By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
After head coach Željko Obradović resigned, Partizan continued with Mirko Oćokoljić as interim head coach. Following two consecutive wins, the Belgrade side suffered a tough setback with a home loss to Virtus Bologna.
As a result, Partizan dropped to 6–10 in the EuroLeague standings ahead of the Round 17 matchup against Žalgiris in Kaunas, and the problems continued before the road trip.
According to Serbian media, U.S. big man and one of the team’s key players, Tyrique Jones, will not be able to help the team at Zalgirio Arena.
“Tyrique has a chronic injury that flared up as soon as he entered the game. I’m not sure he will travel to Kaunas. The problem was noticeable from the moment he stepped onto the court, which was pointed out to me by the strength and conditioning coach, and it was also evident in several situations during the game,” Oćokoljić said after the loss to Virtus.
Eventually, Jones did not travel with the team to Lithuania for the Round 17 clash.
The former Türk Telekom and Anadolu Efes center is averaging 10.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, with an average PIR of 16.7 over 15 EuroLeague appearances this season.