Without a doubt, Strasbourg is one of the fastest-rising teams in Europe this decade. In the last five years, Strasbourg has gone from its domestic second division to winning the French League title and qualifying with that victory for the 2005-06 Euroleague. It may be a newcomer to the European basketball elite, but SIG Basketball Strasbourg was founded before most European clubs, back in 1928. The team played in between the French first and second divisions for decades until it fell to the third division in 1977. Strasbourg bounced back from those tough times by returning to the second division in 1985, but the team had to wait almost another decade, until 1994, to reach the French first division. In that same season, Strasbourg made it all the way to the French Cup final and sealed its ticket to the 1995 Saporta Cup, its first-ever appearance in European competitions. Difficult times were back once Strasbourg fell to the second division in 1997, only to return to the top division before the start of the 1999-00 season with renewed ambitions. The team has been competitive ever since then. Srasbourg returned to the French Cup final in 1999 and reached the French League semifinals in 2000 and 2001. Strasbourg also experienced its first European success in 2002, by reaching the Saporta Cup eighthfinals. It was not until 2004-5, however, that the club's first title arrived. In the French League playoffs, Strasbourg knocked off mighty Pau-Orthez and Adecco Asvel to reach the single-game French League final. Strasbourg rose to the moment and became French League champion by beating Nancy 72-68 in Paris-Bercy before more than 13,000 fans. The club has been alive for 75 years through thick and thin, but there is no time like the present for Strasbourg, which now has to chance to carry on growing by playing against the very best European teams in 2005-06.
