Službena Web Stranica CroHoops Lige

Head coach Ivica Buric, Zagreb CO (photo by kk-zagreb.hr)

According to Jutarnji List Zagreb CO head coach Ivica Buric stated that Croatian champion line of European phenoms (Saric, Hezonja, Mavra) “will have to battle their way into the rotation, but will have equal chances of making the rotation as anyone else on the roster.”

Buric made it clear that he has the intention of transfering some players which could end up riding the bench to the local subsidiary Dubrava Zagreb to get their minutes while playing in Croatian A2 league competition.

 Rudez is known or his “defense wins games” approach

Young Croatian expert Ivan Rudez took over as the head coach of BC Vienna, Austrian team which has finished 2010/11 season as the 10th ranked team in Austrian Championship.

Rudez, who was one of the key assistants to Cedevita Zagreb ex-head coach Aleksandar “Aco” Petrovic during the past season, has reportedly reached one-year agreement with the ambitious team from the Austrian capitol.

G Jelena Ivezic, Croatia (photo by FIBA Europe)

Before 2011 EuroBasket for Women many questioned Croatian head coach Stipe Bralic’s modified version of Paul Westhead’s “high octane run & gun” system which has been successfully instaled in Phoenix Marcury (WNBA).

Now, when this system has helped Croatia to drastically improve during the course of the Tournament and to win as many as 3 out of it’s 4 last games in 2011 EuroBasket for Women, many of his critics have silenced.

On Saturday, Croatian NT took the 5th place in 2011 Women EuroBasket and has qualified for the additional FIBA qualification cycle for London Olympics.

Fueled by it’s pressing defense and paced by it’s guard duet Jelena Ivezic (21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals) and Iva Ciglar (19 points, 5 assists) Croatia managed to win the tournament rematch with Montenegro by 73:59.

The most astonishing statistic of the game was that Croatian NT bench led by Marta Cakic’s 12 points managed to outscore complete Montenegrian bench by as much as 34:6!

American-born SF Lisa Karcic saw extended playing time as defensive catalyst in the last two games which were vital to Croatian NT. She has responded with 6.0 points, 7.5 boards and 2.0 steals per game in those contests.

Croatian NT head coach Stipe Bralic’s postgame statement: “This is the biggest achievement of my career” (source: www.fibaeurope.com).

Tihomir Bujan (photo by zadarsport.com)

Ex-Zadar coach Tihomir Bujan took over as the head coach of the newest Croatian A1 League member Prigorje Financije Krizevci.

He replaced coach Viktor Jugo who was one of the key factors during Prigorje Financije Krizevci qualification run at Croatian A1 League membership.

Expert close to CroHoops.com marks this move as “significant upgrade for the team from Krizevci which can now start building it’s next season roster.”

MLADEN ERJAVEC (photo by ezadar.hr)

After the convincing 80-62 loss to Zadar in the 8th round of Croatian Championship Zagreb CO management board made a relative unexpected decision to fire head coach Mladen “Eri” Erjavec.

During his five-month tenure Erjavec was able to energize the team to a respectable 5th place in Adriatic League, Croatian Cup title and made it a legitimate Croatian Championship title contender.

Zagreb CO is currently 3rd placed team of Croatian Championship, trailing only to local rival Cedevita Zagreb, but still has seven-point advantage in the Croatian race for one-year Euroleague contract.

Erjavec’s successor Ivica Buric, long-time scouting assistant for the club, will have a heavy result burdain in front of him with no place for eventual mistakes.



Croatian NT head coach Josip “Joke” Vrankovic took over as the head coach of the struggling Croatian basketball giant Cibona Zagreb. Terms of the two-year deal remain undisclosed.

Interestingly enough Vrankovic inherited the head coaching position from Drazen Anzulovic who was the major runner-up right next to Vrankovic for the Croatian NT head coaching vacancy back in 2010.

This will be Vrankovic’s second stint with Cibona Zagreb as he already coached the team back in 2007/08 season but was forced to resign midway through the season due to the poor W/L record.

Cibona Zagreb is currently last placed team of Croatian Championship with 0-2 record after two embarrassing, both -23pts losses from Borik Puntamika and Zadar.

Cibona’s only remaining chance to keep it’s Adriatic League qualification chances alive is to battle it’s way to the semifinals of Croatian Championship.