Matt Costello names Baskonia and Olympiacos similarities, sympathizes with Thomas Walkup / News - Basketnews.com

Matt Costello talks to BasketNews about the changes Dusko Ivanovic is trying to make in Baskonia's game. He also weighs in on Olympiacos' woes and explains why he feels sympathy for Thomas Walkup.

Credit: Quality Sport Images/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Europe Credit Quality Sport Images/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images Europe

Up until two weeks ago,Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteizhad recorded just one win in the EuroLeague season, facing their worst start in recent memory.

Player of the Game EFF 28 Chima Moneke Points 20 Accuracy 8-9 Rebounds 4 Assists 2

A meager 1-4 record in Europe's top flight and three straight home defeats by FC Bayern Munich, Zalgiris Kaunas, and Unicaja Malagabecame the stuff of nightmares in Alava.

In an effort to change the course, the club decided to let coach Joan Penarroya go and hire Dusko Ivanovic. With his proven track of lifting struggling teams up, the Montenegrin tactician seems to be the right man for the job if Baskonia want to build some winning habits.

"Dusko treats you like a professional. If you don't show up, he'll fine you, but he's not going to yell at you,"Costello told BasketNews in November 2022, referring to his experience with a coach who's become renowned for his strict methods.

Dusko's previous tenure in Vitoria lasted for two years (2019-21). Still, old habits die hard, and it would be pointless to expect something less than structure and discipline from a man who has been standing for those very principles throughout his career.

At least for Matt Costello, all that sounds pretty familiar.

"He's been here for a week, and practices are a little bit harder when you try to figure out what's going on," the Michigan-born player stressed.

Baskonia forward also made a short comparison between the two coaches.

"Practices are a bit

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