Uni Baskets Münster
Uni Baskets Münster is a professional basketball club based in Münster, Germany. Since the 2022/23 season, the club competes in the second tier ProA league.
History edit
In June 2015, the team name changed to "WWU Baskets Münster."[1]
Münster promoted to the ProA in 2022.[2]
Münster was very young and had lots of players who played in the ProA for the first time. The fans supported their team much as Münster had the highest average attendance in the league (2,311 per game). Coach Björn Harmsen, whom the newspaper Westfalenpost once regarded as a "tactical genius", was yet also known for being very tough on his players. While Münster struggled with injuries, their rivals for relegation were Giants Düsseldorf and Bayer Giants Leverkusen.[3]
Münster finished the 2022-23 ProA season as 14th out of 18, thus avoiding relegation.
Jordan Jones' year in Münster was less conspicuous than everyone involved had hoped in advance. Jordan slipped into the second tier after the late signing of former international Andreas Seiferth, but was still an important factor in the successful fight to stay in the league with an average of 5.3 points and playing time in all 34 games of the season. Eventually, the Poughkeepsie, New York native moved to Austria.[4]
Yet, for the 2023/24 season, Stefan Weß and Adam Touray extended their contracts. Both players had known each other since they played for Münster as teenagers. Both returned to Münster after trips to other clubs and after being pillars of the second division team WWU Baskets. As teenagers, both players’ talent did not go unnoticed when they played in Münster's regional league team under head coach Götz Rohdewald, who in June 2023 became head coach of the club's first team.[2]
Weß, who played for the NINERS Chemnitz in the past has been a A2-national team player who narrowly missed the Bundesliga promotion with the Niners Chemnitz in 2017. His buddy Touray also knocked on the door of the top flight; after further stints with ETB Essen and Schalke 04, he was briefly under contract with Bundesliga club Ludwigsburg in 2020. Weß and Touray are expected to be mainstays in Rohdewald's playing philosophy, which calls for a fast, aggressive style. Rohdewald stated "I've known Wessi since he was 16. As a player, his shot is his great strength, along with his size. The opponent always has to be close to him, and that opens up spaces for his teammates." About Touray he said "Adam is incredibly fast and has a lot of jumping power. We want to use that offensively, especially in the pick-and-roll. I think he also has potential as a shooter." And further stressed his rebounding skills.[2]
In 2023, the University of Münster parted ways with its namesake Wilhelm II, following a senate decision. The decision was preceded by a process lasting several years.[1]
For the basketball team, there were no real alternatives to the new name, and the close ties and partnership with the university were to continue. "The term Baskets has become firmly established in the minds of Münster and the surrounding area at the latest with the euphoria after our promotion to Pro B in 2018. We therefore want to hold on to this bridge to our sport," explained manager Helge Stuckenholz.[1]
In June 2023, the team name changed to "Uni Baskets Münster".[1]
Home arena edit
Münster plays its home games at Berg Fidel.[4]
Players edit
Current roster edit
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
| Uni Baskets Münster roster | |
|---|---|
| Players | Coaches |
| |
Notable players edit
- To appear in this section a player must have either:
– Set a club record or won an individual award as a professional player.
– Played at least one official international match for his senior national team at any time.
- Andreas Seiferth
- Rijad Avdic
- Jose Medina
- Tega Moceanu
- Marek Dolezaj
- Cem Dinc
- Sean Black
- Marck Coffin
- David Hicks
Head coaches edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d „An dieser Brücke festhalten“: Neuer Name der Baskets ist bekannt Henner Henning (muensterschezeitung.de), 19 June 2023. Accessed 10 July 2023.(in German)
- ^ a b c Kennen sich seit Teenager-Zeiten: Baskets-Duo bleibt in Münster Henner Henning (WN.de), 14 June 2023. Accessed 10 July 2023.(in German)
- ^ Jasper Günther: Müssen uns nicht vor Phoenix verstecken Dominik Brendel (WP.de), 3 February 2023. Accessed 19 March 2024.(in German)
- ^ a b Neuer Publikumsliebling? Uni Baskets holen den nächsten Zweimeter-Mann Ansgar Griebel (WN.de), 10 July 2023. Accessed 25 February 2024.(in German)
External links edit
- German League Profile
- Presentation at Eurobasket.com