an abbreviated look at Group D

The Rosters...

Bulgaria:Dimitar Angelov (Lukoil Academic Sofia); Bozhidar Avramov (Pamesa Valencia); Tencho Banev (Lukoil Academic Sofia); Vassil Evtimov (Khimik OPZ Yuzny); Stefan Georgiev (BC Levski Sofia); Zlatin Georgiev (BC Levski Sofia); Aleksandar Georgiev; Deyan Ivanov (Premiata Montegranaro); Kaloyan Ivanov (Vive Menorca); Chavdar Kostov (Lukoil Academic Sofia); Ivan Lilov; Boyko Mladenov (BC Levski Sofia); Hristo Nikolov; Andre Owens (Crvena Zvezda Belgrade); Earl Rowland (Telekom Baskets Bonn); Stanislav Slaveykov (BC Levski Sofia); Todor Stoykov (Lukoil Academic Sofia); Asen Velikov; Filip Videnov (CB Granada)

Lithuania: Tomas Delininkaitis (CB Murcia); Simas Jasaitis (Galatsaray Café Crown); Robertas Javtokas (Khimki Moscow region); Arturas Jomantas (Lietuvos Rytas); Mantas Kalnietis (Zalgiris Kaunas); Linas Kleiza (Olympiacos); Darjus Lavrinovic (Real Madrid); Ksystof Lavrinovic (Montepaschi Siena); Mindaugas Lukauskis (ASVEL Basket); Jonas Maciulis (AJ Milano); Andrius Mazutis (BC Donetsk); Marijonas Petravicius (AJ Milano)

Poland: Michal Chylinski (Clinicas Rincon Axarquia), Marcin Gortat (Orlando Magic), Michal Ignerski (Cajasol Sevilla), Iwo Kitzinger (Trefl Sopot), Lukasz Koszarek (Juve Caserta), Maciej Lampe (Maccabi Tel Aviv), David Logan (Asseco Pokom Gdynia), Krzysztof Roszyk (PGE Turow Zgorzelec), Szymon Szewczyk (Lokomotiv Rostov), Krzysztof Szubarga (Anwil Wloclawek), Robert Witka (PGE Turow Zgorzelec), Adam Wójcik (PGE Turow Zgorzelec)

Turkey: Ender Arslan (Efes Pilsen SK); Omer Asik (Fenerbahçe Ülker); Engin Atsur (Besiktas Cola Turka); Semih Erden (Fenerbahçe Ülker); Sinan Guler (Efes Pilsen SK); Baris Hersek (Bandirma Banvit); Ersan Ilyasova (Milwaukee Bucks); Omer Onan (Fenerbahçe Ülker); Oguz Savas (Fenerbahçe Ülker); Kerem Tunceri (Efes Pilsen SK); Hidayet Turkoglu (Toronto Raptors); Bekir Yarangume (Turk Telekom BK)

Predicted order of finish:

Lithuania seem to be pretty clear favorites in this group, and are a team capable of making a run to the final four and possibly the final itself. Even though they're missing a few guys that have been staples in recent years, they still have a very solid roster, and a team that can win against anyone.

Turkey have a pretty decent team, with a few stars, but overall they just don't seem to be that strong. Mediocre performances at the recent preliminary matches didn't inspire confidence.

Poland Gortat and Lampe are the standouts for the hosts, in a roster that is alright if not exactly awe inspiring. The hosts have a chance of upsetting Turkey, but ultimately they should just be thankful for having Bulgaria in their group.

Bulgaria..probably aren't going to do well. They haven't in the recent past, and there's nothing to suggest that will change.