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University of Tartu men's basketball team

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Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits
Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits logo
LeaguesKML
EstLatBL
ENBL
Founded1937; 87 years ago (1937)
History
List
    • Tartu EASK
      (1937–1940)
    • Tartu ÜSK
      (1948–1953)
    • TRÜ
      (1954–1989)
    • Tartu Ülikool
      (1989–present)
ArenaUniversity of Tartu Sports Hall
Capacity2,600
LocationTartu, Estonia
Team colorsWhite, Black
   
Team managerRobert Peterson
Head coachAivar Kuusmaa
Championships1 Soviet Championship
26 Estonian Championships
17 Estonian Cups
1 BBL Cup
Websitebasket.ut.ee

Tartu Ülikooli korvpallimeeskond (English: University of Tartu men's basketball team), also known as Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits for sponsorship reasons, is a professional basketball team based in Tartu, Estonia. They are a part of the University of Tartu Academic Sports Club. The team plays in the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League and the Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML). Their home arena is the University of Tartu Sports Hall.

University of Tartu teams have won a record 26 Estonian League championships, a record 17 Estonian Cup titles and one Soviet Union League championship.

History

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Founded in 1937 as Tartu Eesti Akadeemiline Spordiklubi (Tartu Estonian Academic Sports Club), the team won the regional tournament and were promoted to the Estonian Championship. Coached by player-coach Aleksander Illi and led by Ralf Viksten, the team won the championship in 1938. Tartu EASK won two more titles in 1939 and 1940, led by player-coach Oskar Erikson and top scorer Heino Veskila.[1] The team's success was cut short by World War II and the Soviet occupation.

The university team returned to the Estonian Championship in 1948. On 28 August 1948, they beat Tartu Dünamo by a record score of 132–6, with Ilmar Kullam scoring 40 points.[2] Led by player-coach Edgar Naarits, the team won five consecutive Estonian League titles from 1948 to 1952. They also won the Soviet Union League in 1949. Ernst Ehaveer took over as the head coach ahead of the 1956 season, and guided the team to another Estonian championship that same year. Jaak Lipso joined the team prior to the 1957 season and led them to two more championships in 1958 and 1959. The team began to struggle after Lipso left in 1960. They returned to dominance in the late 1960s, this time led by Aleksei Tammiste. The team won eight Estonian championships between 1969 and 1978. Soon after, the team entered into a period of decline.[1][3]

The team continued to struggle after the restoration of Estonia's independence. In the 1990s, Tartu was represented in the league by Korvpalliklubi Tartu (Basketball Club Tartu). They reached the finals in 1996 but were swept in three games by BC Kalev. The team made their debut in a European competition by competing in the 1999–2000 season of the Saporta Cup, but failed to advance past the preliminary round.

Tanel Tein led Tartu to five league championships between 2000 and 2010.

In March 2000, they were taken over by the University of Tartu Sports Club, ushering in a new era for the team.[4] The team now known as Tartu Ülikool-Delta won the Estonian Cup in 2000, beating Nybit in the finals.[5] In the 2000 league playoffs, they defeated BC Jüri Basket and Nybit en route to facing Tallinna Kalev in the finals. Tartu Ülikool-Delta won the series 3–0, ending a 22-year championship drought for the city.[6] In July 2000, Jüri Neissaar was hired as head coach, replacing Teet Laur. Tartu Ülikool-Delta successfully defended both titles in 2001. The team swept Tallinna Ülikoolid-A. Le Coq in three games in the league finals. Point guard and team leader Tanel Tein won his first Most Valuable Player Award at the end of the season.[7]

From 2001 to 2016, Tartu Ülikool was sponsored by Saku's Rock beer brand and Rock was frequently used to refer to the team. They were unable to defend their league title, losing to Tallinna Kalev in the finals in 2002. Despite that, Tein was named the league's Most Valuable Player for the second season in a row.[8] In the 2002–03 season, TÜ/Rock won the Estonian Cup but finished third in the league. After the season, Neissaar was replaced by assistant Tõnu Lust. Led by Augenijus Vaškys, the team won the KML championship in the 2003–04 season by defeating EBS/Nybit, four games to two in the finals. Vaškys was named the KML Most Valuable Player.[9] TÜ/Rock won another Estonian Cup in the 2004–05 season. They also made their debut in the Baltic Basketball League (BBL). After the 2005–06 season, Tein was named the league MVP for the third time.[10] In July 2006, TÜ/Rock hired Algirdas Brazys as head coach, with predecessors Paavo Russak and Tõnu Lust continuing as assistant coaches. In the 2007 KML Finals, TÜ/Rock, led by Tein, Martin Müürsepp and Gert Kullamäe, faced off against BC Kalev/Cramo, to whom they had lost in the two previous finals. TÜ/Rock went on to win the series 4–2. Tein was named the KML Finals MVP.

Üllar Kerde guided the team to the EuroCup Final Four in 2008.

In June 2007, Üllar Kerde was hired as the new head coach. Under Kerde, the team reached the Final Four of the EuroCup in 2008. However, they lost to eventual champions Barons LMT 88–82 in the semifinal and to Proteas EKA AEL 79–70 in the third place game.[11][12] TÜ/Rock successfully defended their KML title by defeating BC Kalev/Cramo in a four-game sweep in the finals. Brian Cusworth was named both the Finals MVP and the league MVP.[13] After a poor start in both the Baltic Basketball League and the EuroChallenge, Kerde was relieved of his duties on 19 December 2008 and replaced by assistant Indrek Visnapuu. Under Visnapuu's leadership, TÜ/Rock reached the Baltic Basketball League Final Four for the first time in team history, beating rivals BC Kalev/Cramo 71–68 in overtime and winning the series 2–1. They lost to Žalgiris 83–74 in the semifinal, but beat ASK Riga 77–68 in the third place game.[14] TÜ/Rock were unable to defend their KML title in 2009, losing to BC Kalev/Cramo in the finals. The team, however, won both the Estonian Cup and the KML championship in the 2009–10 season. They won their 25th Estonian championship by beating BC Rakvere Tarvas 4–2 in the KML Finals. Janar Talts was named the Finals MVP. The team added two more Estonian Cups in 2010 and 2011. On 24 January 2012, Visnapuu resigned and was replaced by his assistant and former Tartu Ülikool guard Gert Kullamäe. The team won two more Estonian Cups in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, TÜ/Rock once again faced BC Kalev/Cramo in the KML Finals, winning the series 4–1. Tanel Kurbas won the Finals MVP award. They finished runner-up to Šiauliai in the Baltic Basketball League in 2016.

In 2018, the Estonian-Latvian Basketball League was formed. Tartu Ülikool reached the playoffs in the league's inaugural season, where they lost to BC Kalev/Cramo in the quarterfinals. On 19 December 2021, Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits defeated BC Kalev/Cramo 82–73 in the Estonian Cup final to win their first trophy in seven years. The team finished the 2022–23 Estonian-Latvian Basketball League season in third place. They lost to BC Prometey 89–67 in the semifinal but beat BC Kalev/Cramo 63–60 in the third place game.

Sponsorship naming

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  • Raidor: 1992–1994
  • Tartu Gaas: 1994–1995
  • SK Polaris: 1997–1999
  • Tartu Ülikool-Delta: 1999–2001
  • Tartu Ülikool/Rock: 2001–2011, 2012–2016
  • Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits: 2020–present

Logos

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  • Rock sponsorship logo (until 2016)
    Rock sponsorship logo
    (until 2016)
  • Non-commercial logo (2016–2018)
    Non-commercial logo
    (2016–2018)
  • Maks & Moorits sponsorship logo (2020–present)
    Maks & Moorits sponsorship logo
    (2020–present)

Home arenas

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Players

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See also: University of Tartu basketball team past rosters and Category:University of Tartu basketball team players

Current roster

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
SF 2 Estonia Heinakroon, Markus 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 21 – (2003-05-17)17 May 2003
PF 4 United States Henry, Jalen 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 107 kg (236 lb) 28 – (1996-01-08)8 January 1996
SG 6 Estonia Veideman, Rain 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 93 kg (205 lb) 33 – (1991-10-01)1 October 1991
PF 8 Estonia Urvik, Erki 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 22 – (2002-05-07)7 May 2002
SF 9 Estonia Lips, Karl Johan 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 28 – (1996-07-20)20 July 1996
PF 11 Estonia Jurtšenko, Karl Gustav 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 20 – (2004-02-10)10 February 2004
PG 18 Estonia Roos, Rando 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 20 – (2004-09-18)18 September 2004
C 20 Estonia Nurger, Rauno 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 108 kg (238 lb) 31 – (1993-11-24)24 November 1993
SF 22 Egypt El-Sheikh, Omar 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 26 – (1998-05-14)14 May 1998
PG 24 Canada Bourcier, Mason 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 25 – (1999-08-31)31 August 1999
SF 27 Estonia Suurorg, Kaur-Erik 1.99 m (6 ft 6 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 20 – (2004-05-27)27 May 2004
SG 30 Estonia Savi, Romel 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 18 – (2006-10-04)4 October 2006
SG 40 Estonia Paasoja, Martin (C) 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 31 – (1993-01-04)4 January 1993
SG 50 Estonia Pere, Oliver 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 21 – (2003-09-07)7 September 2003
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 10 September 2024

Depth chart

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Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Rauno Nurger
PF Jalen Henry Erki Urvik Karl Gustav Jurtšenko
SF Karl Johan Lips Omar El-Sheikh Markus Heinakroon Kaur-Erik Suurorg
SG Martin Paasoja Rain Veideman Oliver Pere Romel Savi
PG Mason Bourcier Rando Roos

Head coaches

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Season by season

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Season Tier Division Pos. Estonian Cup Baltic competitions Other competitions European competitions
1999–00 1 EKKA 1st Champion 2 Saporta Cup PR
2000–01 1 EKKA 1st Champion NEBL Challenge Cup T9
2001–02 1 EKKA 2nd Runner-up NEBL Challenge Cup T12
2002–03 1 KML 3rd Champion 3 FIBA Europe Champions Cup QR
2003–04 1 KML 1st Quarterfinalist 4 FIBA Europe Cup QR
2004–05 1 KML 2nd Champion Baltic Basketball League 10th 4 FIBA Europe Cup CQF
2005–06 1 KML 2nd Runner-up Baltic Basketball League 12th
2006–07 1 KML 1st Runner-up Baltic Basketball League 9th 4 FIBA EuroCup Challenge PR
2007–08 1 KML 1st Runner-up Baltic Basketball League 8th 3 FIBA EuroCup 4th
2008–09 1 KML 2nd Quarterfinalist Baltic Basketball League 3rd 2 Eurocup QR1
3 EuroChallenge RS
2009–10 1 KML 1st Champion Baltic Basketball League 5th 3 EuroChallenge RS
2010–11 1 KML 2nd Champion Baltic Basketball League 5th 3 EuroChallenge RS
2011–12 1 KML 2nd Champion Baltic Basketball League 12th
2012–13 1 KML 2nd Quarterfinalist Baltic Basketball League QF 3 EuroChallenge RS
2013–14 1 KML 2nd Champion Baltic Basketball League 3rd 3 EuroChallenge QF
2014–15 1 KML 1st Champion Baltic Basketball League 4th 3 EuroChallenge L16
2015–16 1 KML 2nd Runner-up Baltic Basketball League RU 3 FIBA Europe Cup R32
2016–17 1 KML 3rd Runner-up Baltic Basketball League 3rd 3 Champions League QR2
4 FIBA Europe Cup RS
2017–18 1 KML 2nd Baltic Basketball League 3rd 4 FIBA Europe Cup QR2
2018–19 1 KML 5th Estonian-Latvian Basketball League 6th
2019–20 1 KML 4th[a] Estonian-Latvian Basketball League –[a] 4 FIBA Europe Cup QR
2020–21 1 KML 6th Quarterfinalist Estonian-Latvian Basketball League RS
2021–22 1 KML 2nd Champion Estonian-Latvian Basketball League 8th European North Basketball League 4th
2022–23 1 KML 2nd Third place Estonian-Latvian Basketball League 3rd European North Basketball League RS
2023–24 1 KML 2nd Runner-up Estonian-Latvian Basketball League 5th European North Basketball League QF
2024–25 1 KML Estonian-Latvian Basketball League European North Basketball League

Trophies and awards

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Trophies

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Winners (26): 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2014–15
Winners (17): 1950, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1974, 1976, 1979, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2021
Winners (1): 1948–49
Winners (1): 2010

Individual awards

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KML Most Valuable Player

KML Finals MVP

KML Best Defender

KML Best Young Player

KML Coach of the Year

KML All-Star Five

Estonian Cup MVP

Estonian-Latvian League All-Star Five

Notable players

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b The season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Tartu korvpall timeline". Postimees (in Estonian).
  2. ^ "Tartu ÜSK 132:6 Tartu Dünamo". Basket.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Kullaklubi". Basket.ut.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Delta ametlikult ülikooli alla". Õhtuleht (in Estonian). 4 March 2000. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Tartu Ülikool–Delta võitis Eesti korvpallikarika". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). 11 March 2000. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Korvpallikuld 22–aastase vaheaja järel Tartusse". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). 22 May 2000. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Delta puhastas auhinnalaua". Õhtuleht (in Estonian). 26 May 2001. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Selgunud on Eesti korvpallihooaja parimad". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). 31 May 2002. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Müürsepp Eesti parim". Delfi Sport (in Estonian). 8 June 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Selgusid korvpallihooaja 2005/06 parimad". Delfi Sport (in Estonian). 1 June 2006. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Rock Celebrate Estonia's First Final Four Place". FIBAEurope.com. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Proteas Hold Off Tartu For Third Place". FIBAEurope.com. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Valiti korvpallihooaja parimad". Eesti Päevaleht (in Estonian). 4 June 2008. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  14. ^ "UT Rock: Bronze in Baltic Basketball". ut.ee. University of Tartu. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Tartu Ülikooli Spordihoone". spordiregister.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 1 March 2022.
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