replace the departing Ivan Buva. Rytas signed former Žalgiris player Gytis Masiulis to replace Leissner, while Todd Withers was signed to replace Butkevičius. Benedek Váradi and former LKL MVP with BC Šiauliai Elvar Már Friðriksson were signed as the new point guards to replace Kariniauskas and Smith. Rytas also signed Marcus Foster at guard. Rytas also re-signed Radzevičius and Uleckas to new contracts, and kept Normantas, Williams and Evaldas Kairys with the team. Coach Giedrius Žibėnas also remained with the team. During the pre-season, Marcus Foster lead Rytas in scoring. Rytas also signed Tomas Lekūnas to a short-term deal, as Withers had not arrived by the start of the season due to personal reasons. Lekūnas later signed a deal for the rest of the season, while Withers had officially left the team. Rytas started the LKL season winning a close game against region rival Juventus 90-88. They continued the good start by winning two more games, but an unexpected defeat to Nevėžis at home on the fourth game completely shocked the team. They lost their next two games to CBet Jonava and Lietkabelis Panevežys, finding themselves with a disappointing 3-3 record to start. They finally came back to winning ways after winning against new city rival BC Wolves 91-89, after blowing a 20-point lead at halftime. Marcus Foster scored 34 points in the next game, as Rytas narrowly beat rivals Žalgiris 89-85 at home. They haven’t lost in the LKL since, even getting revenge against Lietkabelis in a December duel after overtime in Vilnius. Rytas shockingly lost to Nevėžis in King Mindaugas Cup qualifiers in their first game, 70-78, and now have to win by at least 9 points in their second match in Vilnius to advance to the Final Four in Šiauliai. Rytas started their FIBA Champions League campaign slowly too, losing to defending champions Lenovo Tenerife and then following it up with a loss against Bnei Herzliya on the road again. In following games, they crushed Peristeri B.C. on their home debut, and beat them again in Athens. They lost to Bnei again at home, but clinched second place in the group by defeating Lenovo. They advanced to the play-in with home court advantage and at home, crushed PAOK B.C. to take a 1-0 lead in a best-of-three series. De facto BC Lietuvos rytas anthem Marijonas Mikutavičius, the creator of de facto Lithuania Olympics Team song – Trys