By Stefan Djordjevic/ sdjordjevic@eurohoops.net
The 2021-22 Basketball Champions League tips off today, Monday, October 4th, and that in itself is one of the new changes that the competition has prepared for the new season.
The schedule has been slightly adjusted and each week will feature one Monday duel which BCL will choose as the “Game of the Week”.
It will be the sole clash for the day and the teams that will start that tradition are the back-to-back champions Hereda San Pablo Burgos and Besiktas Icrypex.
It will certainly be an interesting affair as Burgos comes off an active summer during which the squad saw many big changes including the coaching change.
Besiktas, on the other hand, after skipping the last BCL campaign, comes in with great enthusiasm and a couple of former NBA players, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Jordan Bone, who are expected to lead the team forward.
Later in the week, it’s back to the old schedule as seven games are set for Tuesday (October 5th) and eight more on Wednesday (October 6th), bringing a complete BCL experience. Refreshing to see it, considering the postponements and adjustments the last season saw due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This season will see many new participants, as well as some returning after being absent for the past couple of years.
Lavrio Megabolt is a team to keep an eye on, following their amazing run last season in the Greek League where they even managed to give a scare to Panathinaikos in the playoffs. Their first clash will be versus JDA Dijon.
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem and Pinar Karsiyaka might be the most interesting duel of Tuesday as the former’s roster features three former NBA players – Sean Kilpatrick, Thon Maker, and Anthony Bennett. Much anticipation for that one as they go against last year’s Finalist.
Wednesday will have some great games as well. Newcomer Prometey will face off against Lenovo Tenerife. The Ukrainian club brought in familiar names such as D’Angelo Harrison, DJ Stephens, Miro Bilan, DJ Kennedy, Oleksandr Lipovyy and Sean Evans while the Spaniards won’t be able to count on the injured Giorgi Shermadini.
Another Spanish team will step on the court on Wednesday, as Unicaja Malaga makes its debut in the competition. Interesting and refreshed roster as well, with the two-time NBA champion Norris Cole making his return to BCL.
Monday, October 4th (CET)
Hereda San Pablo Burgos – Beiktas Icrypex (20:30)
Tuesday, October 5th (CET)
Tofas Bursa – Filou Oostende (18:00)
Lavrio Megabolt – JDA Dijon (18:30)
Igokea – PAOK mateco (18:30)
U-BT Cluj Napoca – Darussafaka (18:30)
MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg – Banco di Sardegna Sassari (20:00)
Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem – Pinar Karsiyaka (20:00)
Nutribullet Treviso – VEF Riga (20:30)
Wednesday, October 6th (CET)
Prometey – Lenovo Tenerife (18:00)
Nizhny Novgorod – Unicaja (18:00)
Falco Szombathely – AEK (18:00)
Galatasaray Nef – ERA Nymburk (20:00)
EWE Baskets Oldenburg – Rytas Vilnius (20:00)
SIG Strasbourg – Kalev/Cramo (20:30)
Happy Casa Brindisi – Hapoel U-Net Holon (20:30)
BAXI Manresa – Arged BM Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski (21:00)