NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen's Women's Basketball Worldwide) - With an extended field of some 20 teams, the theory is that EuroBasket Women 2015 in Hungary and Romania will be the biggest and best yet. 

Whether it will deliver remains to be seen, but it will certainly provide some ready made (and valid) excuses for the nations sent home early and especially for those stuck with playing four games in as many days. That in itself is a curious one for women's basketball in Europe, with some EuroLeague Women clubs complaining about three games in a row at recent Final Eight events.

This will therefore be the ultimate test mentally and physically.

Exactly what it will do for the quality in terms of those fourth day games in particular, I'm not too sure. 

One benefit from a neutral perspective has been the draw, which with four groups of five to digest, has thrown up lots of fascinating match-ups and feels much meatier than previous tournaments, with the inclusion of an extra team.

Starting with Group A, this will look relatively straightforward to many people in that the three teams to progress will be France, the Czech Republic and Montenegro - or at least in terms of reputation at past Final Round events. That would mean a sharp exit for both Ukraine and co-hosts Romania.

However it is not quite so simple. France will be favourites for sure, but can't sleepwalk through any of these games and will need to find a high gear early. The return of a healthy Endene Miyem who missed most of the recent FIBA World Championship for Women due to injury will be beneficial. Otherwise look out for the rest of the core around Celine Dumerc, Sandrine Gruda, Gaelle Skrela and Diandra Tchatchouang, with the new additions from Turkey 2014 such as center Helena Ciak, likely to continue.

One intriguing factor will be whether head coach Valerie Garnier decides to bring back Valeriane Ayayi, who looks to have taken her Turkish snub quite personally and reacted with a great contribution at Lattes Montpellier so far. Meanwhile U20 European Championship MVP Olivia Epoupa surely can't continue to be overlooked now that she is showing great maturity as captain of Toulouse.

Czech Republic have issues. Their style of basketball was labelled as being out of date by more brutal and opinionated observers in Turkey and it's true they did look a jaded outfit. With many veterans near permanent retirement, it could be time for some rising players to grasp the momentum - but there is little doubt that if they play like they did in Ankara, then Czech Republic will be vulnerable.

My big concern is that two of their biggest talents in Teresa Vyoralova and especially Alena Hanusova are buried deep down on the ZVVZ USK Prague bench - and, that has left me questioning the wisdom of making that particular move - any financial considerations aside.

Montenegro have every chance of breaking into the top two if their core are all healthy and not least star player Jelena Dubljevic. But how her back issues will stand up to such rigorous tournament demands is anyone's guess. They're not that deep, but with some terrific players on a short rotation, they have a quality core and Iva Perovanovic has started the season really well in the TKBL and EuroCup Women with Orduspor.

They met Ukraine during qualification and will do so again in Romania. Ukraine can't be taken for granted and could be a dark horse. Yet we seem to say that every time and it was certainly said before EuroBasket Women 2013 and yet they were abysmal and fluffed their lines.  

Yet this past summer, they seemed to find their level and it was a good one behind the irrepressible and unique talent of Alina Iagupova, who led the way in points, rebounds, assists and steals. Yet they are far from a one player team with Olesia Malashenko and Oleksandra Kurasova around.

Romania will pin the bulk of their hopes on the wonderful Gabriela Marginean who is starring for Agu Spor Kulubu in EuroLeague Women, but she will need a supporting cast to spring a surprise.

With that in mind, I am looking out for the likes of Claudia Pop to make a splash. A scintillating talent at youth level, she is now performing well with CB Conqero at the top of Liga Femenina in Spain.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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