Team gathers full squad for training

The Stade Rochelais Basket team had its full squad for the first time in recent weeks, including player Germain Castano and his medical staff, Bensley Joseph and Jase Townsend, during training sessions.

Setback in away game

The team faced a setback during an away game in Blois, where they lost 89-102, despite having their full squad available for the match.

Key player injured

Sasha Derradji, a key player for the team, suffered a knee injury during a game in Rouen, where the team lost 76-75. This injury is a significant blow to the team’s performance.

Derradji’s impact before injury

Derradji had been performing exceptionally well before the injury, averaging 13 points at 55% shooting, 5.3 rebounds, and 8.8 assists in ÉLITE 2. At just 20 years old, he was the league’s top passer and had the highest average evaluation (23).

New medical staff joins team

The team is looking to bring in experienced support, and the identity of one of the medical staff members, the third of the season since mid-October, is already known: Timothé Crusol, who stands 1.93 meters tall and spent the preseason with Saint-Quentin.

Crusol’s professional background

Crusol is set to enter his eighth season in ÉLITE 2. He has seven professional seasons under his belt, including three with Limoges, where he played a central role during the successful 2021/22 season under coach Massimo Cancellieri, averaging 21 minutes per game.

Crusol’s mixed record in ÉLITE 2

Since leaving the CSP, Crusol has experienced both successes and challenges in ÉLITE 2. He has won two Leaders Cup titles with Orléans in the last two years but has also faced playoff failures and a relegation to NM1 with Fos-Provence.

Crusol’s current performance

Despite a decline in his statistics, with an average of 8.5 points and a 43% shooting rate in the 2022/23 season, Crusol’s basketball IQ and all-around game may still be valuable to the struggling Rochelais team, especially in an upcoming match against ALM Évreux.