The BBL Cup group stage featured all 11 BBL teams split geographically into three groups:
Group 1 – Bristol Flyers, Plymouth Raiders, Surrey Scorchers, Worchester Wolves
Group 2 – Cheshire Phoenix, Glasgow Rocks, Manchester Giants
Group 3 – Leicester Riders, London Lions, Newcastle Eagles and Sheffield Sharks
What Happened In The Group Stage?
In group 1 Plymouth Raiders won 5 out of their 6 games in the group stage to top their group. Surrey Scorchers came second winning and losing 3 games and Bristol Flyers took the last qualifying place having won 2 games and lost 4.
In group 2 Manchester Giants and Glasgow Rocks both won 3 and lost 1 of their 4 games to be the top two respectively in the group.
In group 3 Newcastle Eagles won 4 and lost 2 of their 6 games to top their group. Leicester Riders won and lost 3 games to edge London Lions out in second who had the same record as them.
The biggest shock so far is Sheffield Sharks as they were eliminated in the group stages after winning the cup last year. They weren’t up for the races losing 4 of their 6 group stage games in group 3.
Others who got eliminated include: Worchester Wolves losing 4 out of their 6 games played in group 1 and Cheshire Phoenix who lost all 4 games played in group 2.
Who Is Playing Who In The Quarter-Finals Of The BBL Cup?
- Plymouth Raiders vs London Lions – Wednesday 16th December 7pm @ Plymouth Pavilions
- Newcastle Eagles vs Bristol Flyers – Wednesday 16th December 7:30pm @ Eagles Community Arena
- Manchester Giants vs Surrey Scorchers – Wednesday 16th December 7:30pm @ The National Basketball Performance Centre
- Leicester Riders vs Glasgow Rocks – Wednesday 16th December 8pm @ Morningside Arena
Stories Of Each Tie
Plymouth Raiders vs London Lions : Plymouth Raiders have won 5 games in the group stages and are up against a London Lions team who were predicted to win everything. The key player for Plymouth Raiders is Ashley Hamilton. Last season Ashley Hamilton played 10 games for Coruna where he averaged 11.8 points, 1.5 assists, 0.2 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 FGM and shot 27.3% from the 3 point line .The key player for London Lions is DeAndre Liggins. Last season DeAndre Liggins played for Sionx Skyforce where he averaged 10.8 points per game, 5.7 assists per game, shooting 0.42% from the field. Defensively he averaged 0.5 blocks and 4.4 rebounds.
Newcastle Eagles vs Bristol Flyers: Many people now fancy them to win the cup and trouble the Lions in the long run, Bristol Flyers struggled at the start but have just added GB international Teddy Okereafor. The key player for Newcastle eagles is Rahmon Fletcher . Last season for Newcastle Eagles Rahmon Fletcher averaged 16.2 points, 6.4 FGM, 20.8 3 point percentage,2.5 rebounds and 9 assists in the 13 games he played. The key player for Bristol Flyers is Teddy Okereafor. Last season for Iraklis Teddy Okereafor averaged 6.1 points, 2 field goals made, 2.5 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 3.3 assists and 0.6 offensive rebounds in the 18 games he played.
Manchester Giants vs Surrey Scorchers: Manchester Giants have struggled in the last few seasons but have begun this season really confidently after moving into their new arena. Scorchers excited many after ‘’coach creon’s bubble’’ was hyped up ahead of the new season, but so far haven’t lit up the league. The key player for Manchester Giants is Lyle Hexom. The key player for Scorchers is Lovell Cook. Last season he averaged 19.1 points, 2.4 assists, 5.9 rebounds, 1.1 offensive rebounds and 1 steal in the 14 games he played.
Leicester Riders vs Glasgow Rocks: Leicester Riders are one of the most prestigious teams in the country, and will be hoping to exceed expectations by winning the tournament to back their title as a prestigious team, while the Rocks led the championship last season before the first lockdown, showing what they are capable of. The key player for Leicester Riders is Corey Johnson. Last season for Leicester Riders he averaged 12.4 points, 0.8 offensive rebounds, 3.1 defensive rebounds, 2.1 assists, 4.3 field points made in the 9 games that he played. The key player for Glasgow Rocks is Jonny Bunyan. Last season Jonny Bunyan averaged 4.2 points, 1.4 field goals made, 0.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.5 steals playing 13 games.
