BTU researcher optimises fixtures for the Brandenburg Basketball Association

Dr Johannes Weiland of the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) has developed an optimisation model which has been in use since May 2026 by several leagues within the Brandenburg Basketball Association (BBV) to draw up the fixtures for the 2026/2027 season. Weiland’s research at the Chair of Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Optimization focuses on the question of how sports league fixtures can be designed as efficiently as possible using methods of integer optimisation – a subfield of mathematical optimisation.

The distinctive feature of the league structure he has investigated is that, unlike in traditional single-match days, three teams meet at a single venue on each match day and play all three possible fixtures against one another there. It is precisely this format that makes it possible to specifically minimise the total distance travelled by all teams over the course of an entire season – an advantage over traditional two-team match days, where this type of route optimisation can hardly be utilised systematically.

At the same time, the model must meet further requirements for fair competition: home match days must be distributed fairly amongst all teams, and over the course of the season there must be a home and away fixture between every pair of teams. A good model must therefore balance several objectives simultaneously: short travel distances, a fair distribution of home fixtures and a complete set of fixtures – all subject to a multitude of constraints that a computer solves in the form of a mathematical optimisation problem.

From theory to the court

In order to develop his model not only in theory but also to test it in practice, Dr Weiland contacted the Brandenburg Basketball Association last year. The reason: numerous basketball leagues in Brandenburg are organised precisely according to the three-team tournament format that is at the heart of his research – a rare opportunity to validate a mathematical model directly against a real-world application.

The BBV was receptive to the idea. That initial contact developed into a collaboration which culminated in a concrete result in May 2026: an expanded version of the optimisation model was used for several leagues to draw up the fixtures for the upcoming 2026/2027 season.

Until now, these fixtures had largely been drawn up by hand, requiring a considerable investment of time from the association’s volunteers. The use of the optimisation software significantly reduces the workload and opens up additional opportunities to improve the fixtures according to various criteria. The BBV also wishes to continue and expand its collaboration with the BTU.

Research with added value for the region

The project is an example of how fundamental research in Mathematics at the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg can be directly applied in practical contexts outside the university – in this case, for the benefit of the volunteer-run club structures within Brandenburg’s amateur sport. Dr Weiland and the BBV plan to continue their joint work on the fixtures beyond the coming season.

For Dr Weiland, the topic also holds personal significance: he has been playing basketball since his school days and has been an active amateur player with the BBC “White Devils” Cottbus since 2019 – in a league that uses precisely the three-team fixture system under investigation. It was there that the idea for the research project arose, following discussions within the team about the considerable organisational effort involved in drawing up the fixture list.

About the Brandenburg Basketball Association (BBV)

The Brandenburg Basketball Association e. V. is the umbrella organisation for basketball clubs and sports clubs with basketball sections in Brandenburg. It organises competition operations for numerous age groups and leagues in the state of Brandenburg – from the Minis right up to the adult leagues.