Luxembourg men's national basketball team

The Luxembourg men's national basketball team (Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuergesch Basketballnationalequipe, French: Équipe du Luxembourg de basketball, German: Luxemburgische Basketballnationalmannschaft) represents Luxembourg in international basketball tournaments. They are controlled by the Luxembourg Basketball Federation.

Luxembourg
FIBA ranking71 2 (1 March 2022)[1]
Joined FIBA1946
FIBA zoneFIBA Europe
National federationLuxembourg Basketball Federation (FLBB)
CoachKen Diederich
FIBA World Cup
AppearancesNone
EuroBasket
Appearances3
MedalsNone
Championship for Small Countries
Appearances5
Medals Silver: (1992, 2004)
Bronze: (1990)
Games of the Small States of Europe
Appearances15
Medals Silver: (1985, 1991, 1995, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2019)
Bronze: (1993, 2003, 2005, 2015)
First international
 Poland 45–28 Luxembourg 
(Geneva, Switzerland; 30 April 1946)
Biggest win
 Luxembourg 99–44 San Marino 
(Serravalle, San Marino; 1 June 2017)
Biggest defeat
 Greece 119–46 Luxembourg 
(Vevey, Switzerland; 10 May 1980)

Luxembourg has competed at the EuroBasket three times, in 1946, 1951, and 1955. Their best result was an eighth place finish at their first appearance at the competition in 1946. However, the national team has yet to qualify to compete at the FIBA World Cup.

History

EuroBasket 1946

Luxembourg appeared in their first international event at EuroBasket 1946 in Geneva. After being placed in Group A for the preliminary round, the national team would play in their first ever match against Poland; where the team would lose 45–28.[2] Following the defeat, Luxembourg went on to lose their next two matches against Hungary and Italy, which ultimately dropped the team into the classification phase of the tournament. There, Luxembourg captured their first ever victory against England 27–50.[3] With only one game remaining for Luxembourg, the team would finish out the competition with a loss against Belgium; to end the tournament eighth out of the ten teams overall.[4]

EuroBasket 1951

After not entering the competition in 1947 and 1949, Luxembourg made their way back to the continental stage at EuroBasket 1951 in Paris. Luxembourg's first match of the tournament were against the host France; which resulted in a demoralizing defeat for the national team 72–26.[5] Ensuing the tough loss for Luxembourg, were four straight defeats for the team; to relegate them into a must win elimination game for the right to advance into the classification rounds. Luxembourg, however, would lose in a tightly contested match 45–46 against Denmark to be eliminated.[6]

EuroBasket 1955

A match against Netherlands in 1959.

Following Luxembourg's dismal performance at the EuroBasket in 1951, the national team declined to enter the event in 1953; instead looking toward EuroBasket 1955 in Budapest to make amends. After a disastrous first game in the preliminary round, which saw Luxembourg completely dominated by the Soviet Union; the team were narrowly defeated in their second match against Sweden 54–53.[7] However, in Luxembourg's final two matches of the preliminary phase, the team struggled to build upon their game against Sweden; and were relegated toward the classification rounds at a record of (0–5).

Entering the classification round, Luxembourg dropped their first match against Turkey, before earning their first win of the tournament against Denmark 46–31.[8] Luxembourg would eventually go on to pickup two more victories, both against Sweden to end the tournament 15th out of the 18 teams at the event.[9]

Poland v Luxembourg during a EuroBasket 2015 qualifier.

Subsequent years

After Luxembourg's last appearance at the EuroBasket in 1951, the national team endured numerous failed qualifying cycles in order to make it back to the EuroBasket. However, Luxembourg eventually achieved success competing at smaller competitions such as the European Championship for Small Countries and the Games of the Small States of Europe.

Entering qualification for Luxembourg to reach EuroBasket 2017, the team struggled toward a (1–5) record during the process to being eliminated.[10] After Luxembourg's missed opportunity to qualify for the 2017 tournament, the team was tasked with going through Pre-Qualifiers with a chance to qualify for EuroBasket 2022. Luxumbourg would get off to a slow start during the first round of pre-qualifiers, losing their first three matches before picking up a needed win on the road against Cyprus 89–76.[11] With a record of (1–3), Luxembourg's path of advancing took a detour; as the team were relegated to the third and final phase of pre-qualifiers. There, Luxembourg would only win one game during that qualifying window (1–3), at home against Kosovo 88–80 and failing to advance.[12]

For Luxembourg's process to qualify for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the national team took part in European Pre-Qualifiers; where they went (2–4) in the first round and were initially eliminated. Although due to Austria withdrawing from qualification, Luxembourg were next inline to replace them.[13] Entering the second and final phase of World Cup European pre-qualifiers, Luxembourg's qualification campaign officially came to a close; after posting an (0–4) record during the round.[14]

Competitive record

Results and fixtures

  Win   Loss

2020

20 February 2020 Slovakia  7365  Luxembourg Bratislava, Slovakia
18:00 Scoring by quarter: 20–25, 20–13, 19–11, 14–16
Pts: Brodziansky 25
Rebs: Brodziansky, Körner 7
Asts: Ihring 8
Boxscore Pts: Rugg 21
Rebs: Rugg 20
Asts: five players 2
Arena: Eurovia Aréna
Referees: Charalampos Karakatsounis (GRE), Gvidas Gedvilas (LTU), Valerio Grigioni (ITA)
23 February 2020 Luxembourg  8084  Kosovo Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
18:00 Scoring by quarter: 20–25, 25–19, 20–16, 15–24
Pts: Rugg 30
Rebs: Rugg 8
Asts: Grün 9
Boxscore Pts: Hajrizi 25
Rebs: Hajrizi 7
Asts: Berisha 6
Arena: d'Coque
Referees: Paulo Marques (POR), Ilias Kounelles (CYP), Petr Hruša (CZE)
26 November 2020 Iceland  9076  Luxembourg Bratislava, Slovakia* [note 1]
16:00 Scoring by quarter: 23–24, 11–14, 32–21, 24–17
Pts: Hlinason 17
Rebs: Hlinason 11
Asts: Steinarsson 5
Boxscore Pts: Rugg 26
Rebs: Vujaković 8
Asts: Vujaković 4
Arena: Eurovia Aréna
Referees: Christoph Rohacky (AUT), Simon Unsworth (GBR), Sergiy Chaykovskyy (UKR)
28 November 2020 Luxembourg  7773  Slovakia Bratislava, Slovakia* [note 1]
19:00 Scoring by quarter: 15–16, 16–14, 20–22, 26–21
Pts: Rugg 23
Rebs: Laurent 9
Asts: Delgado 5
Boxscore Pts: Ihring 22
Rebs: Körner 10
Asts: Krajčovič 8
Arena: Eurovia Aréna
Referees: Christoph Rohacky (AUT), Péter Praksch (HUN), Tamás Földhazi (HUN)

2021

18 February 2021 Kosovo  8999  Luxembourg Pristina, Kosovo* [note 1]
19:00 Scoring by quarter: 23–32, 23–23, 24–20, 19–24
Pts: Myles 21
Rebs: Hajrizi, Myles 7
Asts: Berisha 6
Boxscore Pts: Rugg 22
Rebs: Rugg 17
Asts: Melcher 9
Arena: Palace of Youth and Sports
Referees: Petros Papapetrou (GRE), Nikolaos Somos (GRE), Sergio Rodríguez (ESP)
20 February 2021 Luxembourg  8486  Iceland Pristina, Kosovo* [note 1]
16:00 Scoring by quarter: 23–29, 20–28, 26–14, 15–15
Pts: Vujaković 20
Rebs: Rugg 13
Asts: Gutenkauf, Laurent 5
Boxscore Pts: Hlinason 25
Rebs: Guðmundsson 10
Asts: Guðmundsson 9
Arena: Palace of Youth and Sports
Referees: Nikolaos Somos (GRE), Sergio Rodríguez (ESP), Polat Parlak (BUL)
13 August 2021 Portugal  8374  Luxembourg Matosinhos, Portugal* [note 2]
18:00 WEST (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 21–12, 26–16, 20–26, 16–20
Pts: Brito 20
Rebs: Delgado, Queiroz 8
Asts: Barbosa 7
Boxscore Pts: Laurent 14
Rebs: Laurent 10
Asts: Rugg 4
Arena: Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos
Referees: Andris Aunkrogers (LAT), Zdravko Rutešić (MNE), Tanel Suslov (EST)
14 August 2021 Luxembourg  76129  Sweden Matosinhos, Portugal* [note 2]
18:00 WEST (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 21–33, 21–30, 9–40, 25–26
Pts: Gutenkauf, Kovac 14
Rebs: five players 3
Asts: Grün 5
Boxscore Pts: Czerapowicz 24
Rebs: Birgander 8
Asts: Håkanson 9
Arena: Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos
Referees: Tanel Suslov {EST), Andris Aunkrogers (LAT), Martin Vulić (CRO)
17 August 2021 Luxembourg  7480  Portugal Matosinhos, Portugal* [note 2]
18:00 WEST (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 19–23, 27–25, 7–13, 21–19
Pts: Rugg 20
Rebs: Rugg 6
Asts: Melcher 6
Boxscore Pts: Borovnjak 17
Rebs: Queiroz 7
Asts: three players 3
Arena: Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos
Referees: Martin Vulić (CRO), Erez Gurion (ISR), Zdravko Rutešić (MNE)
18 August 2021 Sweden  9458  Luxembourg Matosinhos, Portugal* [note 2]
18:00 WEST (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 24–19, 19–11, 28–14, 23–14
Pts: Barton 22
Rebs: Czerapowicz 10
Asts: Barton 10
Boxscore Pts: Vujaković 18
Rebs: Vujaković 9
Asts: Vujaković 4
Arena: Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos
Referees: Zdravko Rutešić (MNE), Erez Gurion (ISR), Gvidas Gedvilas (LTU)
25 November 2021 Albania  9289  Luxembourg Durrës, Albania
18:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 27–26, 21–20, 20–28, 24–15
Pts: Pullazi 23
Rebs: Lekndreaj 9
Asts: Shestani 4
Boxscore Pts: Rugg 25
Rebs: Rugg 7
Asts: Grün 8
Arena: Dhimitraq Goga Sports Palace
Attendance: 300
Referees: Goran Sljivić (AUT), Can Mavisu (TUR), Anastasios Kardaris (GRE)
28 November 2021 Luxembourg  7073  Romania Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
17:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 25–15, 15–29, 18–14, 12–15
Pts: Laurent 19
Rebs: Kovac, Laurent 7
Asts: Grün 7
Boxscore Pts: Richard 16
Rebs: Cățe 8
Asts: Gheorghe 5
Arena: d'Coque
Attendance: 1,113
Referees: Nemanja Ninković (SRB), Alessandro Perciavalle (ITA), Alexandre Maret (FRA)

2022

27 February 2022 Luxembourg  8675  Albania Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
17:00 (UTC+1) Scoring by quarter: 21–26, 27–15, 21–14, 17–20
Pts: Rugg 33
Rebs: Rugg 13
Asts: Melcher 9
Boxscore Pts: Moore 18
Rebs: Hysenagolli 8
Asts: three players 3
Arena: d'Coque
Attendance: 1,617
Referees: Francisco Araña (ESP), Nikola Bejat (NOR), Bert van Slooten (NED)

Team

Current roster

Roster for the EuroBasket 2025 Pre-Qualifiers match on 27 February 2022 against Albania.[17]

Luxembourg men's national basketball team roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameAge – Date of birthHeightClubCtr.
G/F 1 Malcolm Kreps 20 – (2001-10-11)11 October 2001 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) Résidence
PG 7 Philippe Gutenkauf 26 – (1995-04-11)11 April 1995 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Etzella
G 9 Mihailo Anđelković 23 – (1998-10-22)22 October 1998 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Contern
F 10 Mike Feipel 21 – (2000-07-08)8 July 2000 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Sparta
F 11 Alex Laurent 28 – (1993-06-06)6 June 1993 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) Kortrijk
F/C 12 Joe Kalmes 26 – (1995-11-24)24 November 1995 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Dudelange
F 13 Ben Kovac 22 – (2000-02-20)20 February 2000 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) Den Helder
PF 15 Oliver Vujaković 25 – (1996-12-05)5 December 1996 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) Raiders
PG 17 Kevin Moura 28 – (1994-01-09)9 January 1994 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) Dudelange
PG 22 Bob Melcher 27 – (1994-12-09)9 December 1994 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Amicale
G 27 Yannick Verbeelen 23 – (1998-11-03)3 November 1998 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) Sparta
F/C 31 Clancy Rugg 30 – (1991-09-22)22 September 1991 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) Esch
Head coach
  • Ken Diederich
Assistant coach(es)
  • Denis Toroman
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Club – describes last
    club before the competition
  • Age – describes age
    on 27 February 2022

Depth chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Clancy Rugg Joe Kalmes
PF Ben Kovac Oliver Vujaković
SF Alex Laurent Mike Feipel
SG Malcolm Kreps Mihailo Anđelković Yannick Verbeelen
PG Bob Melcher Philippe Gutenkauf Kevin Moura

Head coach position

  • Carsten Steiner – (2003–2009)
  • Frank Baum – (2010–2013)
  • Karsten Schul – (2013–2014)
  • Franck Mériguet – (2014–2015)
  • Ken Diederich – (2015–present)

Past rosters

1946 EuroBasket: finished 8th among 10 teams

3 Alfred Achen, 4 René Bicheler, 5 René Colling, 6 Henri Heyart, 7 Pierre Kelsen, 8 Eugene Kohn, 9 Léon Konsbruck, 10 Joseph Linck, 11 Gaston Poncin, 12 Roger Scheuren (Coach: Henri Heyart)


1951 EuroBasket: finished 17th among 18 teams

3 Guy Neumann, 4 Mathias Steffen, 5 Xander Frantz, 6 Fernand Schmalen, 7 Roger Dentzer, 8 Joseph Eyschen, 9 Marcel Gales, 10 Mathias Birel, 11 Jean Guillen, 12 Pierre Steinmetz, 13 Léon Konsbruck, 14 René Haas, 15 Ley, 25 Paul Linster (Coach: Pierrot Conter)


1955 EuroBasket: finished 15th among 18 teams

3 Pierre Steinmetz, 4 Mathias Birel, 5 Fernand Wolter, 6 Joseph Lettal, 7 Paul Kemp, 8 Fernand Schmalen, 9 John Kieffer, 10 Marcel Simon, 11 Florent Lickes, 12 Gust Scharle, 13 Albert Meyers, 14 Jean Christophory (Coach: Pierre Kelsen)

See also

Notes

  1. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches in the November 2020 and February 2021 windows were played behind closed doors in select host cities.[15]
  2. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all matches during the European Pre-Qualifiers second round window in August 2021 were played in a single location in select host cities.[16]

References

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