By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The new, extended Eurocup is tipping off today and Eurohoops is here in order to help you follow an ambitious but also chaotic format. A record number of 48 teams are starting the season, 24 of them – the top three of each group – will get the ticket to the second round and also the eight Euroleague teams missing the Top16 will be included in the new Last32 phase.
So, at this point is still too early to predict anything and it’s almost a given that teams coming from Euroleague will be among the favorites to go all the way. However there are three teams which can already dream big and you should follow them since they are rightfully be considered contenders.
In Group C there is Valencia, Eurocup winner of 2003 and 2010 and last season’s semifinalist. With new faces like Romain Sato and Vladimir Lucic, last season’s stars Justin Doellman and Bojan Dubljevic staying, Valencia is aiming for the trophy. After all, there is no other way for a Spanish team not named Real Madrid, Barcelona, Laboral Kutxa or Unicaja Malaga to play in Euroleague.
In Group E, there is Khimki, the failed favorite to win the Euroleague qualifying round, but in Eurocup players like Paul Davis, Petteri Koponen, Marko Popovic and Eurobasket gold medalist Mickael Gelabale can dominate.
Last but not least in Group G there is Unics Kazan. The team was build last year in order to win the Euroleague qualifying round, failed utterly but this season’s version is even better. New additions Luke Harangody and Andrew Goudelock can make a difference, Nikos Zisis adds experience in the back court, Kaimakoglou, Vougioukas and Eidson stayed from last season and coach Andrea Trinchieri, despite his failure with the Greek national team in Eurobasket, is still considered one of the most talented young European coaches.
Keep an eye also on Belgian champions Ostend (Group A) which had a good Euroleague qualifying round showing, ambitious Croatian club Cedevita (Group B) and the Germans of Alba Berlin (Group D), Turkish club Banvit in Group G and the third best Greek team, behind Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, Paninios in Group H.