By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Power Rankings are always a tricky business. This time around, things prove to be even more complicated for the upcoming 2020-21 7DAYS EuroCup season.
While there are eight teams that have proven on the court last season that they are clearly playoffs material, there’s also another very balanced group of teams that can make it to the playoffs, and ranking them without any substantial test in the preseason is not easy.
The flip side is that you have to expect a very competitive regular season with big fights for a ticket to the Top 16. So brace yourselves because the EuroCup is returning with a bang.
1. Segafredo Virtus Bologna
Having Milos Teodosic – even after his latest injury – makes you special, and Virtus has proven that on the court, emerging in Italy as the main rival of AX Armani Exchange Milan and having an obvious ambition to compete in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague sooner rather than later. They can get there by winning the EuroCup trophy and they were also on top of the last Power Rankings of the 2019-20 season.
2. Unicaja Malaga
Unicaja has prospered in the EuroCup and knows the way to the trophy. Once more, they are solid enough to be among the top contenders and it will not be a surprise by any means to see them in the finals.
3. UNICS Kazan
Stability is the name of the game for UNICS as Coach Priftis and his players proved that after a bad start last season, they could get the job done. They are de facto contenders, even if missing Errick McCollum can end up being a big issue for them.
4. AS Monaco
With coach Zvezdan Mitrovic returning to the bench, a solid roster, and high ambitions, Monaco didn’t deliver what was expected from them last year, but once again they are looking good on paper. The latest addition of Mathias Lessort at center is the icing on the cake.
5. Lokomotiv Kuban
They usually start the season atop these Power Rankings, but after last year’s disappointing campaign fell short of the Top 16, Loko has lost a bit of status. This can, of course, be a good thing because they have the tools to fight for the trophy and also a sense of urgency that was clearly missing last year. If they have this mentality on the court, watch out.