Up Hill Down Under

#57: Clash of Giants: EuroLeague Final Four Deep Dive

The stage is set. Four teams, four coaches, and countless storylines collide as we break down the EuroLeague Final Four 2025.

 

We go matchup by matchup — starting with Fenerbahçe vs. Panathinaikos:

Two of Europe’s loudest fanbases meet in Abu Dhabi, but it’s the coaches who might steal the spotlight. Will Ataman’s swagger outmaneuver Saras’ discipline? Can Sloukas lead another fairytale run for Pana? Or will Fener’s shooting outpace the Greens’ size and rebounding?

 

Then: Monaco vs. Olympiacos — a contrast in styles.

Mike James brings the flair, but Olympiacos brings the system. Can Bartzokas’ squad contain Monaco’s isolation-heavy offense? Will Walkup and Papanikolaou clamp down the wings? And is this finally the year Monaco breaks through?

 

We spotlight the key players shaping the moment — from Mike James chasing a legacy to Mathias Lessort attempting to come back in stride. Plus: coaching mind games, emotional returns and legacies on the line.

And yes, we’ve got our prediction of who‘s going to win it all this time.

This isn’t just a Final Four. It’s a showdown of philosophies, egos, and championship hunger.

Co-Host: Matej Hopp and Simon Pichler
Producer: Simon Pichler

Music: Lunatic - HLM 3 (Intro) & 113 - Outro (113 fout la merde)

You can follow the Up Hill Down Under podcast on, Facebook (@uphilldownunder) Instagram (@uphilldownunder), on Twitter/X (@uphilldownunder) and on YouTube (coming soon).

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Heartbreaking sports moments + we have a EuroLeague Final Four 2025

This one hurts. We open the episode with a little therapy session — because if you watched the Monaco-Barça series, you know it was that kind of heartbreak. Plus possibly the greatest semifinal matchup in Champions League history (00:01:32)

Then it’s time to shift gears and break down how Monaco and Panathinaikos made it to the Final Four to Abu Dhabi (00:05:08):

Mike James showed up when it mattered most, KP made… interesting decisions, and Barça is left with questions (and maybe some hope in the form of Toko). Pana blitzed Efes early, rode a vintage performance from Cedi Osman, and now finds itself back on the biggest stage. Meanwhile, questions swirl around Kendrick Nunn’s inconsistent series — but respect where it’s due, Efes fought hard and might be a serious threat in 2026.

 

We preview the Final Four (00:25:19):

Saras vs. Ataman. Bartzokas vs. Spanoulis. Get ready for high-stakes chess with a heavy dose of ego.

 

To round up this episode (00:34:35):

• NBA Playoffs surprises — is Indy for real?

• ALBA exits the Euroleague stage

• Marko Pesic to leave Bayern in 2025

• Marcelinho Huertas: 41 years old, back-to-back BCL MVP, still cooking

• Shaq investing in Napoli Basket — yep, that’s a thing now

 

Co-Host: Matej Hopp and Simon Pichler
Producer: Simon Pichler

Music: Lunatic - HLM 3 (Intro) & 113 - Outro (113 fout la merde)

You can follow the Up Hill Down Under podcast on, Facebook (@uphilldownunder) Instagram (@uphilldownunder), on Twitter/X (@uphilldownunder) and on YouTube (coming soon).

For advertising opportunities please reach out via e-mail:

hello@uphilldownunder.com

#55: The End of an Era plus halfway to Abu Dhabi

In this episode, we kick things off with a chat about the NBA headlines: Greg Popovich is officially done coaching — what a loss for the Spurs and the league. Was he the best ever? (00:01:26).

Meanwhile, the Lakers are out in five, and the Luka-leadership-bashing is back in full swing (00:12:30).

Oh, and yes — the O-O-Finals are more likely than ever (00:23:43).

 

Then we switch gears to the Euroleague Playoffs, where half the Final Four is set. Fenerbahçe and Olympiacos punched their tickets. Can Saras finally get his first Euroleague trophy as a head coach? Is Paris heading for a sell-off or are they here to stay? Olympiacos exorcised their Real Madrid demons — are they now the favorites to win it all? And where does Real go from here? (00:28:19)

 

We also preview the two remaining Game 5 matchups: Barca clawed back but Monaco still holds the edge at home, while Pana vs. Efes has turned into a defensive battle with drama, emotion, and star power (00:37:38).

Tune in for hoops talk with edge, energy and just the right amount of chaos.

#54: It's Spring Sports Bonanza Time

First we take an (unusual) first dive overseas as the NBA Playoffs are on full display and we take a look at some of the most exciting matchups so far (00:01:52).

Later we dive into the EuroLeague Awards, breaking down the season’s top performers and biggest surprises. We also shift our focus to the thrilling EuroLeague Playoffs, analyzing key matchups and what’s at stake. From MVP debates to clutch playoff moments, we cover it all with passion and insight. Get ready for a fast-paced ride through the best of European basketball (00:14:28)!

 

Co-Host: Matej Hopp and Simon Pichler
Producer: Simon Pichler

Music: Lunatic - HLM 3 (Intro) & 113 - Outro (113 fout la merde)

You can follow the Up Hill Down Under podcast on, Facebook (@uphilldownunder) Instagram (@uphilldownunder), on Twitter/X (@uphilldownunder) and on YouTube (coming soon).

For advertising opportunities please reach out via e-mail:

hello@uphilldownunder.com

#53: March Madness is on + a (still) cloudy playoff picture in EuroLeague

We kick things off with some casual talk about the NCAA Tournament—has Simon’s bracket already gone up in flames? March is officially wild (00:00:00).

Then it’s back to Europe, where EuroLeague is in its final rounds and the playoff picture is still unclear which gave us plenty to talk about.

Monaco beat Fenerbahce in a high-level matchup. Crvena Zvezda shocked everyone with a huge win in Piraeus, handing Olympiacos a rare loss at home despite a late push. Barcelona, meanwhile, edged out Zalgiris in a tough, physical battle (00:07:17). 

What's ugly —Partizan for example getting crushed by Efes at home in Belgrade. What is even going on there right now?

To wrap things up, we turn our focus to the MVP race. With four rounds left, who are the top contenders? We break down the cases for Sasha Vezenkov, TJ Shorts, and Kendrick Nunn—plus: is there a potential dark horse that could make things interesting? What would have to happen for someone outside that top group to sneak in and steal the MVP crown? We’ve got takes (00:35:15).

 

Co-Host: Matej Hopp and Simon Pichler
Producer: Simon Pichler

Music: Lunatic - HLM 3 (Intro) & 113 - Outro (113 fout la merde)

You can follow the Up Hill Down Under podcast on, Facebook (@uphilldownunder) Instagram (@uphilldownunder), on Twitter/X (@uphilldownunder) and on YouTube (coming soon).

For advertising opportunities please reach out via e-mail:

hello@uphilldownunder.com

#52: EuroLeague Round 29 Madness & the Ultimate What-If: One Move That Could've Changed Everything

Somehow, we completely forgot to celebrate our 50th episode—WTF?! 

On the court, EuroLeague Round 29 brought plenty of drama. Round 29 also had its fair share of surprises, as some teams shocked everyone with unexpected performances (00:02:31). The Eternal Enemies Derby saw Olympiacos take an early lead against Panathinaikos and never look back, with tensions flaring on the coaching bench and, unsurprisingly, PAO filing yet another complaint about officiating (00:10:43). Barcelona put on a show with a wild first half, Kevin Punter was on fire, but the big question remains—can they sustain this style of play for the remaining 5 Rounds? Meanwhile, Partizan suffered two tough losses in a row, leaving everyone wondering where they go from here (00:17:53).

Is there such thing as an easy road to the playoffs? Probably not, but we still take a closer look at which teams seemingly have an easier or tougher path to the postseason (00:24:22).

And to wrap things up, we dive into an exciting what-if scenario that could have changed everything this season. What if certain players had switched teams (differently), how would that have impacted their performance, their new team’s standing, and even the overall playoff race? Would a struggling contender have become a true powerhouse? Would an underdog have made an unexpected run? We each pick one player and break down the ripple effects of this alternate reality—because in a season this competitive, one move could have shifted everything (00:36:51).

 

Co-Host: Matej Hopp and Simon Pichler
Producer: Simon Pichler

Music: Lunatic - HLM 3 (Intro) & 113 - Outro (113 fout la merde)

You can follow the Up Hill Down Under podcast on, Facebook (@uphilldownunder) Instagram (@uphilldownunder), on Twitter/X (@uphilldownunder) and on YouTube (coming soon).

For advertising opportunities please reach out via e-mail:

hello@uphilldownunder.com

#51: The tightest EuroLeague Playoff Race Ever? And some Luka Magic-Lakers buzz

Round 28 of the EuroLeague is in the books, and things are getting wild—Panathinaikos pummeled Real Madrid, Olympiacos crushed Partizan, and last-minute deadline moves could shake things up (00:03:24). The standings? As tight as ever. Who’s already out, and which teams could make a surprise run? (00:20:58) Plus, a loaded Round 29 preview featuring the Greek Derby and a must-watch Barça vs. Partizan showdown.

 

Meanwhile, in the NBA, LeBron James vs. the Spurs—was he right? And over in L.A., the Lakers are on fire while Luka Magic is finally kicking in (00:36:22).

 

Co-Host: Matej Hopp and Simon Pichler
Producer: Simon Pichler

Music: Lunatic - HLM 3 (Intro) & 113 - Outro (113 fout la merde)

You can follow the Up Hill Down Under podcast on, Facebook (@uphilldownunder) Instagram (@uphilldownunder), on Twitter/X (@uphilldownunder) and on YouTube (coming soon).

For advertising opportunities please reach out via e-mail:

hello@uphilldownunder.com

Luka Dončić Trade Fallout: Lakers’ Future & EuroLeague’s Big NBA Problem

The aftermath of the blockbuster Luka Dončić trade—how have the Lakers fared against Utah since the move? What would need to happen for this to be a bad trade for L.A.? Plus, where does the LeBron-Luka duo rank in NBA history? Meanwhile, in Dallas, things are looking rough: Anthony Davis is already injured, and Mavs fans aren’t happy.

In Europe, EuroLeague CEO Paulius Motiejūnas dismisses NBA Europe plans as senseless—but do they actually make a lot of sense for the NBA? Also, Daniel Theis leaves the NBA for AS Monaco despite two big offers, and the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four gets off to a messy start with sky-high ticket prices.

 

Co-Host: Matej Hopp and Simon Pichler
Producer: Simon Pichler

Music: Lunatic - HLM 3 (Intro) & 113 - Outro (113 fout la merde)

You can follow the Up Hill Down Under podcast on, Facebook (@uphilldownunder) Instagram (@uphilldownunder), on Twitter/X (@uphilldownunder) and on YouTube (coming soon).

For advertising opportunities please reach out via e-mail:

hello@uphilldownunder.com