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.
6. Promitheas Patras
The up-and-coming Greek club started the season by winning the local SuperCup, a good omen for things to come. Still, they lost Langston Hall this summer and they cut loose Oleksandr Lypovyy, two key members of the roster. Nonetheless, Coach Giatras and his players are clearly playoff material.
7. Umana Reyer Venice
Venice remains one of the most solid teams in Europe. They have few changes in the roster and that continuity can really help them considering the COVID-era difficulties. They proved last year that they belong in the playoffs and they can get there again.
8. Partizan NIS Belgrade
Partizan turned heads all around Europe last year, but after losing coach Andrea Trinchieri and without fans in the stands to start the season, they might not be as strong as last year. Still, it’s hard to think that they’ll miss the playoffs and if they find a groove, they can do much more.
9. Herbalife Gran Canaria
That this very good team just misses the first eight spots in this ranking is a testament to the level of the competition. It will not be no surprise if Gran Canaria becomes even a title contender, considering that well-known players like Amedeo Della Valle, Jacob Wiley, and Andrew Albicy were added in the roster.
10. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica
Justin Cobbs, Melvin Ejim, Nikola Ivanovic and Willie Reed should create a team that will not have any issue making it to the Top 16, and then aims even higher. Becoming a unit will be the main concern for them. If they do it on time, then who knows what they can achieve?
11. Morabanc Andorra
Coach Ibon Navarro knows how to create solid teams and that’s the case right here. Like Buducnost and Gran Canaria, Andorra starts the season out of the top eight, but this can change really fast if they deliver on the court.
12. Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana
Last year was a disappointment for the newly-merged, would-be Balkan powerhouse, but on paper Jaka Blazic, Ron Brown, Kendrick Perry and, of course, Roko Leni Ukic can make things happen. The question is how the team will handle the pressure after missing the Top 16 last year.
13. Joventut Badalona
You simply can’t bet against them, especially when they added Pau Ribas and Ante Tomic to the mix of a very talented young roster. Making it to the Top 16 seems only natural and they will be a dangerous opponent for everyone.
14. Germani Brescia
After making it to Top 16 last year, Coach Esposito and his team want to build on that. They kept most of their core and added Serb big man Dusan Ristic. They are expected to be even better than last year.
15. Mornar Bar
They were added in the competition just recently, but it seems that they were built having this opportunity in mind. Mornar Bar already had a really strong roster that includes Jacob Pullen, Kenny Gabriel, and Isaiah Whitehead among others. What else do you need to know?
16. Dolomiti Energia Trento
Trento managed to reach the Top 16 last year but couldn’t do much more. That story might repeat itself for this solid unit, which may not have the tools to make a splash, but has the chance to make it through Group D.
17. Ratiopharm Ulm
Coach Jaka Lakovic and his team were a mixed bag last year, but now have the experience and know-how to do more. With captain Per Guenther leading the charge and returning for a 13th season with the club, the motivation for making it to the Top 16 is there for sure.
18. Frutti Extra Bursaspor
Bursaspor has a roster full of familiar names, including Xavier Munford, Perry Jones, Burkan Batum, Ender Arslan, Oguz Savas, Maxim Mutaf, and Kenny Kadji. So why they are no higher? We have to wait to see them in action, performing as a unit, a task that rookie head coach Tutku Acik must deliver.
19. Nanterre 92
Nanterre is known as a hard-nosed team, and they have Chris Warren, Dwight Buycks and teen-phenom Victor Wembanyama in their roster. Still, they will have to fight in order to get a spot in the Top 16 and things are not going to be easy for them against Promitheas, Gran Canaria, Trento, Cedevita Olimpija, and Bursaspor.
20. Lietkabelis Panevezys
Having just three non-local players – Croatian Marin Maric and US imports Kyle Vinales and Troy Barnies – is not a bad thing when we are talking about a Lithuanian club. However, in the Eurocup, you will need something more in order to have high ambitions.
21. Bahcesehir Kolej Istanbul
Though ranked low, they have a real chance to be one of the stories of the season. Led by veteran ace guard Erick Green, Alex Perez, Avery Jones, Josh Owens and Peyton Aldridge, they will need help from the homegrown players to push past UNICS, Partizan, Venice, and Joventut in tough Group A.
22. Boulogne Metropolitans 92
Led by coach Jurij Zdovc, this team that will not give up without a fight. But even in an open Group B that Unicaja is expected to dominate, almost everything can happen. The French side has the least EuroCup experience of the others, and at least on paper, this is an issue.
23. JL Bourg en Bresse
Zack Wright, Alen Omic, Danilo Andjusic and Thomas Scrubb coached by Savo Vucevic, the uncle of Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic, ranked so low? You have to blame the rest of the teams in Group A, like in the case of Bahcesehir Kolej Istanbul.
24. Telenet Giants Antwerp
The Belgian Giants return to the EuroCup after 12 years and things are not going to be easy for them. They have to face Lokomotiv, Andorra, Virtus Bologna, Monaco, and Lietkabelis, so their first task should be to remain competitive against some of the top contenders of the EuroCup.