg could finally get back to old times: fifth in the regular season, reaching the playoff semi-finals and qualification for the Champions League – it was the most successful season since the 1970s.
Less than eleven months later, the Heidelberg basketball world is completely different. With just eight wins in 31 games this season, the Academics Heidelberg are in serious danger of relegation. It takes a miracle to stay in the league.
Academics Heidelberg need help in the relegation battle
In order to play in the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) next season, the Kurpfälzer, who are currently in 17th place, still have to pass Science City Jena. The Thuringians have three more wins than Heidelberg, and with three games left the calculation is simple. Heidelberg has to win every game, Jena has to lose every one.
So Heidelberg’s relegation could already be certain on Saturday evening when Jena is a guest in Rostock. The Rostock team, for whom the play-ins are still at stake, are considered favorites, but have recently lost five games in a row. A win for Jena would be a (small) surprise, but by no means a sensation.
In addition to Rostock, Heidelberg also relies on support from Berlin. Jena will be a guest there on the 34th and final matchday (May 10th). Although Berlin is one of the top teams in the league and is in second place in the table, it is quite possible that there will be nothing at stake for the club from the capital on the last matchday – possibly a chance for Jena.
Heidelberg visits Jena: The showdown on matchday 33?
Before that, there will be a direct meeting between the two relegation candidates. On May 7th, the Electoral Palatinate will be guests in Thuringia. Heidelberg not only has to win this game, but also the direct comparison against Jena. After the 83:87 defeat in the first leg, the Academics have to win the second leg by at least four points. We also need wins in the two home games against Weißenfels (May 4th) and Vechta (May 10th).
The fact that Heidelberg finds itself in this almost hopeless situation is surprising to most basketball experts. The truth is that the Academics have mostly played against relegation since being promoted again in 2021, but it felt as if last season’s success could be sustainable.
From semi-finalist to relegation candidates – a surprising development
Coach Danny Jansson’s work seemed promising and the squad was largely kept together. However, those responsible were only cautiously optimistic before this season and said that a placement between seventh and tenth place would be a success. But nobody expected such a disappointing season on the Neckar.
Right from the start, the Academics got off to a false start and lost their first four games in the league. Even though the group phase of the Champions League (editor’s note: not the strongest European club competition) was at least somewhat successful, the additional stress didn’t seem to be doing the team any good overall. International appearances were usually followed by a defeat in the league.
A season to forget: bad luck with injuries, Unrest and coaching changes
In addition to bad luck with injuries, the Heidelberg season was also accompanied by unrest away from the basketball floor. The club surprisingly parted ways with Marcus Weathers in December, probably not to the delight of star player Michael Weathers, who had linked his stay last summer to his brother’s commitment.
Those too Firing of head coach Danny Jansson did not bring the desired sporting turnaround. Under Carlo Finetti, who was previously Jansson’s assistant, the team briefly seemed hungrier, but ultimately only won three out of ten games – in all likelihood not enough to stay in the league.
In Heidelberg they have certainly been planning on two tracks for a long time and are probably also prepared for relegation to the 2nd league. But it’s not that far yet. With a small miracle, the Academics can still keep the class. They will hope on Saturday and then fight themselves from Monday.
